Coolant in the oil on a H

bobcatdan · Oct 16, 2016

Dropped the oil on the '39 H today with the engine stone cold sitting for a week and I got coolant out first. I wouldn't say a lot, maybe a cup. The oil never looked milky when checked. So besides worse case, the block, where is it know to come from? Tractor otherwise runs great. Per a new oil pressure gauge, great oil pressure.

DanMD · Oct 16, 2016

(quoted from post at 18:08:07 10/16/16) Dropped the oil on the '39 H today with the engine stone cold sitting for a week and I got coolant out first. I wouldn't say a lot, maybe a cup. The oil never looked milky when checked. So besides worse case, the block, where is it know to come from? Tractor otherwise runs great. Per a new oil pressure gauge, great oil pressure.

Head or headgasket.

DanMD · Oct 16, 2016

(quoted from post at 18:08:07 10/16/16) Dropped the oil on the '39 H today with the engine stone cold sitting for a week and I got coolant out first. I wouldn't say a lot, maybe a cup. The oil never looked milky when checked. So besides worse case, the block, where is it know to come from? Tractor otherwise runs great. Per a new oil pressure gauge, great oil pressure.

Head or headgasket.

300jk · Oct 16, 2016

Sure it was coolant ? Maybe water that got in through the the
exhaust ? I had that happen when my 300 was outside and we got a
bunch of rain. If coolant I would also say head gasket. Have
you had problems in the past or is this new ?

bobcatdan · Oct 16, 2016

100% sure it was green coolant. This is the first time I have had any though of a problem. I change it once a year and never noticed it before, although I normally changed with the engine hot, but still never milky. If a head gasket or a head are a real possibility, I'm glad to hear that over only way is a cracked block.

300jk · Oct 16, 2016

I also would say head or head gasket. H engines were prone to cracking near the front of the carb if they got cold enough to freeze. Also look for any cracks near the block drain plug. I am just thinking head gasket which isn't bad. I totally rebuilt my 300 engine and when I started it it had a small coolant leak between number one and number two cylinders. When I went back and re torqued the head it went away. I had the head done at a machine shop and the block was good too . All I am saying is that it doesn't take much to get leakage.

bobcatdan · Oct 16, 2016

Being a mechanic by trade, my first guess was head gasket. Knowing the tractor's entire history and this seemingly to be a new thing, I think a cracked block is very unlikely. But at the same time, I don't know everything about these engines, I don't want to just assume head to find out that's never a problem and it's something eles. I thank everybody for their responses. Now one other thing, if the head is cracked. Can I put any H head on a '39 as my understanding the '39 is different. Mine does seem to be a bit taller since when I replaced the manifold, I had to make a spacer to line the carb up right.

Dennis K (WA) · Oct 16, 2016

Bobcatdan,
Early H engine blocks have a soft plug in the front of the block behind the timing cover plate that bolts to the block. Suggest removing the pan before anything else and see where the antifreeze is coming from. If near the front main it could be the soft plug has rusted away. To replace, the radiator, timing cover, gears and front plate would have to be removed. I think it can be done without engine removal.
good luck
Dennis

300jk · Oct 16, 2016

If it were me I would just try a head gasket since you don't think it is the block. I would start there and see what you can find. O for the head is off you might see where it was leaking. I would start there. Easiest first. Those engines were pretty tough and I bet it is something easy to fix.

teddy52food · Oct 16, 2016

I agree with Dennis. An oil pan gasket is cheaper than a head gasket. I bought one cheap that was overhauled because of coolant in the oil. New gaskets didn't help. It was the soft plug rusted through that was leaking.

bobcatdan · Oct 17, 2016

Thanks to both of you as well. This is something I would have never known. I haven't made up my mine yet as this will be spring at earliest project as I don't want to tie the shop up over winter with this. But I'm kinda thinking a total tear down now. I'm doing things in stages of importance to keep the tractor generally usable with the ultimate restoration coming after the tractor is 100% gone threw to try to avoid many issues once painted. Basically saying, I don't want to be doing a vavle job once it's painted.

Dennis K (WA) · Oct 17, 2016

Sounds like you're making a plan. If I remember right there is one of those soft plugs on the rear of the block also. So if antifreeze comes out of your clutch housing, that would be it.
With the pan off, if you see antifreeze on the camshaft it could be a head gasket as coolant would come down the pushrod holes in the block.
Have fun
Dennis

bobcatdan · Oct 17, 2016

I just had the side cover offor to seal up a leak and saw no sighs in
there of coolant in there, granted it had been sitting in the shop a
few days already. I figure a good going threw is a good idea since I
know the last time the engine was ever opened up was in the late 50's
to early 60's when my great grandfather had it overhauled. The H has
never not ran and I know my grandfather never had to do any engine
work to as he still talks like that overhaul was last year. Now I see
I'm shuffling the stages of restoration as the engine was going to be
the last thing I was going to do.

Coolant in the oil on a H

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