Ford 1910 Fuel in the Oil and Puking Out Breather Tube

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

My tractor sits a lot but is in great shape. It's a 1984 Shibaura (Ford) model 1910 3 cyl diesel.

It starts but is reluctant to do so. Takes about 20-30 seconds of cranking (after 10 seconds of glow plug warm-up) when cold to get it to catch. The other day, while I was using it and the engine was up to temp, I noticed it puking "watery" oil out of the breather tube that goes to the head cover. Checked the dipstick and it was way over full of the watery oil.

First, what's likely wrong? I won't start it again until I change the oil, but I need to find the root cause.

Second, what's a good source for parts like injectors? I see lots of 20-series parts online, but not much out there for the 10-series.

Thanks in advance.

Jim

thclimer · Sep 30, 2022

Is your antifreeze level low?

Can you smell any diesel in the "watery oil mix" this would be my guess as to what's in your oil? This could possibly be caused by a leaking seal in your pump.

I'm sure others will ask additional questions.

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

Antifreeze is full. The oil smells like diesel. No foam or froth.

Assuming you mean the diesel injector pump?

thclimer · Sep 30, 2022

Yes, the injector pump.

Here are a few posts to review:

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fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

Thanks for these. Sounds like the right course of action would be to check/test the lift pump (if it has one - guess that's step one) then see about rebuilding the injector pump?

Robin Veerman · Sep 30, 2022

If your tractor has a lift pump check the diaphragm for any holes. It likely has a pin hole which would cause diesel to leak into the engine oil. Better yet order the seals before disassembly and replace. Always check the oil before running the tractor. A good habit. You’ve no idea how close you’ve come to a “runaway”….

ROUSTABOUT · Sep 30, 2022

If it isn't smoking I would not think the pump needs rebuilt. Does the inj pump have its own crank case and oil level? Our old Ford's do. This sounds like something you can fix without removing the pump. We nave a 1900 we bought new in 1980. Never started quick since new. Have the hit the glow plugs even in summer. Just put the third water pump on it. My grandaddy truck patched 40 acres with it for 10 years, so it has worked. Just replaced the original tires this year too. We also had 4 Tyson layer houses for years. It has done it's share. Plus we still do a large garden with it. It's our post hole driller too.

5030 · Sep 30, 2022

Robin Veerman said:
If your tractor has a lift pump check the diaphragm for any holes. It likely has a pin hole which would cause diesel to leak into the engine oil. Better yet order the seals before disassembly and replace. Always check the oil before running the tractor. A good habit. You’ve no idea how close you’ve come to a “runaway”….

Not sure about a run away but spun bearings for sure. First thing I ALWAYS do before starting either of mine is I check the engine oil and transmission oil and thump the tires.

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

It doesn't smoke, so that's good. Not sure about whether the pump has it's own crankcase and oil. I'll go check.

Maybe there's a way to add a photo that would help on here. I'll give it a try.

And I'll see if I can identify if it has a lift pump.

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

5030 said:
Not sure about a run away but spun bearings for sure. First thing I ALWAYS do before starting either of mine is I check the engine oil and transmission oil and thump the tires.

Good advice. Thanks.

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

ROUSTABOUT said:
If it isn't smoking I would not think the pump needs rebuilt. Does the inj pump have its own crank case and oil level? Our old Ford's do. This sounds like something you can fix without removing the pump. We nave a 1900 we bought new in 1980. Never started quick since new. Have the hit the glow plugs even in summer. Just put the third water pump on it. My grandaddy truck patched 40 acres with it for 10 years, so it has worked. Just replaced the original tires this year too. We also had 4 Tyson layer houses for years. It has done it's share. Plus we still do a large garden with it. It's our post hole driller too.

Okay. Doesn't look like there's something I can identify as a lift pump, but here are a few pics to give you an idea.

-Jim

ROUSTABOUT · Sep 30, 2022

fourbrads said:
Okay. Doesn't look like there's something I can identify as a lift pump, but here are a few pics to give you an idea.

-Jim

View attachment 764554 View attachment 764555 View attachment 764556

Have you ever checked the oil in the injection pump itself? We check six tractors every time we bale hay or use for an extended period.

Never mentioned a lift pump. Fuel is gravity fed on mine. It has oil in the injector pump. The big flat head screw under that tag in first pic is upper level oil check. Lower left is drain to change it

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

ROUSTABOUT said:
Have you ever checked the oil in the injection pump itself? We check six tractors every time we bale hay or use for an extended period.

Never mentioned a lift pump. Fuel is gravity fed on mine. It has oil in the injector pump. The big flat head screw under that tag in first pic is upper level oil check. Lower left is drain to change it

I have never checked it. Is it like a differential where the fill level is the bottom of the screw hole?

And, does it take the standard 10-30? Or gear oil?

ROUSTABOUT · Sep 30, 2022

fourbrads said:
I have never checked it. Is it like a differential where the fill level is the bottom of the screw hole?

And, does it take the standard 10-30? Or gear oil?

Takes engine oil. Injector pumps don't run long dry. We check our big tractors before each use. Little one don't get used much these days, but it gets checked when it does.

chander · Sep 30, 2022

There isn't a lift pump on that model. As for the starting on those models, you have to always use the glow plugs.
Check the resistance of the glow plugs and make sure they are getting power.
If I remember correctly, there isn't a oil overflow line connected to that injection pump. Could the diesel be leaking out of the pump by the gear into the crankcase?
There is a very good pump guy on this site, he hopefully will chime in and answer that question.

azbinder · Sep 30, 2022

Item #18 is shaft seal to keep oil/fuel out of the crankcase. Need to pull the injection pump to replace. Sounds like fuel is leaking past the plungers in the pump. Will over fill the lube oil in the pump and force it past the seal #18. Would suggest sending the pump to a pump repair shop.

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

azbinder said:
Item #18 is shaft seal to keep oil/fuel out of the crankcase. Need to pull the injection pump to replace. Sounds like fuel is leaking past the plungers in the pump. Will over fill the lube oil in the pump and force it past the seal #18. Would suggest sending the pump to a pump repair shop.

View attachment 764578

Well, that's not great news, but sounds like what my issue may be. Bummer.

Is there someone on this site that folks here trust to do such repairs?

Thanks for the advice.

Jim

fourbrads · Sep 30, 2022

chander said:
There isn't a lift pump on that model. As for the starting on those models, you have to always use the glow plugs.
Check the resistance of the glow plugs and make sure they are getting power.
If I remember correctly, there isn't a oil overflow line connected to that injection pump. Could the diesel be leaking out of the pump by the gear into the crankcase?
There is a very good pump guy on this site, he hopefully will chime in and answer that question.

I'll check the glow plugs. I've only owned it a couple of years and it's been stubborn to start since I got it.

Found my (poorly laid out and confusing) shop manual and I don't see an oil overflow either. But it does show that the pump is lubricated via the engine oil. Cap on top for adding a bit of oil when you do the standard oil change so you don't start it dry.

Thank you.

chander · Sep 30, 2022

Try contacting ( pumpserviceguysc), he is a injection pump specialist.

Does your glow plug indicator glow after about 10 seconds of turning the key to the preheat position?
All of my 10 series tractors, even if it is warm out, require a preheat to start.

As other have mentioned, the injection pump uses the same oil that you use in the engine.

You may want to start a new post in the ford forum, I think you may be able to request this post to be moved to that section.