Mystery fluid filled tires

Chris Jones · Jan 28, 2014

My 1967 Cub Cadet 102 was was purchased used by my father about 1977 as a mower. A year later a front blade was added and the rear tires were fluid filled by an agricultural equipment dealer with, I was told anti-freeze. It was used for mowing and snow removal until 1985 in rural VA then after we moved to NC for mowing until maybe 1987 and finally barely used until 2002 when I took over it's care--or I guess I should say storage. I occasionally buy something for it but it hasn't run since 2005. I plan to get it in good running shape one day as a small tractor.

So to the point. I came across a nice set of AG tires I want to put on it. I emptied the fluid from the wheels into 5 gallon buckets. It's clean, maybe a slight white tint. No strong smell--can't really tell if it smells much less identify it. The wheels and tires are in mint condition inside. The wheels have some small 1/4" bubbles in the paint inside that easily brush off but honest they look excellent. These tires haven't been off the wheels ever--at least since '77. That's over 45 years. What is this mystery fluid?

If it is calcium chloride I'd expect rust. If it was antifreeze as I was told it was, I'd expect it to be colored. Methanol burns but a paper towel soaked in this took a propane torch directly on it and nothing happened. 20 degrees this AM and it had no hint of ice. But, the other morning after it'd been 10 that night I noticed slush floating in it. The top wasn't frozen over like plain water does. This looked like a Shushie.

donjr · Jan 28, 2014

Likely calcium. Taste it and see if it's salty.....

old · Jan 28, 2014

Dip your finger in it and take a small taste. Spit it out again if it taste sweet that would be antifreeze. If salty it is calcium. As for condition of the rims if the tube did not leak then they would be just fine

glennster · Jan 28, 2014

could also be some type of glycerine based fluid. i dont think i'd gamble on a taste test of an unknown liquid on a farm. may be some type of weed killer, or insecticide too.

paul · Jan 28, 2014

Color would suggest calcium chloride, the proper stuff.

It don't rust if it don't get oxygen. I've got a 1977 tractor, tubeless, with CC in all 4 corners.

There is no rust if you clean up - flush - after any leaks. Internally away from air is a non issue.

Paul

John_PA · Jan 28, 2014

tastes like chicken?

Oh man, I am going insane with boredom.

Chris Jones · Jan 28, 2014

They're tubeless.

old · Jan 28, 2014

Gamble?? A person can taste just about any thing and be ok as long is it is a taste and maybe then spit it out. Not many things that will hurt you if you only taste it and not swallow it. Seems I have tasted many thing I did not want to like carb cleaner spray or break cleaner spray etc. Even things like grease etc.

Dave H (MI) · Jan 28, 2014

With respect, there are a lot nasty things that can be absorbed thru membranes or even skin. Won't see me putting it in my mouth!

Puts me in mind of a training film at the fire department a good while back. A fire chief was shown walking up to an overturned tanker, dipping his hand in the spill, and sniffing it. Big no no, even back then.

RLA · Jan 28, 2014

LOL!!!!!! John!

red bearing · Jan 28, 2014

taste if salty its calcium...calcium choride is safe and legal to dump on ground...same chemical as used on roads..

Mike M · Jan 28, 2014

Dump it out in the weeds and don't add any fluid back in.

old · Jan 28, 2014

Yes thing like a over turned truck ya but something used in a tractor tire if you just do a dip your finger and touch your tongue to it will not hurt a person.
So your comparing apple to oranges here

James Williams · Jan 28, 2014

I work in the Waste water bussiness and am in-charge of the sewer utillites in Harpers Ferry WV,We were in the dead of winter years ago and every thing started to thaw.The WV state Dept of Highways called me one night and asked me if we had a water line in the middle of Route 340.I said no.They said that there was a large bubble in the middle of the road and it was getting ready to explode.I told them that we had a sewer line in the road but Ive never seen a sewer line bubble up,so then I heard a voice in the back ground that I reconized,It was a old black man that worked for the highway department for years,and he was asking me how to determine if it was water or sewer,I told him to taste it.After a couple seconds I heard a lot of cursing in the background,and I started lmao.Come to find out it was just water that was building up under the asphalt,we took a pick and releaved the pressure and ran over it with a truck and every thing was OK.

jimmy

old · Jan 28, 2014

Even tubeless CACL does not always attack the rims till you get a leak but yes a lot less likely to be CACL if tubeless and more likely to be some sort of antifreeze

old · Jan 28, 2014

Tasting something like that I would not do but I would think a sewer or a water main the 2 sure as heck would have a different smell.

