Excavator overheats,Air bubbles in cooling system

Mike123

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Equipment
2018 Kubota excavator KX080
Apr 27, 2025
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Vancouver
Hi
I have a Kubota kx080 2018 that overheats after a couple hours. there is air bubble in cooling system as soon as I start the engine and that air pushes out the antifreeze in cooling system.
after a couple of hours and excavator overheats. excavator runs and function as a should.No smokes and no oil and coolant mix.
what are my chances this to be only head gasket and not the head or block? Engine is V3307-CR-T-EF06. Is there any possibility that EGR is faulty and pushes exhaust gases into the cooling system?
 

Tx Jim

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M7040 HDC & JD 4255
Apr 30, 2013
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Coyote Flats,Texas
Welcome to this forum
Sounds as if head gasket &/or cylinder head is faulty. One could test radiator operating pressure with a gauge. Remove cylinder head & have it magnafluxed checking for cracks & have machine shop check it to be sure it's level. Have you got engine above normal operating temperature lately?
 
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Flintknapper

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L2350DT
May 3, 2022
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Classic blown headgasket symptom (as you already know), but could also be a cracked head.

So....only by removing the head and having it inspected will you know.

Hopefully, it will just be a headgasket for you. But running the engine hot increases the chance of further damage (warped/cracked head).
 

Flintknapper

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L2350DT
May 3, 2022
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IF you have immediate and consistent bubbles upon start up (looking into the radiator with cap off), then you can skip the exhaust gas test kit. There is really only one viable reason for that.
 
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