Perkins 4T 236 engine pushing coolant out overflow

D1206 · Jun 17, 2016

Got a neighbor with a Perkins 4T 236 in a Cat rubber tired excavator. Since it has a Perkins,I thought this was probably best place to ask about it. He's had this unit a couple weeks & seemed to run ok,but started to push coolant out the overflow last night.I went over this eve & had a look. Appears thermostat is stuck open as temp was same on both sides(shot with temp gun),never got over 130degF.We had it on high idle & after a few minutes it started to push coolant out overflow.Some bubbles appeared too.The coolant is a milky colour too, but doesn't seem to be oily. He said it just showed up milky after last night when it first pushed out the overflow tube. Coolant was nice green colour before that.Once we brought RPMs back down to an idle, it drops down in rad some & hardly any bubbles.I was thinking possibly a head gasket,but wanted some other opinions before I tear the head off this thing. Thanx in advance

jogl · Jun 17, 2016

When the head gasket popped on my 175 (with 236) the exact same thing happened.

DavidP, South Wales · Jun 17, 2016

Hi, don't think that there's much doubt about it being the head gasket at the least. All the symptoms you describe
are typical of a failed head gasket. You also need to try and find if anything has caused it to fail. You have
mentioned the thermostat stuck open. That's a start. You also need to check that the radiator is clean and not
blocked inside and also the fan belt and water pump. As it is in an excavator check also that the cowling around the
engine will also allow air to flow freely.

DavidP, South Wales

nrowles · Jun 17, 2016

My tractor did this when it had a cracked head. Could have been gasket too bit it definitely had a cracked head.

Robert Major · Jun 17, 2016

Hi are you sure it has a thermostat in it, It wouldn't be the first motor somebody started having a heating issue or blowing head gaskets with, and
threw the thermostat in the bush. Lots of the old Fordson majors are like that. It was maybe not to bad at the start now it's blowing worse and thats
why it's pushing the water now.
either way it sounds like it's coming apart for fixing and hoping you don't find somebody elses mess to deal with.
Regards Robert

D1206 · Jun 18, 2016

Thanx again for all the replies, the belt & water pump seem ok.As for the thermostat, it might not have one in it. I'll dig a bit deeper into this
beast & see what we find.I was going to get the head sent away & checked for cracks if I have to pull it off too.

Perkins 4T 236 engine pushing coolant out overflow

D1206

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jogl

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DavidP, South Wales

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nrowles

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Robert Major

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D1206

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