Tx Jim · Jan 28, 2014

(quoted from post at 13:47:51 01/28/14) With respect, there are a lot nasty things that can be absorbed thru membranes or even skin. Won't see me putting it in my mouth!

Puts me in mind of a training film at the fire department a good while back. A fire chief was shown walking up to an overturned tanker, dipping his hand in the spill, and sniffing it. Big no no, even back then.

Milk is classified as a hazardous material in some states if the tanker truck hauling it overturns and spills the load.

Alan K · Jan 28, 2014

If you put some on your fingers and it seems more sticky than water, Im betting it is calcium chloride. Antifreeze is the same way.

John_PA · Jan 28, 2014

Two guys were walking down the road and saw something up ahead. The first guy says,

"what is that?"

The second replies, "It looks like horse manure."

The 2 get closer, and the first guy crouches down and smells it. He says to the second guy,

"It smells like horse manure."

The second guy reaches down and touches it. He says,

"it feels like horse manure."

The first guy reaches down, puts his finger in it and has a taste. He says,

"It tastes like horse manure."

After a brief pause, the second guy says,

"Well, if it looks like horse manure, and smells like horse manure, and feels like horse manure, and tastes like horse manure; well it must be horse manure!"

The first guy looks over at him and says,

"Wow! Good thing we didn't step in it!"

hd6gtom · Jan 28, 2014

Chris I spent 22 years in the farm tire business. I'd bet it was calcium chloride. As said, the rims wont rust till the oxygen gets to them. Please wash them off real good with hot soapy water, if you don't they may now rust away real quick. Do you have an old pair of leather shoes that are worn out? The quickest test I can think of for calcium is, pore some on the toe of the old leather shoes, if the toes turn up in the next couple of days and they look like elf shoes it is calcium. If it is calcium It will be the same stuff they put on the gravel roads to keep down dust.

old · Jan 28, 2014

By the way when I said just about any thing I guess I should have qualified it a bit as in any thing one will have in and on a tractor being used on a farm.

onefarmer · Jan 28, 2014

I've never fussed with Methanol, but could it be Methanol but so dilute it won't burn but still gives some freeze protection?

TGIN · Jan 28, 2014

What about duck poop and chicken chit , do they taste the same ?

old · Jan 28, 2014

Don't know my tractor tires do not get into the chicken pen

Chris Jones · Jan 28, 2014

Tastes like chicken--chicken of the sea.

Salty. Calcium chloride is the winner. Thanks everyone.
Can't believe those wheels looked so good. Well, not sure what's on the agenda for the new tires. I might get some wheel weights. Depending on what I come up with I may or may not put the fluid in the new tires. If not I'll put it in the tires on my Wheel Horse.

red bearing · Jan 28, 2014

My 2 cents worth:not a good Idea to use anti-freeze in the event of developing a leak animals will drink it...good luck!

Chris Jones · Jan 28, 2014

P.S. I plan on using tubes when the new tires are put on even if I don't use the fluid.

I got 6 gallons out of each 23X8.5-12 tire. I was surprised.

paul · Jan 28, 2014

I've always wondered, if the first guy knows what it tastles like,
how many times has he tried this?????

Paul

John_PA · Jan 28, 2014

(quoted from post at 18:24:22 01/28/14) I've always wondered, if the first guy knows what it tastles like,
how many times has he tried this?????

Paul

When you are loading a tall truck, with a short skidsteer loader, don't look up at the bucket with your mouth open.

WGM · Jan 28, 2014

RV anti freeze is biodegradable.

S2710 · Jan 28, 2014

thirty some years with CC and no rusted out rims OMG.

Bob

Chris Jones · Jan 28, 2014

That's my thought too! This compared to removing front tires from the wheels on my '75 Wheel Horse recently to find the wheels in terrible shape. One wheel actually bent when breaking the tire loose. Nothing in them but air! I'm working on some new front wheels for it as those are not really worth saving.

showcrop · Jan 29, 2014

Water in a heating system boiler that has treatment in it will be white. CACl needs O2 to oxidize but the air that is in there upon installation will enable it to attack the steel for just a little while wihich will turn the CaCl solution gray. The boiler treatment will reduce the freeze point enough for VA.

Mystery fluid filled tires

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