Engine Oil in Radiator

[Rick Comenzo]

We have a problem at work with an ag tractor-Ford 555 3 cylinder diesel. I pulled and disassembled the engine,had the head and block boiled, magnafluxed, pressure tested, crank polished, block bored 20 over, new pistons, rings, etc. . the machinist swears he checked everything. Reinstalled engine, ran for 2 hours with no load, up to operating temperature, lost 1 quart of fresh engine oil into the cooling system. Ok so then I removed the thermostat and reflushed the cooling system, same problem again, this engine has NO oil cooler, will hold 18 psi on cooling system, also passed combustion gas liquid test. Any ideas or suggestions?Thanks in advance. Rick.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Ford 555

Rick,



I'm not real familar with that engine(Ford 201 CID?) but it could have a drilled oil passage going from the block to the head to lubricate the overhead valve train. If that's the case you may have a leak in your head gasket or the incorrect gasket which lets the oil go to the water jacket. The oil pressure is higher than the coolant pressure and is forced into the cooling system. Since you magna-fluxed and pressure tested the head, there shouldn't be a crack in the head.



Good luck!!



Bill

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I dont work on engines anywhere near that small, but from what you are describing, i would have to say its a bad head gasket. I have seen similar problems in gas engines. Bill has it right i think, i would agree with his idea of the trouble.

 

[Rick Comenzo]

oil in cooling system

Thanks for the replies, the head gasket has been changed twice in this engine, also the block has been decked, cylinder head resurfaced. The head gasket looked like new, both times. I suspect porosity in one of the cylinder bores as coolant ( a small amount) was in the engine oil. This engine is a 3 cylinder non sleeve motor,4. 40 bore. This problem has us stumped!Thanks. Rick.

 

[illflem]

Rick, I was thinking head gasket along with the others but with a different twist- you might have gotten the wrong one(twice). Similar thing happened to me on a 232 Chevy that everyone said was a 235, same symptoms as you describe, oil in the coolant. 235 gasket was a hair different, but everything looked lined up. After replacing three gaskets and finally figuring out which engine I really had getting the right gasket made all the difference...

 

[Rick Comenzo]

Thanks for the head gasket suggestion, we'll recheck it! I tore this motor down for 2 reasons, oil in the radiator and engine blowby puffed like a steam locomotive. The cylinder bores were worn 15 thousands+, motor had no power but ran ok. The replacement head gasket matched the original form the factory, this motor was never opened from new. The machinist ground the valves and seats and checked the head for cracks , I doubt he overlooked anything. We'll keep digging. Rick.

 

[Archive]

I would pressure test the coolant passages in the cylinder head. Has the engine ever been run hot that you are aware of ?

 

[Rick Comenzo]

Thanks Topfuel, I will check with the rebuilder tomorrow. Rick.

 

[Fastmach]

Hi Rick A different engine with the same problem that you have. It really cut my butt, and I was ready to sign the book admitting it I went thru all the things that you have already done. No success The sneaky little ******* leak was finally found in a hidden crack down between an injector and the injector bore in the head I found it on the last injector I pulled. That figures. Replaced head to solve problem JD 350 Crawler

 

[Rick Comenzo]

Engine Oil in Radiator.

Thanks for all the ideas for this problem. I spoke to the engine rebuilder today, he says from his sources there is an inherent defect with these blocks. He is supplying a replacement block that will be rebuilt at no additional cost. rick.