IH C with oil in the radiator

Dewayne W · Jan 14, 2012

I bought a farmall C (not running) that had oil floating on top of the antifreeze and also had antifreeze under the oil in the pan.
I took the head off but nothing was obvious upon inspection. Any ideas or experiences as to why the fluids are mixed in both the radiator AND the crankcase?
I'm holding out hope that it could just be a head gasket issue.

Thanks!

wisbaker · Jan 14, 2012

It could be a head gasket issue OR it could be something cracked (head or block) allowing oil to enter the cooling system (probably when the tractor is running) and coolant into the lubrication system (probably when the tractor is not running). You could of pressure tested the cooling system if you hadn't torn it down, but with the head off you can't. You could have the head checked for flatness and cracks and put it back together and see if you fixed the problem.

gene bender · Jan 14, 2012

I would have removed the pan first and let it set a few days and look for coolant leaking below the sleeves as there is an o-ring at the bottom of the sleeve and they can go bad.

Greg K · Jan 14, 2012

could also be the O-rings on the bottom of the sleeves are cracked or just old. Don't know about the oil in the radiater.

petetx · Jan 15, 2012

since you are that far i would replace the sleeve o-rings along with checking nthe head out

rrlund · Jan 15, 2012

Were those wet sleeves? I thought they were dry. Shows what I know.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 15, 2012

Dewayne,
I replaced the head gasket on my IH C. Thought it was weird that the sleeves were about .010 inches above the rest of the block. Boys at Case IH said that was normal. I'm not sure about that. Are your sleeves level with the block?

I had to re-torque 5 times before the head bolts didn't lose their torque. Tend to think, the head gasket was just mashing out where the sleeves were sticking up.

Hasn't caused me any problems.

I'm sure what I'm about to tell you will cause a reaction here, but in the early 70's a college friend bought a ford pinto. Ford replaced the head gasket twice in under 24,000 miles. Buddy decided we would replace it the 3 time and he coated the head gasket with RTV silicone. That was the last time he had to replace the head gasket.

If there is a next time for me, I'm using a thin coating of RTV on both sides of my head gasket.
George

Icuby · Jan 15, 2012

Had a SMTA gas in the shop a while back with the same problem,found busted cyl.head.

IH C with oil in the radiator

Dewayne W

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wisbaker

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gene bender

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Greg K

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petetx

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rrlund

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Geo-TH,In

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Icuby

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