Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Harry Ferguson Tractors Discussion Forum
:

Low oil pressure!

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Kenny_T

04-17-2008 20:03:47




Report to Moderator

I have a 1950 TEA 20 that I am fixing up to use on my market garden. I bought it off a guy who said the engine was rebuilt by his mechanic brother and has low hours on the rebuild. It runs very nicely and has good oil pressure when cold, showing 90 on the gauge but when I drove it up and down my field and warmed it up the oil pressure began to drop a lot. Only about 15 or 20 at higher revs and then warmed up at idle it barely registers on the gauge. I am running fresh 20w50 in it once noticing that and the same pressure is the result. The oil that I drained had noticeable metal filings in it. I did a compression test and all 4 cylinders are good, I listened to the crankcase with a stethoscope while revving up the engine and then dropping them and heard no clattering or knocking. The engine actually sounds really good but do you think the bottom end bearings are shot? If so how big a job is it to drop the pan and replace them? I am hoping the gauge is inaccurate but I don't think so because of the high reading when cold. Any input is appreciated. Oh yeah I replaced the oil filter and flushed the engine to rid it of the possible metal if the bearings are wiped.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
AussieDoc

04-18-2008 20:39:50




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Bendee, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
If you didn't have an oil gauge you wouldn't have a problem! :lol:
You said it goes and sound well enough. Why not just drive it and enjoy it? I reckon there are many old tractors out there running well enough without an oil gauge to worry anyone.

Now if it was blowing smoke, running rough etc etc then perhaps that would be a different story.

Just my 2 cents worth. :)



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
John (UK)

04-18-2008 10:47:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
The high oil pressure when cold could be due to the relief valve adjuster being adjusted too high. This is the thick screw on the top of the oil filter with the locknut. It should have about 3/4" thread showing as a rough guide. The correct oil pressure should be between 40 and 60psi at working speed of 1500 rpm (3/4 throttle) with SAE40 oil. The possible reason for the pressure dropping when the oil is hot is that the oil pump requires a new rotor pack, it will be OK while the oil is cold but when it gets warm and thins out it leaks past the worn rotors in the Pump. You should make sure that the Oil Filter, if it is the inclined type, not the vertical type, has the large "washer" or flat disc at the bottom of the filter element to seal the filter and make sure that the oil HAS to pass though the filter element, if it isn't in place it will just by-pass the filter and never get cleaned. When you change the oil filter on the inclined type filter you should always check that this disc is not stuck to the old filter when you throw it away. To get the Sump/oil-pan off is a bit of an ordeal because of all the screws holding it in place, but it is straight forward. Drain the oil and remove the oval plate on the side of the oil pan first, then remove the bottom bolts through the axle carrier and only slacken the other four, you can manage without using a jack, but if you wish, put it under the clutch housing and JUST take the weight. If you just slacken the 4 large bolts in the axle carrier the oil pan will be able to drop out easily. The large bolts enter from the front and the bottom smaller ones enter from the rear. Use a new gasket on the oil pan NOT a liquid gasket sealer or it will start to leak in a short time. Gaskets are available. If the oil pick-up pipe on the oil pump is loose it should be brazed into position which is level, so it will enter the gauze filter in the oil pan. If you remove the oil pan it will be easy to remove the bearing caps on the con-rods to check the condition and if necessary replace them, it will give the size on the back (like 010 will be .010 under-size) if there is nothing like that on the bearing then they MAY be the original standard bearing, again these parts are available. Give the tractor a good wash before you open up the engine and thoroughly clean the oil pan inside, do be careful not to get grit into the engine or it will wear rapidly, so don't do it outside and leave it without an oil pan. Be as clean as possible. You may think it is unnecessary to say all that about being clean but you should see what some do and then wonder why the engine wears out. If you need more info, email me....John

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jerry/MT

04-18-2008 15:23:33




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to John (UK), 04-18-2008 10:47:09  
Good point about the oil pump, John. Some folks have found them to be the culprit for low oil pressure also.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
John (UK)

04-19-2008 04:43:25




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Jerry/MT, 04-18-2008 15:23:33  
Hi Jerry, Most people forget about the Pump and think that is something more sinister like the bearings and Crankshaft needs work, but very often it is the Pump that is worn and that is usually because they don't change the oil as often as they should do. If the suction pipe is loose and the oil level is low it can and will draw air....John



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jerry/MT

04-18-2008 10:37:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
You are using 20W50 oil as I understand it. It"s disconcerting that you found metal shavings when you drained the oil because that is a very bad sign. However, I would check out the relief valve first. If it is stuck open or the spring has been damaged to that it does not close you can observe similar behavior depending on the oil temperature at start up. With cold oil the pressure with a partially open relief valve will be high and when the oil warms and the relief valve doesn"t close, the oil pressure will get low depending on the ammount of opening in the relief valve. It will look like worn bearing behavior.

