Sludge question

[Psychoframer]

Okay, so I don't have a terribly extensive background in mechanics, but I'm willing to learn and I read a lot. My NAA is relatively new to me so I thought I'd change the oil. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the larger oil plug off. Apparently, the last owner couldn't and drilled up through it and replaced it with a smaller plug. I was curious to see what if anything was lurking in the oil pan so I dropped that. The screen looked a little bent, but was still intact. However, when I dropped it there seemed to be a little drip of water coming from one of the bolts. Now, like I said I don't know a lot about mechanics, but I also know oil and water don't mix. When I actually took it off the pan it had dark oil throughout, but slightly lighter gray sludge at the ends. Is that okay, or should I go looking for other issues?

 

[whodat526]

Okay, so I don't have a terribly extensive background in mechanics, but I'm willing to learn and I read a lot. My NAA is relatively new to me so I thought I'd change the oil. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the larger oil plug off. Apparently, the last owner couldn't and drilled up through it and replaced it with a smaller plug. I was curious to see what if anything was lurking in the oil pan so I dropped that. The screen looked a little bent, but was still intact. However, when I dropped it there seemed to be a little drip of water coming from one of the bolts. Now, like I said I don't know a lot about mechanics, but I also know oil and water don't mix. When I actually took it off the pan it had dark oil throughout, but slightly lighter gray sludge at the ends. Is that okay, or should I go looking for other issues?

i would flush it is with diesel and clean the pan real good and get all the lighter gray stuff out then change the oil and filter and run and see if any water is getting into the oil because that would make the lighter gray lookin stuff

 

[jonyyuma]

Which bolts dripped? If it is anti-freeze, then you might coat that bolt. Condensation? Gray sludge is normal in machinery that age, could be from cold-oil changes...Quakerstate oil did it to one of my cars, years ago.? Plus those big drain plugs fit very tight...Jy.

 

[Jbrink64]

If the gray is mixed with the oil, suspect water or antifreeze in the oil. If the gray is kinda like muck in the engine, it could be lead from years of leaded gas use. Flush it out as previously mentioned, and see how it behaves.

 

[Psychoframer]

Really only one bolt leaked. It was one closest to the gear shifter on the right hand side. So as your sitting on the tractor it would be the one closest to your right foot. Not a lot, but maybe 20 drips or so.

I warmed the tractor up before I began the oil change, but after finding the oil plug didn't want to cooperate it had cooled down considerably. I'll clean the pan good and go from there with what people have recommended. I've been experimenting with cleaning some of my sheet metal with electroloysis and so far I've been very pleased. I'd just like the weather to cooperate a little to see how well it might work if it wasn't freezing out. I'll dunk the oil pan over night and see how it goes.

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it!

 

[Soundguy]

shouldn't be water that low in the block me thinks..

also.. take this time to get that stuck bung drain out.

soundguy

 

[willfick]

And if the drain plug already has a hole through it you're half-way there.

 

[Soundguy]

might not be that easy.. the oil pan drain bung on a ford is aftually a flanged arangement abut 2" around.. has a flat square head in the center that people like to mangle up with adjustable wrenches and pipe wrenches after the el-cheap-o previous owner put it on with no gasket and instead used gasket glue, or used a mountain gorilla to torque it to 15 bajillion pounds to keep it from leaking...

at least all the fords I've ever bought were like that... it's really unfortunate since you can make like 12 gaskets out of a sheet of 8.5x11 card stock and an exacto knife.. in about 5 minutes. a cerial box or shoe box will work too.

soundguy

 

[Psychoframer]

Good news and bad news. I dunked the oil pan overnight and now it looks fantastic. I figured a night in the electrolysis bath might loosen up the plug as well. I must have some lowland mountain gorilla in me, because when I put the whole pan in my vice I promptly snapped the plug off. Now I thought I'm really up the creek without a paddle, but this where it's good to have friends. I took it to my friends that own a tire shop, they have a bigger shop, bigger wrenches, and after twenty minutes wrestling with it a bigger vocabulary, but they got it. I got a new drain plug and screen and I'll be slapping them on tomorrow.

 

[Soundguy]

actually.. once the center broke out.. it probably helped you by relieving pressure. all the oem caps are cast.. and once that center broke out.. you could chissle it saw cut it from the id pretty easilly.. that.. or still weld a big fastener to it.. I found that has never failed so far..

soundguy