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Perkins 4.107 4.108 4.99 Diesel Engines Workshop Service Repair Manual

Goal: service/replace the thermostat on a Perkins 4.107 / 4.108 / 4.99 diesel — what every component is, why the job is needed, how the cooling/thermostat system works, how to do the job step‑by‑step, what can go wrong and how to test it. Written for a beginner mechanic. No questions.

Quick overview (one-sentence): The thermostat is a temperature‑controlled valve in the engine coolant circuit that keeps the engine at its correct operating temperature by holding coolant in the engine until it’s warm and then allowing flow through the radiator when it’s hot.

Parts and components — what they are and what they do
- Thermostat (the valve): a metal cup with a temperature‑sensitive wax pellet and a spring. The wax expands as it warms and pushes a rod/valve to open the flow path to the radiator. Typical opening temp for these Perkins engines is commonly around 82 °C (180 °F) — check the thermostat stamp or workshop manual.
- Thermostat housing (or outlet flange): the cast/aluminum piece bolted to the cylinder head that holds the thermostat and connects to the top radiator hose.
- Gasket / O‑ring / seal: seals the housing to the head to prevent leaks. Could be a paper gasket, metal gasket, or rubber O‑ring depending on model.
- Top radiator hose: carries coolant from the housing to the radiator when the thermostat opens.
- Radiator and fan: radiator rejects heat from coolant; the fan forces air through the radiator.
- Water pump: forces coolant around the engine, through the thermostat bypass when closed, and through the radiator when thermostat opens.
- Bypass passages: small internal passages that let coolant circulate locally when the thermostat is closed (prevents hot spots on warm‑up).
- Temperature sensor / sender: an electrical/mechanical sensor that tells the gauge or warning light the coolant temperature. Often located near the thermostat or on the cylinder head.
- Radiator cap: holds system pressure and has a pressure relief valve — raises boiling point and controls overflow.
- Drain plug / petcock: used to drain coolant from block/radiator for service.

Analogy: Think of the thermostat as a traffic gate between the engine and the radiator. When the engine is cold, the gate is closed so traffic (hot coolant) circulates only around the engine (local loop) to warm it quickly. Once the engine reaches the correct speed/temperature, the gate opens and lets traffic flow through the radiator (the highway) to cool the coolant down.

Why you do this repair (the theory)
- Thermostat failures cause two main problems:
- Stuck closed: no coolant flows to the radiator -> rapid overheating. Like a gate permanently closed while cars pile up behind it.
- Stuck open: coolant always flows through radiator -> engine runs too cool. This causes poor fuel burn, excessive wear, slow warm‑up and poor heater performance.
- Even if the thermostat works, the housing or gasket can leak or corrode, causing coolant loss or air ingress (airlocks) that cause overheating or erratic gauge readings.
- Routine replacement is cheap insurance; thermal valves age, seals deteriorate, and corrosion/gunk can stop proper seating.

What can go wrong with the system
- Thermostat stuck closed or jammed by corrosion.
- Thermostat stuck open (spring weakened).
- Wrong thermostat fitted (wrong opening temp or wrong shape so bypass port is blocked).
- Gasket/housing leak (lost coolant or air ingress).
- Air trapped in system (airlock) preventing circulation — engine overheats even with correct thermostat.
- Corroded housing or warped flange (bad seal).
- Faulty temperature sender/gauge causing false indications.
- Radiator blockage, corroded passages, failed water pump, broken fan or loose belt — these are often blamed on thermostat but are separate faults.
- Radiator cap faulty (loss of pressure) lowers boiling point and causes overheating.

Tools & supplies
- New thermostat (correct model and opening temp for your engine).
- New gasket or O‑ring (and a small amount of gasket sealant if required — check gasket type).
- Coolant of correct type (Perkins: use recommended antifreeze, usually ethylene glycol based with corrosion inhibitors; typically 50:50 coolant:water).
- Drain pan, funnel, clean rags.
- Socket set and ratchet, spanners.
- Screwdrivers, pliers, hose clamp pliers.
- Torque wrench (recommended).
- Gasket scraper, wire brush.
- Thermometer (for bench testing thermostat) or an infrared thermometer.
- Safety gloves and eye protection.
- Shop manual (for exact torque and specifics) — strongly recommended.

Safety first
- Work on a cold engine. Hot coolant can spray and burn.
- Dispose of used coolant responsibly — it’s toxic.
- Wear gloves and eye protection.

Step‑by‑step workshop procedure (typical)
1. Preparation
- Park on level ground, engine cold. Place drain pan under radiator/block.
- Remove any panels/accessory items blocking the thermostat housing and top hose.
- Identify thermostat housing (top of engine where top radiator hose meets head).

