MF202 overheating

[Karl Z]

This past summer I replaced the radiator and water pump in my '63 MF202 with a Z134 engine. Just recently I've noticed that occasionally the engine smells hot and if I raise the frontend with the loader the temp gauge will spike to 230 degrees and I can hear the coolant bubbling. It seems to me like I don't have good coolant flow in the back of the engine and raising the front allows the hot coolant/air bubble move to the water pump. Any suggestions??

 

[Jeff Z.]

I have seen many old tractor engines full of mud from using creek water.
You may have a restriction that will require you to do a engine tear down.

 

[Jeff Z.]

The first thing I would do is when the head is off make sure all the water passages in the block are clean. You should be able to see coolant in the holes on the top of the block around all the cylinders. If you add water somewhere on the engine it should force coolant out of all of these holes. Put rags in the cylinders to absorb it and change the oil before running it again.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Before removing the head, try removing the thermostat. After you remove the thermostat and re-install the housing with a COLD engine, leave the radiator cap off when starting the engine and observe coolant flow in the radiator for a minute or so before replacing the cap. If the engine does not heat up with the thermostat out, that would indicate the thermostat is not functioning (opening) correctly. Also note if the radiator hoses have weak walls and collapse inward when you raise the engine rpms, along with checking the color of the coolant for contaminants (rust and sludge) from the block and head.

 

[Karl Z]

Thanks for the replies guys. Let me give you all some more information.

I've owned this tractor for 8 years. The cooling system was flushed out for the second time since I've owned it when I changed the radiator and water pump. The coolant is the proper shade of green. I did replace the thermostat and both hoses with the radiator. Oil press. runs at a steady 18psi.

I never had this problem prior to the radiator and water pump replacement. I'm not sure that the thermostat is the problem. The tractor heats up to 160-180..I just get the temp spikes when I raise the frontend. I am concerned that maybe the water pump may be bad or when I installed it I failed to insure the impeller was far enough into the housing.

I guess I'll start by removing the thermostat and make sure the coolant is actually moving and then decide what to do from there. Could a bad radiator cap contribute to this?

 

[Jeff Z.]

With the new info about the trator's history I would remove the thermostat and see if you get temperature spikes with the front end up with the themostat out.

 

[Ed pap]

Hello Karl,
Some times it is hard to get all the air out of a engine after changing the coolant. but after the engine gets hot all the air should work out and not come back. from what you are saying it sounds like you are making air or you have a compression leak into the cooling system. a simple way to check this is to run the tractor with the rad full right to the neck and the cap off and look for air bubbles when it is running.
Good Luck Ed
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