Oil in radiator

Nikolas Britton · Jul 9, 2008

How crazy would it be to flush the antifreeze out of the radiator and refill it with motor oil?

I ask because the tractor has a bad head gasket, the engine runs fine but antifreeze slowly leaks into the crankcase and contaminates the oil.

Isn't oil a better heat transfer fluid then water?

Thanks!

Anonymous-0 · Jul 9, 2008

That has been used for just what you say just use a 10wt and dont worry about leaking head gasket.

JimAg · Jul 9, 2008

Oil is NOT as good a heat transfere fluid as water.

MarkB_MI · Jul 9, 2008

Water is used as a coolant because it has a high specific heat. Water has a specific heat of 1 Btu/lb, oil is around .5 Btu/lb.

If it wasn't for its specific heat, we would certainly use some other substance as a coolant; one that doesn't freeze or boil.

Incidentally, ethylene glycol has a specific heat of around .5 Btu/lb as well, which is why it is a bad idea to run straight antifreeze.

JDknut · Jul 9, 2008

It might rot out the hoses. Oil attacks some rubbers, not sure if radiator hoses are vulnerable, might be a good idee to check that out. But conceptually it sounds like a good idea. It has been done in the past, didn't the old Rumely OilPull use oil as a coolant. And I think that some of the Deutz diesels use oil cooling to supplement air cooling.

rustyfarmall · Jul 9, 2008

FIX IT! If the head gasket is leaking, you are also losing compression, which means the engine is NOT making the horsepower it should, and is no longer efficiently making good use of that high priced fuel you are putting in it. A new head gasket is not all that expensive.

Greenday · Jul 9, 2008

Why not just fix it right and then you dont have to worry about it later.

kyhayman · Jul 9, 2008

Might as well fix it right, I can see a host of problems, from water pumps, to hose and seal failures, to all the scale and deposit migration. Plus, something caused the head gasket to fail.

I just did a head gasket replacement on a 7610 Ford, took a half day to tear down, wait 10 days on the machine shop to check and mill the head (warped 5/1000ths) and a short day to reinstall. Back running better than ever.

Nikolas Britton · Jul 9, 2008

Thanks guys. I do plan on fixing her right, just wanted to know this would work as a method of last resort.

Hopefully when I split the engine it's just the head gasket and not a cracked block.

Unruh · Jul 9, 2008

I remember Dad running Kerosene in the Model A Ford car. Don't remeember any problems.

RAB · Jul 10, 2008

None have commented on your post reading:"antifreeze slowly leaks into the crankcase and contaminates the oil."

Antifreeze in the oil will destroy your bearings. Your 'bearings' will then destroy your crank journals and mains.

Fix it before it is too late. It is not likely to get better, only worse.

RAB

Oil in radiator

Nikolas Britton

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Anonymous-0

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JimAg

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MarkB_MI

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JDknut

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rustyfarmall

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Greenday

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kyhayman

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Nikolas Britton

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Unruh

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RAB

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