The shavings tell me you probaby have a bearing problem but I would check the relief valve first and eliminate that as a potential problem before proceeding further into the engine.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
maxwell99

04-18-2008 07:39:27




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
check you gauge first, be sure its working properly.

Worth a try before you tear motor down and depending on how much money you want to invest in the old tractor.

drain oil, change filter, put in straight 30 weight oil with 1 qt of Lucas oil stablizer.

I had a old jeep that had a worn out motor, very low oil pressure, but it still ran good. I used 50 weight Valvoline racing oil in that thing, it ran good and helt average oil pressure for years.

however, must find why you are having the high oil pressure on start, guage, etc:

I do not think the pump could hold that pressure.

good luck with it,

let us know what you find out, only way us KY rednecks learn about our old iron.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bendee

04-18-2008 06:42:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
This is from my car manual.

If the oil pump or relief valve are faulty low pressure will be indicated with the engine both hot and cold,however if the bearings are at fault a fairly high oil pressure will be indicated when the engine is cold but a marked fall in pressure will be noted when the engine is hot.

The metal filings seem to bear out the above.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob (Aust)

04-18-2008 05:40:42




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
I can't find a reference to oil pressure range in the TEA20 Service Manual, except:

[quote:ce8703d577]"Approximate capacity at 50 pounds per square inch is 3.95 gallons per minute at 2,000 RPM."[/quote:ce8703d577]

Which tends to confirm around 50 PSI is normal at 2,000 RPM.

As Rocky suggests you may have new bearings in a worn crank, but that still does not account for 90 PSI cold.

Come to think of it, my original TEA20 oil pressure gauge covers the range from 0 to 60 PSI only. How are you measuring 90 PSI?

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RockyMO

04-18-2008 04:13:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
Hi Kenny, good oil pressure cold that steadily drops when warm is a classic sign of excessive bearing clearence due to wear. Visibly being able to see metal in the oil is also not a good sign. Ultimately you will have to be the judge on when it's time to take it apart but it sounds like that's what you will end up doing. It sounds like you may have got a tractor that had the engine repaired so that it could be sold rather than rebuilt. A rebuilt engine seems to be considerably different depending on whether you are buying or selling. JMHO,

Rocky in MO

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob (Aust)

04-17-2008 22:22:26




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
Vinny. We must have both responded at the same time! The Standard engine will run up to 60 PSI cold.
However, I find 90 PSI a bit doubtful, even if the pressure relief valve was stuck closed. I don't think the pump will make that much pressure?

Hence I suggested check the guage (or try another guage) and check/reset the pressure relief valve in the oil filter housing.

The Standard engine is very robust; no two seem to run at the same oil pressure. However, very low engine oil pressure and high temperatures is not a good sign!

Bob in Oz

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
vinnywv

04-18-2008 00:02:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Bob (Aust), 04-17-2008 22:22:26  
from the looks of the times bob it seems very close to the same time, how ya doin bob, i have seen your postings many times i just want to say hi to ya, i find some of your remarks rather amusing.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob (Aust)

04-17-2008 22:06:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
90 PSI cold, 20 PSI hot - that's one very large drop!

My 1953 TEA20 is 60 PSI cold, 35 to 40 PSI hot.

Check the guage and reset the pressure relief valve?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
vinnywv

04-17-2008 22:02:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: Low oil pressure! in reply to Kenny_T, 04-17-2008 20:03:47  
kenny t, i have a to30 which is a different engine but in it the book it says 15 to 30 pounds of pressure is the norm and later in my book it says thet if pressure exceeds 30 pounds a relief valve opens and bypasses the oil. again its a to 30 but it should not be over thirty pounds according to my book here. hope this helps.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy