8n blowing coolant everywhere.

that8nguy

Member
I have a ford 8n. I live in northern ohio where it is pretty cold right now (20ish and low teens at night), anyway I used my tractor for probably an hour yesterday and all was fine. Started it up today got 5 minutes into running it I noticed steam coming off the exhaust manifold. I thought to my self "that isn't normal" so I look looked under the hood and saw coolant spaying everywhere. I immediately shut it off and looked at the radiator cause I thought I blew a hole in it or something. Looked normal. I hooked up my Oliver 77 and pulled it up to the barn. Looked around and everything looked normal except for the coolant all over the place. I did notice while hooking it up to the other tractor it sounded like the antifreeze was boiling. It has worked perfect for the 3 months I have owned it, never overheated. Does anybody have ANY idea on what happened. Froze water pump? Blown head gasket? I am decently mechanically inclined but can't figure out what happend. Thanks in advance.
 
I hate to sound harsh, but I think changing the coolant is a waste of time. The first priority is to identify the source of the leak. The best time to have done that was when the tractor was blowing coolant. It would not have done any more damage to run the tractor for another minute or two while you crawled all over it with a flashlight, looking. You probably still should make an attempt. Take the hood off, and run it while trying to replicate the conditions where it failed on you the last time. Knowing where the coolant was coming from is tantamount to identifying the problem, instead of just changing the coolant and praying the problem heals itself.

You can still test the coolant. Next time you're in town stop by the auto parts store and grab a coolant tester. They're less than $5. Just suck up a bit of the coolant you drained and see what it was rated for.
The "leak" might have been the overflow tube. that may have blown coolant over the engine. (my assumption) Jim
 
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I have a ford 8n. I live in northern ohio where it is pretty cold right now (20ish and low teens at night), anyway I used my tractor for probably an hour yesterday and all was fine. Started it up today got 5 minutes into running it I noticed steam coming off the exhaust manifold. I thought to my self "that isn't normal" so I look looked under the hood and saw coolant spaying everywhere. I immediately shut it off and looked at the radiator cause I thought I blew a hole in it or something. Looked normal. I hooked up my Oliver 77 and pulled it up to the barn. Looked around and everything looked normal except for the coolant all over the place. I did notice while hooking it up to the other tractor it sounded like the antifreeze was boiling. It has worked perfect for the 3 months I have owned it, never overheated. Does anybody have ANY idea on what happened. Froze water pump? Blown head gasket? I am decently mechanically inclined but can't figure out what happend. Thanks in advance.
So, any updates on this saga? possible causes? Remedies? Enquiring minds want to know:)
 
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I have a ford 8n. I live in northern ohio where it is pretty cold right now (20ish and low teens at night), anyway I used my tractor for probably an hour yesterday and all was fine. Started it up today got 5 minutes into running it I noticed steam coming off the exhaust manifold. I thought to my self "that isn't normal" so I look looked under the hood and saw coolant spaying everywhere. I immediately shut it off and looked at the radiator cause I thought I blew a hole in it or something. Looked normal. I hooked up my Oliver 77 and pulled it up to the barn. Looked around and everything looked normal except for the coolant all over the place. I did notice while hooking it up to the other tractor it sounded like the antifreeze was boiling. It has worked perfect for the 3 months I have owned it, never overheated. Does anybody have ANY idea on what happened. Froze water pump? Blown head gasket? I am decently mechanically inclined but can't figure out what happend. Thanks in advance.
I don't think this was mentioned on a N never overfill fill the rad tank fill to the about 1/2" covering the radiator tubs that is enoufh. If you go more than that it will spit coolant out the overflow tube. The overflow tube may be broken where it comes out of the filler neck that will not cause it to heat but may make you think its heating. I am a believer in adding a temperature gauge on a N, only the brave go there and the others have some poor excuse as to not have a temp gauge.

Coolant absorbs heat air takes it away so confirm the drive belt is tight and radiator air flow is not restricted. You never assume you prove it you have to confirm never assume. If you drove up with the complaint of heating I prove it then confirm acquit air flow. That's about all I can do with a HOT engine from there I let it cool then check coolant level then start my diagnostics from there, in other words the engine has to cool down.

From room temp that gives me the opportunity with my tools to see whats up with the system. If it fly's off hot real quick I have to get down and dirty. If it takes awhile the diagnostic change.
 
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I have a ford 8n. I live in northern ohio where it is pretty cold right now (20ish and low teens at night), anyway I used my tractor for probably an hour yesterday and all was fine. Started it up today got 5 minutes into running it I noticed steam coming off the exhaust manifold. I thought to my self "that isn't normal" so I look looked under the hood and saw coolant spaying everywhere. I immediately shut it off and looked at the radiator cause I thought I blew a hole in it or something. Looked normal. I hooked up my Oliver 77 and pulled it up to the barn. Looked around and everything looked normal except for the coolant all over the place. I did notice while hooking it up to the other tractor it sounded like the antifreeze was boiling. It has worked perfect for the 3 months I have owned it, never overheated. Does anybody have ANY idea on what happened. Froze water pump? Blown head gasket? I am decently mechanically inclined but can't figure out what happend. Thanks in advance.
As an update I did test the coolant and it was rated for -34 degrees which is plenty. I am thinking it is a thermostat however I have not been out to the farm it's at to do more trouble shooting. It has been pretty cold anyway, there does seem to be a warm up coming soon so i will look at it more then.
 
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