Tractor Loosing water

[chas036]

I have an Oliver 1800 gas tractor that over a period of about 5 to 10 hours of use , i start to see the temperature gauge slowly increasing. When I check the water level in the radiator, I have to add a gallon. I have completly checked the radiator, water pump, and the engine and I have no noticable external leaks. Also there is no water in the oil, and I see no white smoke or steam comming from the exhaust indicating that there is a leak into the cylinders. My question is... what else would cuase an engine to loose water slowly?

 

[Mule Meat]

Could be a possible leak. If the leak is small you may not notice due to it evaporating off of a hot surface such as around the radiator cap or a pin hole in the cooling jacket/core, cylinder head, block etc.

Have you performed a system pressure test? If not one may let the leak show up while the engine is cool.

 

[Janicholson]

If you are actually using water as coolant, it can be invisible in the exhaust. it also had no smell like glycol has when burned or leaks. If it is coolant/water mix, the exhaust should show haze and smell.
Either way using a pressure tester applied to the radiator filler neck will point out the issue easily. also using a combustion gasses in coolant test kit from an auto parts store is good at this point. Jim