motor question

[cop5611]

I live in eastern Canada and own a jd 40C. It is used first for clearing bush from old forest road and also for moving my trailer and for clearing snow in my driveway. Iused it in a temp. range from cool to cold(-10f to 50f). I noticed that white vapor is puffing from the oil breather cap and that also a white deposit (like a white paste)is forming inside the oil filling tube. One of my friend said that this might be common with the motor running too cold but I would like to ear from those with lot of experience with it. Every comment would be appreciated. Thanks. Carol

[jdman]

My Guess Is That The Head Is Cracked...... The White Is Anti-Freeze...... I Have Rebuilt 4 40-430 Engines And They Always Have A Cracked Head.... Could Also Be Condensation, From The Cold And Warm Cycles.......

Jeff

[Lavoy]

One of the problems with the MC and 40 is the thermosiphon cooling system has no thermostat, so the engine never warms up in the winter.
Assuming that your head is not cracked, what you are seeing is condensation in the oil. Because the engine never warms up, the condensation is never "boiled" out. It takes an oil temerature of over 140 degrees F for 30 minutes to get rid of the moisture, and it is highly unlikely that you are getting the engine warm enough to acheive that oil temp. The best thing to have is shutters, but they are hard to come by. I have put a set on a 40 and an MC, and now they warm up just fine in the winter. You can try wrapping a tarp around the grille, or putting a piece of burlap in front of the radiator itself to restrict air flow. Be sure you have a good temperature gauge before you try this.
Lavoy

[cop5611]

can you explain me what are "shutters" please. Thanks. Carol

[Lavoy]

Mechanical device that restricts the airflow through the radiator to control engine tenp. There is a pic of them in the parts book.
Lavoy

[cop5611]

thanks to both of you for your info. I will take time to make some test during the winter and your info will surely help. carol

[boler76]

I also live in northern Ontario and have both a 40c and a 420w I put a tarp over the rad to help the temp rise enough to warm the engine up to the 160f range as seen on a good gauge. You will get much better fuel economy also with a warm engine.. Jim

[cop5611]

One thing I can try is to make a housing for a thermostat and place it on the big hose betwen the motor and the radiator.May be this can do the job.

[Lavoy]

No, you can't do that. You can not restrict the flow on a thermosiphon system in any way, or you might cause the water not to flow. You are better off putting a piece of burlap in from of the radiator itself so the whole system warms up but still functions normally.
Lavoy

[digitup]

Take a pice of corigated box bord wider than the rad that will sit on the bottom tank at [our ten below]than leve 1and1\2 inches balow the bottom of the top tank this is all my 40 needs to run with dont do any thing that drastic!! digitup

[cop5611]

Thanks for sharing your experience with others. This prevent me of doing a mistake. thanks again. Carol.