Overheating issue

[PoppyW01]

Good morning,

I have a G2160. got it 4years ago after it sat in previous owners yard for some years. Has 460 hours. Last year it started running hot in an hour, takes 2.5 to mow my yard. I know it is running hot , not due to the light but watching water and steam blow out of the radiator overflow tube from the plastic container. I removed the thermostat and didn not help. New water pump seemed to help last year. This year it runs 30 min before overheating. Brohter in law is a diesel mechanic, his over the phone diagnosis is a likely head gasket. No water in the oil or vice versa but he had me put the overflow yube in a bottle of water and see if and when it bubbles. It starts a small but steady stream of bubbles about 10 to 15 seconds after starting. Opinions and if its the head gasket, difficulty level for replacement?

Thanks

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Plugged radiator ??!!???

rather doubt the head gasket as no fluids are being mixed.....

 

[skeets]

Clean the rad ,,DO NOT USE A PRESSURE WASHER ,,, check the thermostat, drain everything flush and refill,, always check the simple things first

 

[Flintknapper]

Plugged radiator ??!!???

rather doubt the head gasket as no fluids are being mixed.....

Though HG failures often manifest that way (fluid mixing) it is not the only way a HG can/will fail.

A steady stream of bubbles in the coolant upon start up is a near sure sign of Head Gasket failure (compression to coolant).

 

[ve9aa]

Have you cleaned the (pull-up, removable) screen in front of the rad on a regular basis?

 

[85Hokie]

based on your last sentence ........ " if and when it bubbles. It starts a small but steady stream of bubbles about 10 to 15 seconds after starting "

I would say you have a blown head gasket - your BIL should be able to help you fix it - need some simple tools and a torque wrench. A leak at the right spot on the gasket will pump combusted air into the coolant
and show up as bubbles in the radiator.

 

[PoppyW01]

Thanks all. I have cleaned the radiator externally and the screen. The insides of the radiator is difficult to see except difectly under the cap. Those holes are not plugged but not as wide as I think they shoild be. Id rather not but a $200 radiator just to find I still need a head gasket, and vice versa! I could need both however.

I appreciate the input, continue as I work on this. I do have a shop manual so once diagnosed, I'll try to tackle it.

THANKS!

 

[6869704x4]

See if you can rent a radiator pressure tester at O'reillys or autozone
$90 at HF

 

[cthomas]

See if your BIL has a combustion coolant detection kit or buy one. The Block Tester is a used to detect the presence of exhaust gases in an engine's cooling system, typically caused by a blown head gasket or cracked head or block. It comes complete with enough fluid to conduct 16 tests. There are no additional tools needed, and no need to tap into an engine vacuum source. Works with virtually any liquid-cooled internal combustion engine or generator with a closed cooling system including: gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas and other alternative fuels. Large, single-chamber design provides greater accuracy and uses less test fluid.

https://www.amazon.com/Block-Tester-BT-500-Combustion-Leak/dp/B06VVBSFTF/ref=asc_df_B06VVBSFTF/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312177448019&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13357222029065451442&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019279&hvtargid=pla-570352767565&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61495038909&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312177448019&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13357222029065451442&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019279&hvtargid=pla-570352767565

It is $36.99 and free shipping if Prime member.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Yup. Test for combustion byproducts in the coolant first.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Your chances of a blow head gasket are 10 to 1, your chances of a cracked head 2 to 1.

These engines are know for cracking the heads.

Easy enough fix, pull the head and replace head, head gasket.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

See if you can rent a radiator pressure tester at O'reillys or autozone
$90 at HF

I'd be careful there. Before you pressurize the cooling system, remove the injectors or glow plugs and turn the engine over to remove any water that may leak in. Otherwise, you could hydrolock it and cause more issues.

 

[Biker1mike]

Your chances of a blow head gasket are 10 to 1, your chances of a cracked head 2 to 1.

These engines are know for cracking the heads.

Easy enough fix, pull the head and replace head, head gasket.

Yeah, easy for you !!!! Humor meant.

 

[Jim L.]

I agree that it is likely that the head has cracked.

When these engines overheat they need correction immediately. Continuing to run until overheating, just overheating a little and not even busted needle on the gauge overheating, the cumulative result is a cracked head.

Make sure to know how to clean the surface of soft aluminum - put a scratch in the metal and the new style gaskets will not seal.

Calibrated torque and proper sequence of turns and sets on the head bolts very important.

 

[whitetiger]

Make sure to know how to clean the surface of soft aluminum - put a scratch in the metal and the new style gaskets will not seal.

The cylinder block and cylinder head are cast iron.

 

[6869704x4]

Since we're spending the OPs money a cylinder leak down tester would narrow it down a bit.

 

[Jim L.]

"The cylinder block and cylinder head are cast iron. "

Sorry for not conveying that idea properly. What I meant was that things have changed for those of us who are old school. Techniques that were used in days past do not work well with today's machines. Gaskets are one of those. The material these days is completely a different animal, and behaves differently. So easy to get wrapped around an axle following old techniques off of youtube if it is the wrong video.