ive got a 2005 cat 305CR with 1600hrs. it has a new engine and a new radiator and it overheats every day! every component related to the cooling system has been replaced! it runs fine in the morning but when temps hit 100+ it will not stay cool. i blow out the radiator twice a week (huge pain to dissasembe every thing to get to the engine cooler) as its in dry dusty conditions. what can i do to fix this ? thanks
Since you blow out radiator twice a week, does it run at proper temp when you do that?
ya for about 8 hrs . it takes about an hr to get it to the point where you can blow it out, blow it out n put it back together ! it doesnt seem to take much dust in that radiator to keep it from cooling
Well, don't really have an answer for ya, it's just best to get all the info you can on a thread related to a problem in hopes it will help getting a solution. I'm curious though, if you have to clean the radiator that often to clear it of dust/dirt, what shape is the engine air filter in? Also, if you have a new engine, new rad and cooling system parts, is it possible you have a hydraulic problem that's putting a phantom load on the engine making it work harder that it would in normal circumstances? Just a thought.
Check to make sure the fan isnt installed backward ive seen this before!
Head gasket ? cracked head ? Do you have oem rad. I know it shouldn't matter, but I've seen aftermarket heater cores and rads with several less flues than oem, and this compounded with restricted air flow in high temp and throw in added phantom load that willie59 mentioned and you got problems. just somthing to consider. Have you preasure tested coolant system? However. My thought is you should not have to blow out rad that often. Not a bad thing to do. Many won't even grease.
air filter is also new. within a 100 hrs this machine has been to cat 4 times in the past 5 months and ive had them check every thing, so im just wondering if it isnt the conditions im working in (central texas-fort hood) its over 100 every day n its just dry n dusty out here. im pullin trees with it, ive got a grubber attachment on it and some times it stuggle to get it into the ground so that may be putting added stress on the hydo system. myself and cat have both reseached it and its on rite its did it ever since i put the new engine in it. the rad is from cat. have not preasure checked the cooling system yet, but its ineresting b/c if you take the rad cap off when its hot(200+) there is no pressure? is that my problem? what do i do about this? it isnt leaking coolant .?
It is the pressure that raises the boiling point of the coolant, the pressure is contained by the radiator cap. Either the radiator cap is bad and not allowing pressure to build up...but you should be getting boil over/steam in the overflow what's the indication of it overheating?
gauge. but ive checked it with a temp gun.
So what do you get when you shoot the temp gun? 200F+ isn't that hot for a modern cooling system. Your thermostat isn't fully open until 203F. Maybe the engine's OK and you're getting a bad reading at the gauge? If your problems started when you replaced the engine, (why was it replaced, by the way?) we really should rewind and consider what changed at that time. Possibilities include; Bad temp sensor. Did your new engine come with a new sensor? Engine set up to wrong HP and creating too much heat? Fan installed backwards as per bobin35's post. I know you say this has been checked by Cat, but I'd be really interested so see a photo of it anyhow There are a couple of Service Letters out regarding installing a different pulley and fan for high ambient working. Were either of these parts changed along with the engine?
temp gun is 200-230. ok my bad. this was a problem before repacing the engine, ingine had alota blow by and no power, they said it cost more to rebuild it than it does to replace it. has a new temp sensor ill try to get a pic of it monday.
i am sure this machine has cab and air on it? 100f and real dusty? all i know is every time my zero tails act up we clean the screens and radiators and everything runs fine. my bobcats don't run all that hot but my big link belt will do that when the screens need cleaning. probably not possible to open it up and run it without the a/c to see how she does. take a bit of the load off. i really don't have a good answer but good luck. regards cd:usa
OK that makes the problem a little less twisty. You may just need to install the high ambient fan and pulley. Ask your dealer to look up SEPD0877 and SEBE8157 and see if they apply to your serial number.
If its a 305cr (dgt prefix) good luck with stoping the over heating and blowby of engine! i had one from new and had 3 new engines by 3300hrs and needed a new one then too. the rad is too small and the oil cooler is in front ,so's the air con rad if you have it, with crap acsess to clean them.the engines run hot as with the exhust running out betwine the head and the back of the cab so heat skink is bad. the blow by can start within 500hrs from new. the easy fix get a 305ccr(next gen from cr) they have heaps more water cap,side by side rads and the engines the other way around ,and more power. 2350hrs and no probs at all. good luck with your one.
ps , i never could run the air con on my one without over heating the thing,defeets the purpose eh??
305 dgt Ah the 305 overheat, well as was mentioned before good luck. What the machine is designed horribly that causes it to overheat even in the northern climates. What we did was we cut out sections of the grill to rear cover to get some more air-flow though, reinforced what was left with fiberglass. It helped quite a bit ( not before we swaped out the motor ) but in +35 it will still overheat and we get a few complaints of hot-rump from the operators. Now the motors are prone to developing blow-by as well in the number 4 cyl ( farthest from the fan, go figure ) and with no sleves your pretty much up for a motor. Hope you make out alright with it. I am also looking into a more agressive fan option but so far no luck. I will let you know if I ever find anything.