Is my MF 231 running too hot??

[sawtooth]

But when under heavy load like bush hogging, the needle is right there at the white part WITHOUT the radiator being stopped up with grass and seeds. This is why I have to keep the radiator fins super clean while bush hogging because it'll get into the white in no time if I don't.

This statement definitely makes me feel you have a Tstat issue or other FLOW problem. Also you say the top of rad is hot and bottom cold. It should be hotter at top as that is where water comes into rad. But it should be warm too at bottom which again tells me you have poor flow. Maybe clogged rad? Possibly, but I still would have to do Tstat first. Also the 180F one is fine and is what I would use. One thing to note is when engine actually overheats the water will boil out when you take rad cap off. Can you take picture for us of where upper rad hose connects to engine? This is where I think your Tstat should be located, Right where hose connects to engine. If Tstat turns out ok then its either plugged rad internally or bad water pump. Im not totally sure best way to prove these out other than to remove them to verify condition. If and when rad is removed I would have a rad shop professionally clean it out and repaint it. Last one I had done was around $75 i think. However, you did flush it correct? Did it help any at all? If not then may not be your issue. Water pumps go bad too so thats another possibility. But send us the picture first so we can help with the tstat.


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[Travis_R]

I agree. Sounds like there is an issue. When I took bottom radiator hose off and flushed water the ought the top with water hose the water poured out the bottom. And like I said, when I first drained the antifreeze everything was clean as a whistle.
From looking at my parts manual, I see where the thermostat is located.
I'm changing the thermostat. If that doesn't work then I'll take the radiator off and have it tested. If that doesn't work then I'll change the water pump. But I thought the water pump was supposed to leak through a weep hole if it was bad?
Should I go back with high temp gasket maker on the thermostat with the new gasket installed? (Should I use both?)

Gonna dread removing the fuel tank and bleeding air out the system when I put it back on...

Wish me luck. Fixing to get started.

 

[murphy1244]

With the engine idling at the usual temperature, every hose that is connected to the cooling system is hot except the bottom hose. It's Cool as can be. When I drain the radiator at the bottom hose, the water is warm coming out. But the water is hot coming from the engine end of that hose. Doesn't seem to be much water coming out of the engine back into the radiator though (referring to bottom radiator hose). Seems to be just a little. But it sure is hot though.

Not sure how much or how hot the water is supposed to come out of the engine through the bottom hose... Got me wondering if the thermostat could be opening sum and not all the way??
**** I don't know. Maybe everything is ok and I'm only trying to find a problem with this Massey and just can't seem to find one! LOL

Unless your Overheating I would Not mess with this anymore. Running the Motor without any water is very very Bad!

 

[Winmac]

So you DO think there's a cooling problem,

Frankly no,
everything appears normal , the temp reading taken with the inferred gun tell me the system is operating correctly.

Leave the Tstat alone, it is maintaining correct operating temp, a replacement is more likely to give you lower operating but only because they are poorly made and allow excessive leakage.

 

[Travis_R]

Unless your Overheating I would Not mess with this anymore. Running the Motor without any water is very very Bad!

The problem is that it gets too hot under a load according to the gauge.
With the radiator stopped up with cardboard under no load, I you can't make it run hot. The more I think about it re-read these posts, it seems to be a thermostat issue.

We will see.

 

[murphy1244]

Where does the needle on the temperature gauge supposed to stay at (as long as the tractor is at operating temp. and the radiator is cleaned) when you're bush hogging with the 231 ?

My temp gauge is original. Half of the gauge where the needle reads is "green" (normal operating temperature) and the other part is "white" (meaning it's running on the hot side) and the radiator needs to be cleaned.

For some reason, I'm thinking mine is running more on the "warm" side than it should. I NEVER let the needle get in the "white" because I'm scared that's too hot for it and may blow a head gasket.

CAN I let the needle get in the "white" and still be safe to run the tractor?? If so, HOW FAR can it go over in the white before I need to stop and clean the radiator??

With the radiator cleaned out, while bush hogging (meaning tractor's under load), I'm guessing the needle STAYS about a quarter inch or so from the "white" area of the gauge.

Does this tractor have a thermostat??

Also, I sometimes have to add anti-freeze to the radiator, but not often... Is this normal??

I'm just concerned, that's all...

Thanks!

From your post the needle never gets in the white zone.

 

[Travis_R]

Oh yes once the radiator gets somewhat clogged it will definitely get in the white zone. And by the time it reaches that point it's way too hot. I confirmed this with the infrared thermometer.

This is why I been so concerned. Even at "normal" operating temperature the needle is in the green, but not far from the white zone.

Look at some of my posts with the pictures of the gauge and the descriptions of the pics.

Thanks for helping also.

 

[Travis_R]

Ok I got the fuel tank off. Not too terribly bad of a job. But will surely have to have help putting it back on because of the half thank full of diesel...

Ok one Napa has a 160 degree Tstat and another Napa has a 180 degree Tstat... Which one do I go with??
THANKS TO ALL!!!

 

[murphy1244]

View attachment 368175

Here is the gauge after it's been sitting for a about 15 minutes with the engine killed...

Which post shows gauge in the white?

 

[murphy1244]

Ok I let it run for a very long time and then tilled with cardboard in front of the radiator. I here is a pic of where the needle on the gage was. Plus the ifrared red light readings.. The radiator was like 120 at the top and 80 at the bottom. Could keep my hand on the radiator. Was barely warm at the top and the middle and cold at the bottom. The metal part where water goes into the top of the water pump was like 170-180. The part where the muffler attaches to the exhaust elbow was 203 or 205.
Opened the radiator cap and still no swirling!

Is it running too hot? Should I change the thermostat??

The ONLY reason I thought it was running too hot was when I bush hog for a while in tall thick grass, the needle would gradually get to the white part of the gauge. Then I'd get off and clean the radiator out.
Maybe the needle has to be completely pegged out in the white part of the gauge before it starts to run hot?? I don't know.

Just sitting and idling or letting it run about 1300-1500 RPMs with cardboard in front of radiator, the gauge is in the middle of the green.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

View attachment 368171