Radiator boiling over
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137554
Printed Date: 17 Dec 2025 at 9:32pm
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Topic: Radiator boiling over
Posted By: grinder220
Subject: Radiator boiling over
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 4:52pm
| My 8550 Is spitting coolant out the overflow. It started doing it last fall in the middle of putting on anhydrous. Thermostats are opening, temperature is normal, I washed out the fins and put a new cap on and it still does it when working and im not working it very hard either. Any ideas. |
Replies:
Posted By: davh
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 5:09pm
| Any traces of white smoke? Could be headgasket. And I have seen no white smoke and still be head gasket. Have you taken the cap off at the start and checked for bubbles? Just some signs of headgasket leaking. |
Posted By: dt1050
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 5:11pm
and check the oil fill area for white milky residue. ------------- Just cause it's orange don't make it a tractor, there's only one..Allis Chalmers |
davh wrote:Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 6:11pm
| There's a test kit, you can get, that determines if combustion gasses are blowing into cooling system. Sometimes compression can leak into and through the HG, yet no coolant leaks back... |
Posted By: grinder220
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 7:08pm
| No white smoke and no noticeable water in the oil. No soot in coolant,didnt check for air bubbles yet but it only does it after working it for roughly 5 minutes and then stops after letting it idle a couple minutes. Really hoping its not a head gasket,maybe the intercooler? This is my REPOWERED 25000mk2 engine. Don't really have the time to do head gaskets,I'm supposed to be doing custom anhydrous application with it right now. |
Posted By: DougG
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 8:17pm
| Dang the ole 844,,, hope it's something simple bud |
Posted By: Robacpuller
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 8:24pm
| Is it overheating?, u can put a pressure tester on the radiator and leave it at zero pressure and if it builds pressure u have compression getting in cooling system. If u don't have one borrow one from your dealer. |
Posted By: Acdiesel
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 8:38pm
|
TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT THE OTHERS ARE SAYING, ANOTHER SIMPLE TEST THAT I USE IS IF YOU HAVE OR CAN BORROW A COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTER. INSTALL IT BUT DON'T PUMP IT UP. JUST START THE ENGINE (COLD) AND IF YOU START TO SEE THE PRESSURE BUILDING AFTER ABOUT 1 TO 5 MINUTES YOU COULD HAVE A BAD HEAD GASKET OR CRACK IN YOUR HEAD. ( THE SYSTEM SHOULDN'T BE MAKING PRESSURE TIL THE ENGINE GETS HOT) GENERALLY THE PRESSURE WILL BUILD HIGHER THEN THE OPENING PRESSURE OF THE RADIATOR CAP. ALONG THOSE LINES YOU COULD HAVE A BAD RADIATOR CAP. YOU CAN TEST THAT TO IF YOU HAVE AN ADAPTER FOR THE PRESSURE TESTER. ( THE PRESSURE RATING SHOULD BE MARKED ON THE CAP IF NOT A SERVICE MANUAL SHOULD SAY THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE IS RATED AT. DAN ROBACPULLER YOU MUST TYPE FASTER THEN ME
 ------------- D19 Diesel,D17 Diesel SER.3 2-D14, 2-D15 SER.II WF/NF D15 SER.2 DIESEL D12 SER.I, D10 Ser.II 2-720'S D21 Ser. II Gmc,caterpillar I'm a pharmacist (farm assist) with a PHD (post hole digger) |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 9:00pm
| https://www.amazon.com/UVIEW-560000-Combustion-Leak-Tester/dp/B000NPDL76" rel="nofollow - https://www.amazon.com/UVIEW-560000-Combustion-Leak-Tester/dp/B000NPDL76 |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 19 Apr 2017 at 9:22pm
| is there foam around the radiator on those like on others? |
Posted By: victoryallis
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 3:51am
|
What does a IR gun say? Oil test? ------------- 8030 and 8050MFWD, 7580, 3 6080's, 160, 7060, 175, heirloom D17, Deere 8760 |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 4:59am
| If have been using well water as I have most of machines lives then the core is limed up. A trip to a radiator shop is in order. |
Posted By: AC7045
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 6:18am
|
Mine did same thing, injector cup came loose. ------------- 8550,7060,7045,700,190XT,D15, WD45,B, M2,F3,AllCrop 60 |
Posted By: davh
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 6:51am
| Did you have traces of fuel in the cooling system? |
Posted By: lowell66dart
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 7:09am
|
You don't mention the last time the radiator was cleaned/flushed so this may be worth a shot. Drain the radiator and refill with just water and a bottle of LIQUID automatic dishwasher detergent. The kind for the dishwasher under your counter. Drive it or use it for half an hour then flush the radiator again and refill with water or antifreeze/water. The detergent will breakdown scale IF that is an issue. This really works and is cheap, safe and easy. ------------- AC 6080 (8030,7060,200,175,D-17HC, 6040,160,6140 all gone) Farmall 1066 & 656 Hi-Clear (for sale), White 2-62 High Clearance, JD 4255 Hi Clear. |
Posted By: Stan IL&TN
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 7:22am
|
Be sure to check the water pump belt to be sure it's tight and not slipping. ------------- 1957 WD45 dad's first AC 1968 one-seventy 1956 F40 Ferguson |
Posted By: Lonn
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 7:47am
|
Seems to me that if the temperature is normal and the temp gauge is working correctly, the problem wouldn't be a plugged radiator or bad water pump. From where I'm standing (no where near your tractor so take that into account) I'm leaning towards a compression leak like a head gasket or something with the head. ------------- -- --- .... .- -- -- .- -.. / .-- .- ... / .- / -- ..- .-. -.. . .-. .. -. --. / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. / .-. .- .--. .. ... - Wink I am a Russian Bot |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 9:04am
