Radiator Blowing Water

[BrianJ]

My 1951 TO20 is blowing water out the radiator overflow pipe when the engine has warmed up. It mostly occurs when the tractor is under a load or going up a hill. No temperature gauge, but stuck a thermometer in the top of the radiator and it only showed about 140 degrees. Flushed cooling system. Good flow throughout. Can the radiator cap go bad? What have I missed?
 

[miner09]

Your cap can be bad. Does it stop blowing water after you drive it some. It may just be overfull.
 

[maxwell99]

i keep the water level about 3" below the top of the radiator on my TO-35.

i also keep the radiator cap loose,

that way, as the coolant gets warm, it has room to expand without blowing out the overflow tube.

also keeping the radiator cap loose keeps the pressure down on your old radiator.

be sure your coolant is 50/50 solution antifreeze and distilled water.

try this, if it does not work, then you may have a blown head gasket, hope not.
have you done a flow test on the old radiator to be sure its not stopped up, fan belt tight enough to keep water pump turning at the proper rpm.


good luck
 

[David G]

I would expect radiator is just overfull, if it stops doing it and radiator does not go empty you have found the correct fill level.
 

[John(UK)]

Run the engine with the cap off and let it get warm, look inside the top tank of the Rad and see if there are any air bubbles. If there are then there is a possibility of a blown Head Gasket or Head cracked. The Radiator Cap should have 4psi stamped into the top. Look around the cooling system and the Engine for rusty water marks, if there is that means you have a pressure leak and that will cause it to over-heat Because you say it only blows water when it is working hard, you should suspect the Head or the Gasket. Don't overfill the Header Tank as when it gets hot it will just push out the excess water from the tank anyway, so only fill it to about 3/4 full in future. When it is blowing water out of the cap and overflow, check the water hoses for swelling or being sucked in.
If you want more info about all this, just email me and I will send the info to you..John(UK)...fergusontractors@hotmail.com