2. Drain coolant to below the thermostat level
- Open radiator drain (or block drain) and lower coolant level until it’s below the thermostat housing. If you can’t drain enough, you may have to remove hose and expect more coolant loss — be ready.
- Save coolant if clean; otherwise discard and refill.

3. Remove top radiator hose and housing
- Loosen hose clamp and withdraw top hose from thermostat housing.
- Unbolt thermostat housing (keep bolts in order — they may be different lengths).
- Lift housing off carefully; some coolant will spill. Put it into drain pan.

4. Remove thermostat and inspect
- Pull out thermostat. Note orientation: spring (smaller end) faces into the engine/block. This is important — install exactly the same way.
- Inspect the housing, O‑ring/gasket and mating surface for corrosion, pitting, gasket remnants and clean thoroughly.
- Check for a bypass lug/slot — ensure you match the thermostat orientation so bypass holes line up (if your thermostat has a cut‑out or a groove for bypass).

5. Inspect related components
- Look inside the block for corrosion, debris or a stuck thermostat.
- Inspect top radiator hose for collapse or damage and replace if soft.
- Check radiator cap condition and fan belt tension; inspect water pump for leaks.

6. Fit new thermostat and gasket
- Fit new gasket / O‑ring to the thermostat or housing. If using a gasket that needs sealant, use a thin smear only as manufacturer recommends.
- Insert thermostat with spring toward engine/block.
- Place housing over thermostat carefully, aligning bolt holes and any bypass ports.
- Start bolts by hand and tighten evenly in a crisscross pattern. Tighten to spec. Typical small M6 bolts are approx 8–12 Nm (6–9 ft‑lb); M8 bolts ~20–25 Nm (15–18 ft‑lb) — check your manual. Do not overtighten or crush the gasket.

7. Reattach hose(s)
- Re‑fit top radiator hose and tighten hose clamp securely (but not cutting the hose).
- Replace any sensor removed; ensure electrical connectors are clean and secure.

8. Refill and bleed the cooling system
- Refill with the correct coolant mix. Fill slowly to avoid trapping air.
- Bleeding: many Perkins engines have a bleed screw at the cylinder head or near the thermostat housing. Open it while filling to let air escape. If no screw, leave the radiator cap off, start the engine, and run at idle with heater on full heat — let air work its way out. Squeeze upper and lower hoses to help dislodge air. When thermostat opens the top hose will get hot and level will drop; top up coolant immediately.
- When no more bubbles appear and level is steady, close bleed screw and fit radiator cap.

9. Run and check
- Run engine until normal operating temperature is reached. Watch temperature gauge and check for leaks around housing and hoses.
- Verify the top hose gets hot when thermostat opens; gauge should rise normally then stabilize.
- Let engine cool and recheck coolant level; top up if necessary.

Thermostat bench test (optional, useful)
- Suspend thermostat in a pot of water with a thermometer. Heat slowly and watch. Note the temperature where the valve begins to open and when fully open. Compare to stamped opening temp. Do not boil or exceed safe temps; use gloved tongs. If it doesn’t open near its rated temp, replace it.

Common gotchas and troubleshooting
- Wrong orientation: installing spring to radiator side can prevent thermostat from sensing correctly — always spring to block.
- Gasket misfit: wrong gasket or missing notch for bypass will trap coolant and cause overheating.
- Air pockets: even after correct installation, air trapped in head or heater core will cause localized overheating. Proper bleeding is crucial.
- Corroded housing faces: pitting leads to leaks even with new gasket — light sanding and cleaning required; if too pitted, replace housing.
- Radiator cap/pressure issues mimic thermostat problems — a bad cap can cause boiling/overheating even if thermostat OK.
- Thermostat opens but engine still overheats: check water pump, blocked radiator, collapsed hose, fan or belt.
- Thermostat opens late or not at correct temp: replace with correct spec thermostat.

Parts to always replace when in doubt
- Thermostat (cheap and critical).
- Gasket / O‑ring.
- Hose clamps (spring clamps can lose tension) and suspect hoses.
- Radiator cap if old or not holding pressure.

Torque and orientation summary (recap)
- Thermostat spring toward engine/block.
- Tighten housing bolts evenly. Typical torque ranges: M6 ≈ 8–12 Nm (6–9 ft‑lb), M8 ≈ 20–25 Nm (15–18 ft‑lb). Always confirm with the workshop manual for your engine.

Final checks
- After test run and cool down, recheck coolant level and tighten any clamps.
- Monitor temperature and coolant level over a few days of operation.
- If overheating persists, trace other cooling system components: radiator, pump, hoses, cap, fan belt or head gasket.

That covers the components, theory, workshop steps, tests and what can fail. Follow the steps methodically and replace the thermostat, gasket, and any suspect hoses; bleed the system properly; keep an eye on temperature after the job.
rteeqp73

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