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Curtis Elliott 11-02-2009 05:59:54 71.161.53.17 108476 Report to Moderator	I am winding down on a complete restoration of a 245 Massey tractor with a AD-3 152 Perkins diesel. I started the engine for the first time yesterday and it runs great. There were no issues with the engine before the restoration but I installed new bearings, sent head to machine shop and installed new liners and pistons. I installed a new thermostat as well as sending the radiator to be cleaned and flow checked. A new water pump was also installed. My question is that after approx. 30 minutes of idling the engine never warms up enough for the thermostat to open. The engine does not get hot as i can place my hand on the thermostat housing and it is only modestly warm. Can the block be airlocked or do I need to work it a little to get up the temp. The gauge will not quite get to the normal mark on its scale. Thanks for any and all suggestions. [Reply]   [Send Email]
MF#1 11-02-2009 17:51:22 209.209.130.220 108493 Report to Moderator	Re: 245 warm up in reply to Curtis Elliott, 11-02-2009 05:59:54   I think Dave(135fan) has it nailed, it takes a while for both 245"s I use to warm up. Both mine have a petcock on the injector pump side of the block, might loosen it and see if you get flow out, if it"s air-locked it will allow some air out. Last week one wouldn"t even drain until I started it up.   [Reply]   [No Email]
135 Fan 11-02-2009 11:00:32 68.149.56.30 108484 Report to Moderator	Re: 245 warm up in reply to Curtis Elliott, 11-02-2009 05:59:54   Idling a diesel for a long time is bad, especially a newly rebuilt one. Put it to work doing some fairly hard work to properly break it in. Ever have a diesel truck? They could idle all day and never warm up but put them on the highway and they will cook you out. Diesels are made to work. Some diesels can actually get fouled up so bad idling, that they won't rev up. Have you ever noticed that when a semi stops for a rest in the cold, they are always at a higher rpm? Excessive idling will cause more smoke and some will drool out the exhaust. Hopefully your engine hasn't suffered from the long idling. Put it to work without lugging it too much. Occasional lugging is good for it. Dave   [Reply]   [No Email]
Curtis Elliott 11-02-2009 11:40:18 71.161.53.17 108486 Report to Moderator	Re: 245 warm up in reply to 135 Fan, 11-02-2009 11:00:32   I think I need to state that by idling I meant that no load was on the engine. During this 30 minutes I was varying the rpm from 750 to 2000 rpm. I was trying to get the thermostat open so I could finish filling the system with coolant. I will take it out for a spin and see if I can get the temp. up.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Curtis Elliott 11-02-2009 08:38:08 71.161.53.17 108479 Report to Moderator	Re: 245 warm up in reply to Curtis Elliott, 11-02-2009 05:59:54   I would also like to say that I know the coolant is not circulating as the bottom hose stays cool and there is no flow apparent in radiator when the cap is removed.   [Reply]   [No Email]
135 Fan 11-02-2009 15:36:02 68.149.56.30 108490 Report to Moderator	Re: 245 warm up in reply to Curtis Elliott, 11-02-2009 08:38:08   If the coolant isn't high enough to be at the thermostat, how would it get hot or for that matter open? The bottom hose has all radiator coolant to keep it cool. Fill the rad as full as you can and go work the tractor. After you've worked it for 10 or 15 minutes, let it cool off and then check the rad level. Pay attention to the temp. gauge. I run a 190 thermostat in my 135 with no problems even on hot days. An MF mechanic said it doesn't hurt a diesel to run a little hotter and is better than running too cold. Dave   [Reply]   [No Email]
Curtis Elliott 11-02-2009 16:15:00 70.105.30.158 108492 Report to Moderator	Re: 245 warm up in reply to 135 Fan, 11-02-2009 15:36:02   Thanks for the advice 135 fan. The radiator is full of coolant. I just wanted to get the thermostat to open and start circulating coolant so I know all air pockets are removed from the block. It looks like I will have to do as you say and put it to work to get the temperature up. I have rebuilt larger diesel engines before and never encountered a problem getting them to warm up to a temperature to make the thermostat open. This is my first Perkins 3 cylinder and was just wondering if they have a tendancy to run cool unless worked.   [Reply]   [Send Email]