| 'zactly Lonn. I was going to say something like that. |
Posted By: Stan IL&TN
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 1:16pm
|
I completely skimmed over the part about temperature being normal so I would also lean towards a head gasket. You might get lucky and torque the head bolts and if they move a little then it might seal it up. Maybe. ------------- 1957 WD45 dad's first AC 1968 one-seventy 1956 F40 Ferguson |
Posted By: AC7045
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 5:43pm
|
No, just started pushing coolant out. Kept getting worse, finally started putting coolant in engine oil. Pulled heads found injector cup on cylinder #1 loose. ------------- 8550,7060,7045,700,190XT,D15, WD45,B, M2,F3,AllCrop 60 |
Posted By: Mike Kroupa
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2017 at 8:40pm
| I've been following this thread and lots of good thoughts and ideas. I'm in the camp with one or both of the head gaskets leaking theory. Another easy way to confirm leaky head gaskets is to ck. the performance of the cab heater. Usually it will be compromised and on a cool day it will be very apparent. My only other thought is that the radiator is overfull and the coolant is "seeking" its level. I'm sure though that has been confirmed, but the non coolant recovery coolant systems will put out coolant until the correct level is achieved. Also as a point of clarification, The 1000 series and metric designated AC diesel engines use injection pumps that supply fuel to the nozzle bodies and then finally fuel is injected through the nozzle tips. The cups our found on a Cummins PT fuel system, were unit style inject tors are used. Good Luck it sucks being down during "go time", waiting here for warmer and sunny weather., Mike |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 7:20am
| If there wasn't a problem with the old engine........maybe the problem really is with the new engine?? BUT, a bad radiator cap could cause this, AND overfilling of the radiator will surely cause this vomiting situation. I'd be hanging a gallon milk jug from the overflow hose and just see how much coolant is exiting over a period of time. I'm not an 8550 man, but the coolant has to be down a good ways when cold or it will guarantee puke some out when it warms up. |
Posted By: grinder220
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 10:41am
| This engine has been in the tractor 3 years now with no issues until last fall. I had already done around 300 acres of anhydrous when it started spitting coolant out. I checked yesterday for bubbles in the tank while it was running but didn't see anything,seems to only build pressure while under a load. Im thinking of trying to run it with the cap loose and see what it does until I get time to tare into it. I will also be monitoring the oil to be sure its not getting milky. I only have around 400 acres left of anhydrous then I won't need the tractor till fall so hopefully I can make through or we get more rain which we don't need so I can fix it. |
Posted By: wekracer
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 12:31pm
| I just had the same issue with my 8050. I had to put a gallon in after 25 hours. I was thinking head gasket but the neighbor who is a diesel mechanic told me to replace the radiator cap and that fixed it. He said if it was a head gasket it would get a lot worse in a hurry. |
Posted By: grinder220
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 1:25pm
| I put a new cap on thinking/hoping it was the issue but it didn't help. I'll try one off another tractor just for the hell of it,sure can't hurt. |
Posted By: grinder220
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2017 at 9:56pm
| So I decided to hook up the tractor to the disc-ripper to give it a good workout just to see what would happen. I put the cap off my 7040 on just to try well that didn't help,a couple minutes into ripping the coolant started blowing all over,used a laser thermometer and temp was 173 at thermostat and top tank,128 at bottom tank,radiator was doing a great job of cooling. Pulled the cap off and it was puffing steam to the rhythm of the engine, drove it back to the yard shut it off and the steam instantly stopped, started it up again and it started puffing. Figured I'd go disc a little with the 7040 and let the 8550 cool off for about an hour came back and started it up only to have it blowing white smoke out the stack and coolant running out the turbo weep hole,definitely tearing the heads off when I get the chance. I drained out 6 gallons of coolant and started the engine to get any remaining coolant out of the cylinder. Hate to have it rust or hydraulic lock on me. What a bummer. |
Posted By: JayIN
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2017 at 9:36am
|
Crap..........sorry..... ------------- sometimes I walk out to my shop and look around and think "Who's the idiot that owns this place?" |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2022 at 9:38am
| Harbor Freight sells a combustion gas indicator tool.....not expensive....basically a glass tube with "special" liquid inside that you stick in radiator neck. Think it was less that $50. Of course you don't need it NOW!!! |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2022 at 9:41am
| Hope you don't need decking and counter bores.....have an experienced Cummins guy look at it. |
Posted By: farmboy520
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2022 at 12:24pm
|
I'd hope grinder220 has this fixed now as this was posted back in April of 2017 ------------- On the farm: Agco Allis 9695, 7060, 7010, R66, Farmall H, and Farmall F20 (Great Grandpa's) |
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2022 at 1:25pm
| Hmmmm I didn't notice that. Think a spammer brought it back to life..... |