1972 Ford 4000 3-Cyl Gas, Overheating Problem

Joshua Schiff · Mar 30, 2012

I have 1972 Ford 4000 3-Cyl gas with a cooling problem. I flushed the radiator, which seems to have decent flow (thought it's pretty old and some of the fins are bent). The tractor starts up fine, usually blows one puff of white smoke until it gets going and then the exhaust is clear. After about 600' running my 4' roto-tiller or two bottom plow I start boiling over and loosing coolant. I've replaced the thermostat, radiator cap and radiator hoses.

Is it worth replacing the radiator and water pump? When I run the tractor without the radiator cap I see slight ripples in the top of the radiator. Does this indicate full flow? How rapidly should the water be moving? Also, so far I haven't seen any bubbles in the coolant. Which I'm hoping is a good sign.

old · Mar 30, 2012

How dirty are the fins of the radiator??? You may need to spray the radiator out real good with a garden hose. If you hold a flashlight or some such thing behind the radiator you should be able to see light and if you can not then it is clogged so air flow is not doing its job

jimont · Mar 30, 2012

Would you be overfilling the rad ? Coolant should just be to the top of the fins,not up to the neck.

Ultradog MN · Mar 30, 2012

As Old said did you clean out between the fins?
It is amazing how much crud can get get trapped in there.
And as jimont says are you overfilling it?
it Will puke out any excess till it finds it's own level.
Also, that first puff of white smoke at startup bothers me. I know you said you don't see bubbles in the radiator but i'm still thinking about a head gasket.
Do you have a compression tester?

greeneri · Mar 31, 2012

Do you have any play or slop in the water pump pully? When the bearing goes you will usually see coolant weeping from the water pump, but not always. I had an overheating problem with my 3400 gasser and that's what it turned out to be. I also replaced the thermostat, radiator cap and hoses. It's a good start. Make sure there's no coolant in the oil, and oil in the coolant though.

Ecnerwal · Apr 1, 2012

Someone here (I think) suggested drilling a tiny (1/16"?) hole in the thermostat ('74 4500, so the same 3 cyl gas engine). One of these days I'll actually get to trying it (too many other things to work on...)

1972 Ford 4000 3-Cyl Gas, Overheating Problem

Joshua Schiff

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old

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jimont

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Ultradog MN

Well-known Member

greeneri

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Ecnerwal

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