I manually opened them when I started the set. I leave them closed to keep rain out.
The temperature never made it over 160 on the gauge which I now know is inaccurate. When coolant started boiling out of the overflow I started watching the temp gauge and it spiked to 160 and then to 0. The oil pressure gauge also went to 0. I immediately turned off BS and set shutdown with overload and over temp.
TM list possible causes that I’m familiar with from working on gasoline cars. Water pump, thermostat, radiator…guess I’ll drain coolant and remove the hoses.
Wonder if that would cause an overheat….guess I should have just replaced the fluids in the first place. Fortunately, coolant that came from the water pump was cleaner. Hoping the the thermostat and water pump are good after I flush it. Haven’t been able to locate a thermostat or water pump rebuild kit.
(Let talk about how this system is supposed to work. All gen sets, MEP-004A to MEP-006A all have the same system to control the engine temp. The loovers are controlled by a "power element". The power element is what opens and shuts the loovers. It is a thermo actuated piston. It is in the bottom of the radiator outlet housing. Its filled with bees wax. They go bad. Now you should never have to "leave them closed to keep the rain out". They are kept closed at all times, by a spring operated arm. When you push the loover "OVER RIDE ARM" down, the loovers open up. This is a over ride to keep the set from over heating when the thermostat is stuck closed. There should be a cord and hook to keep the over ride open, when needed. When the system is operating right, you can push the arm down and when you let go of it, it poops right back into the closed position. If the arm will not move freely, check the bolt that the arm is held onto the housing that holds the power element. So check that its not binding, and a dab of grease never hurts, to keep it moving freely.)
