Figure this one out

old · Oct 1, 2008

I have a 1946 Allis C that has been over heating on me. Radiator is full and clean, water pump working well and fan belt tight. I drained it today and fill it with vinegar and went out and raked hay. It did not over heat like it has been and it did not boil the vinegar out like it was doing with the anti-freeze. So I'm I correct in thinking the cooling system was clogged up and the vinegar did the trick??
Thanks
Hobby farm

rustyfarmall · Oct 1, 2008

I know of the vinegar trick, done it a few times myself, but I've never had it work THAT quickly. Is it possible there was an airlock in the engine and the system was not completely full before you drained it?

old · Oct 1, 2008

I don't think so. I have filled it 2 or 3 times and it would always do the same thing and over heat. The when I did the vinegar thing it never got hot and the level stayed pretty much the same instead of boiling it out like it has in the past. That's why I can't figure out how it worked so fast. In the past I have done that on other tractor but it took a good running it and then some times refilling it to get the job done
Hobby farm

Mathias NY · Oct 1, 2008

By any chance is there a thermostat in the system? I have had thermostats become plugged by gunk in the cooling system. Maybe the vinegar loosened some gunk and let it operate properly. Just a thought...

NawlensGator · Oct 1, 2008

For cooling, pure water and even vinegar have a higher specific heat than an antifreeze-water mixture. The water (or vinegar) will therefore run cooler even at higher heat transfer rates. You get better cooling with plain water, unless it's in the solid form.

Ken Macfarlane · Oct 1, 2008

What were you doing with it when it overheated? If the cooling system is on the edge, the raking is a pretty light load. The last time my rad was clogged I didn't notice until months later when it started to overheat while under heavy load round baling up hill.

rhouston · Oct 1, 2008

If there was a clog that was mineral deposits then I could see the vinegar clearing it quickly.

old · Oct 1, 2008

When it was over heating I was also raking hay so what I was doing wasn't the problem pretty much the same type of fields and as a matter of fact it was the same field and I was just flipping the hay a 2nd time with the vinegar in the system

RAW in IA · Oct 1, 2008

I have always been told the opposite, that an anti-freeze mix will cool better, and it will not boil at as low a temp.

bill mart · Oct 1, 2008

I have been told jd two cylinders run cooler on straight water than on a antifreeze water mix,maybe its true on AC's too. bill m.

Leroy · Oct 1, 2008

Antifreeze will boil over when water will not. Had picker mounted on JD tractor; NO water pump or thermostat: with antifreeze would be boiling all the time and such a cloud of blue antifreeze smoke you could hardly see or breath due to it. When drained the antifreeze and replaced with water no more overheating. These are non pressureized cooling systems. Pressure systems will handle the antifreeze better

Anonymous-0 · Oct 1, 2008

cooler day? better heat transref from radiator to air?

trucker40 · Oct 1, 2008

Maybe it was overheating because the impeller on the water pump was slipping?Or I just put a core in a big truck radiater and there was about an inch of stuff in the bottom tank that I bet would plug up a car radiater.It was almost like mud.I thought maybe they filled it up with water out of a mud hole or something.Also the boiling point of antifreeze is higher than water under pressure.I dont remember how much but its maybe 10 degrees.I could be wrong but it seems like I remember that water boils at 212 degrees and with a 7 lb cap and antifreeze it raises the boiling point to 220 or higher.I didnt look it up,so I could be way off,I do remember that it raises the boiling point under pressure,not sure how much.

Jack a · Oct 2, 2008

How long have you had it? Have you ever removed the thermostat? Without a thermostat they will overheat under certain conditions. Something about letting the coolant through the radiator too fast so it doesn't have a chance to cool. I've ran into this once with a C when I worked at the Allis dealer. It would overheat in just minutes right there in the shop, every time. An old mechanic told me to check for a thermostat and there wasn't one. I put one in and sure enough problem cured.

old · Oct 2, 2008

I would think the same thing but since it doesn't over heat with vinegar in it but does with anti freeze the thermostat idea doesn't fly. And yes the thermostat has been removed because it would over heat with it in.

Figure this one out

old

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rustyfarmall

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old

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Mathias NY

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NawlensGator

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Ken Macfarlane

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rhouston

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old

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RAW in IA

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bill mart

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Leroy

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Anonymous-0

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trucker40

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Jack a

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old

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