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Cat 303CR Overheating

Clguest

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
116
Location
USA
Don't forget to flush out the engine block before installing the new radiator.
 

billyo

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2016
Messages
14
Location
Kentucky
Yes, will definitely flush it again. Got old radiator out and in better light, and what I can see inside looks almost snow white everywhere. Gonna assume calcium / lime build up.
 

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
28,984
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
It may be well worth trying a caustic soda flush of the cooling system if you can get hold of some (but be careful not to spill it). I'm not sure what else to suggest, most of the proprietary cooling system cleaning chemicals are not designed for systems as contaminated as this one sounds to be.
 

billyo

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2016
Messages
14
Location
Kentucky
Quick update: Installed racing radiator with a 14" electric fan pulling through radiator toward engine. Running at fast idle for about an hour, about 80 degrees outside, no thermostat, distilled water only. 151 degrees at top of radiator, 135 degrees at the bottom. With fan off, temp quickly climbs past 180 at bottom, but falls back to 135 just as fast when fan is back on. (Gonna have fan running all the time anyway - just playing around...) Fan seems to move a ton of air, and I still have room for a small pusher fan if needed. Temp readings were taken with a Fluke DVOM with a temperature probe inserted into the radiator core.
Of course I need to get all the covers back on and dig some dirt before considering this a success, but so far it's promising. Nothing has been cut or carved on so I can easily go back to the OEM stuff if I need to.
 

billyo

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2016
Messages
14
Location
Kentucky
With 50/50 coolant, factory thermostat (180 degrees) and running for an hour, 184 degrees at top of radiator, 145 at bottom.
 

billyo

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2016
Messages
14
Location
Kentucky
Well guys, for anyone that might be interested, I'm gonna call this one fixed. (Reason I've waited to update is that water pump seal started leaking (of course...) and I wanted to replace it before putting it through some tough testing...) Worked it pretty hard for about half a day in 90 degree heat, and temp gauge held steady at about 1/3 of its scale most of the time (climbing slightly during some heavy digging, but never getting halfway). While the replacement radiator is a little smaller than the original, it did add a little over a pint of coolant capacity so the tubes & tanks must be a little bigger. Wired 14" electric puller fan with 40 amp relay, and left connection for an additional 10" pusher (but I don't think it's gonna be needed). It's distilled water or premix antifreeze from now on - no more swamp water!!!! :)
Thanks again guys for the input on here - I was most likely going to pull the head to replace headgasket before thinking about what some of you had said.
 

BlazinSS934

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
125
Location
Long Island, NY
One very important thing that is often overlooked is shrouding and sealing of airflow. Make sure that the fan is in a shroud so you get a rated CFM out of the fan. Also make sure there aren't any areas for air to " short circuit" around the fan or radiator


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