Ford 3000 temp gauge

4eyes

Member
I bought a 8560 Mahindra several years ago so the 3000 has not been used much, moving hay in the winter mostly. I got it out to load on the trailer to bushhog another property and the temp gauge was reading right at the hot mark. I put a thermometer in the radiator and it read 170 degrees. Is my gauge off or is that to hot? I am going to change the coolant and flush it out.
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This post was edited by 4eyes on 08/15/2021 at 07:09 am.
 
I have found that is about right as I am working on a 2000 this week. They came with a 160 degree stat iirc. and a 3 lb radiator cap. Do.. make sure the radiator fins are clean and not full of mud, grass or other, but I would say the gauge is pretty close, but maybe a tad off.... Per what I am seeing with the ir gun on this tractor, its the same. Yes, modern emission engines run hotter, but these were well before. Its perfectly acceptable to run it at 180 plus a bit, if your wish. Problem is.. that if your heavy hogging, it will push to 190, even 200 and running the gauge in the red then will be very upsetting even though it not harmful. Then there is how much red is too much. I have pulled the dash apart and bent the needle a bit to re-calibrate it with some success on some gauges and not so much on others. In earlier days, I used to repaint the needles bright orange/red again to zip up the dash appearance.
 
(quoted from post at 04:25:45 08/15/21) Does your fuel gauge read high also? If so, you have a faulty voltage stabilizer behind the dash.
The fuel gauge reads right.
 
I still would not rule out the voltage stabilizer. To check, unscrew the dash and pull it towards you, leaving all the wiring connected. Find a device on the back of the dash about the size of a circuit breaker, held on with two screws. It should have two terminals on it, and I *believe* they are labeled B and I. Take a test light and check for power at both terminals. The B should show steady power, and the I should flash the light on and off, AFTER the key has been on for a minute or so, since the device needs some time to warm up. If the I terminal remains solid, you have a faulty voltage stabilizer unit.
 
I will check that, thanks. Can I use Fleet Charge SCA in my ford. I read somewhere that it was not recommended in a 4000? I bought a I&T service manual on hear when I got the tractor. It doesn't have any info on fluids. I also read on here that I can run UTF in the transmission and pto. Thanks
 

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