Tractor not warming up

[One Acre Farm]

Did some semi heavy work today w my new to me tractor and noticed again that it won't get out of the yellow in the engine temp gauge, had the tractor running at least an hour at around 1500rpm(540 pto is right around 2100rpm) I know the gauge works, cause when I start her up, she's well below. Any ideas?

 

[ayelvington]

Checking the thermostat comes to mind.

Where does the temp indicator usually settle when you're working?

Also, how cold was it when you were working?

 

[Usta]

I would also say thermostat. To be more precise, the thermostat is stuck in the open position.
My belief is the cooler an engine can run the better for the engine.
The thermostat (as in a car) keeps the engine hot enough for the heater core to work for human comfort.

Hmmm why does my tractor have a thermostat?

 

[SPYDERLK]

I would also say thermostat. To be more precise, the thermostat is stuck in the open position.
My belief is the cooler an engine can run the better for the engine.
The thermostat (as in a car) keeps the engine hot enough for the heater core to work for human comfort.

Hmmm why does my tractor have a thermostat?

Some will object to that -- with good reason. ... All with good reason will object to that.
larry

 

[Don87]

Some will object to that -- with good reason. ... All with good reason will object to that.
larry

I concur.

 

[gerard]

I would also say thermostat. To be more precise, the thermostat is stuck in the open position.
My belief is the cooler an engine can run the better for the engine.
The thermostat (as in a car) keeps the engine hot enough for the heater core to work for human comfort.

Hmmm why does my tractor have a thermostat?

Not sure if I totally agree with that for the reason you already stated. Engines are designed to run at an "optimum" temperature for maximum efficiency, combustion, and power, especially diesels since the combustion takes place spontaneously from pressure and temperature. If your theory was true, a diesel tractor would not NEED a thermostat. Since they do I assume there's a reason they do.

To the OP - Pull the thermostat, put in a pot of water on the stove, turn heat on and use a thermometer to monitor the temp. At room temp it should be closed. As it approaches higher temps (probably 160-180F), it should start opening. If it's stuck open when you remove it and the engines is cool, it needs replacement and you don't even have to test it.

 

[Egon]

What kind of tractor?

 

[Usta]

Some will object to that -- with good reason. ... All with good reason will object to that.
larry

Luckily I am getting usta objections from this place.

 

[leonz]

Did some semi heavy work today w my new to me tractor and noticed again that it won't get out of the yellow in the engine temp gauge, had the tractor running at least an hour at around 1500rpm(540 pto is right around 2100rpm) I know the gauge works, cause when I start her up, she's well below. Any ideas?

1.The Pumps vanes could be worn to the point that the water is simply churning and not circulating and as result the engine heat is not being pumped through the radiator and returned?

2. the belt that rotates the water pump is loose?


3. the thermocouple sensor for the engine is shot and needs to be changed.

 

[Transit]

Did some semi heavy work today w my new to me tractor and noticed again that it won't get out of the yellow in the engine temp gauge, had the tractor running at least an hour at around 1500rpm(540 pto is right around 2100rpm) I know the gauge works, cause when I start her up, she's well below. Any ideas?

At 1500 rpm the engine is lofting. At very cold temps the engine will lose heat to the air from the engine block. If all checks out you may need to block the radiator to get the coolant temp to the 180-185 range.

 

[tawilson]

What kind of tractor?

Good question. If it's a New Holland, I have a suggestion.

 

[One Acre Farm]

It's a case ih c50 and I just got it this winter so I don't know how it runs in warmer weather. I would say it was 25 f or so. Not so mechanically inclined so I am not so sure how I will figure out the thermostat but will check the manual. More info on that would be helpful

 

[orezok]

I would also say thermostat. To be more precise, the thermostat is stuck in the open position.
My belief is the cooler an engine can run the better for the engine.
The thermostat (as in a car) keeps the engine hot enough for the heater core to work for human comfort.

Hmmm why does my tractor have a thermostat?

If that was the case, over the road semi's would not have shutters in front of the radiator.

 

[tawilson]

Well I'm not sure if this applies but some NH tractors have a bypass from the engine to the radiator which will prevent the tractor warming up. I installed a valve in this bypass and it did work. I just did a search for a thread about this with no luck, but I suck at search. Someone more smarter than me will post a link licketysplit I am sure. And someone will know if this applies to your Case.

 

[gengine]

I'm not familiar with your tractor, but as a general rule, when looking at your engine and radiator, there is a big hose running from the top of your radiator to the front of your engine. This hose connects to a metal fitting that is then bolted to the engine. Remove those two or three bolts, that hose and fitting will pull off, exposing your thermostat. Pay attention to how it goes in there. You can just pull it out. This is going to spill coolant, so have a drip pan ready to catch fluids. If you leave it open for any amount of time, put clean rags in thermostat hole and the hose. When looking at the thermostat, there is the flat round outer diameter, and a flat round disc with a spring in the center. At room temp. the disc should be flat against the outside ring. if it's not, replace it. If it is, put in a pan on the stove in warm water. Heat the water while monitoring the water temp. with a thermometer, and it should start opening up around 160*F to 180*F as Gerard stated. If this works, your good. If it is wide open long before that, it needs replaced. If it doesn't open at all it also needs replaced. I hope this helps and is easy to get to. I'll try to check back often so don't be afraid to ask questions. If there is anybody familiar with this tractor, please chime in if I missed anything. Good luck!!

 

[Diamondpilot]

Check the T-stat or better yet spend $5 and replace it. You may find it missing all together since you bought it used.

Chris

 

[Don87]

If that was the case, over the road semi's would not have shutters in front of the radiator.

There are no shutters on the 2002 freightliner I'm running now, nor were there shutters on the 2009 Prostar I was running a year and a half ago, or the other 'half dozen' Internationals, nor the Volvos I drove over the past ten years.

 

[RPW]

In general diesels need to run hot for best combustion ~195 deg. When they run cooler you will generally get more soot in the exhaust etc. I also would check the thermostat. You might get a non contact thermometer to get an idea what the motor is running at.

 

[flusher]

Did some semi heavy work today w my new to me tractor and noticed again that it won't get out of the yellow in the engine temp gauge, had the tractor running at least an hour at around 1500rpm(540 pto is right around 2100rpm) I know the gauge works, cause when I start her up, she's well below. Any ideas?

Sounds OK to me. Your CaseIH C50 engine is about the same size as my 2008 Mahindra 5525 (54 hp engine, 45 hp pto). Last Wednesday I ran my 8-ft wide cultivator over my hayfield for about 90 minutes in 4L at pto speed (1950 rpm) and the temp gauge read about 140F (air temp ~45F).

 

[Johnbro]

It's possibly had the thermostat removed completely, or it's stuck in the open position. Here's an easy way to check. While cold, remove the radiator cap, then start the engine. the thermostat blocks coolant from returning from the engine to the radiator via the upper radiator hose. When the thermostat is closed, the coolant on top of the radiator (looking down where the radiator cap was) is calm. Once the thermostat opens, you'll see the coolant moving, as hot coolant is pumped in through the upper radiator hose. If the thermostat is missing or stuck open, once the engine starts you'll see the coolant moving and flowing over the top of the radiator.

OR

You could just buy a new thermostat. They cost like $10. They don't last forever, so if you change it it's one less thing that can fail later, and in my experience they are more likely to stick CLOSED than open. And that's a problem.