246 fan supposed to run all the time?

[brianNH]

My 2003 246 heater doesn't work. Well, it works, it just doesn't blow hot air. The reason it doesn't have hot air is because it doesn't have hot water. The valve to send coolant to the heater core is open, but the hoses don't get hot, or even particularly warm. The main coolant lines between the water pump, radiator, and thermostat housing don't get more than lukewarm, either. I can put my hand on them after the engine has been running awhile, and they are warm enough to feel the warmth, but certainly not hot. I replaced the thermostat and still have the same symptoms.

I noticed that the cooling fan runs all the time; from the moment I start the engine. That sure doesn't seem right to me. I have ATV/UTV machines, and they all have electric fans that only come on when the engine is starting to get too hot. It seems to me that this fan should only run when the engine temp is starting to get higher than ideal. Of course, to do that, it would require a temperature sensor, and I don't see anything like that, either. There is a 2-wire plug on the thermostat housing, but that only controls the overtemp idiot light in the cab. I didn't see any sensors on the engine, and there are no wires going to the radiator. So maybe the fan is supposed to run all the time, but it doesn't make sense.

So, others with 246 or similar machines - does your hydraulic-driven fan run all the time?
Do people in cold weather climates have similar experiences with these machines running way too cold? It doesn't make sense that Cat would make something like that.

 

[brianNH]

I talked to Cat support today. Yes, the fan is supposed to run all the time, like on an older car before thermostatic or electric fans.

 

[foton]

my 2017 wacker neuson sw-20 has a hydraulic fan and it also operates this way, I believe the reason is the engine coolant ,intercooler and hydro oil are in a combined radiator. is yours set up like this too?

 

[brianNH]

Yes, it's run by hydraulics, and hydraulics runs through it too. I ran it today and was able to get some heat out of the heater by blocking off most of the radiator with one of those corrugated plastic political signs. It still seems to run much cooler than it should. I used a laser temperature gauge on various components. OAT 35 degrees. Even with the radiator blocked, still nothing on the engine except exhaust is too hot to touch after working with the machine for about 3/4 hr. Heater hose & water pump hose got up to 90, RT upper radiator hose got up to 113, valve cover 77. F not C

 

[foton]

yup diesels need to run around 180 degree F to 200 F in most cases. I wonder if the thermostat is bypassing ,sometimes there are sealing gaskets that have to be put in a correct position for them to not bypass. might need to look at a exploded view of that housing to see order of parts for correct assembly.