Ford 1700 head gasket replacement, how hard to do?

Peter 315 · Dec 30, 2020

How much higher you might be getting fuel into the oil....

rayikeo2 · Dec 30, 2020

Peter 315 said:
How much higher you might be getting fuel into the oil....

Where would the fuel be getting into the oil at? How can I tell if it is fuel?

Oil level has a history of showing overfill when I change oil with the correct amount, this looks like it is above the full mark by about 1/4 inch.

JC-jetro · Dec 30, 2020

rayikeo2 said:
I was able to test run my 1700 today to check for antifreeze leaks at the head gasket. I found one external leak at the thermostat gasket that I had just replaced. Did not see any other external leak. I had replaced the water pump at the same time as the thermostat. There may be an internal head gasket leak which is undetermined at this time. Checked the oil and it is not milky but looks like it shows a higher level on the dipstick. It still looks black, I couldn't tell if it had antifreeze in it. Ran the engine long enough to open the thermostat, the temperature gauge showed normal operating temp and the oil light did not come on. Now I need to replace the thermostat gasket next. (need a good source for the gasket), then thinking about changing the oil and filter. I need some advice about this and more info about possible using stop leak to seal, if necessary. Ray

Ray, below is one source I found for the gasket. The Part # for it is SBA 145996040. You can always buy gasket material, make a template of your damaged gasket, transfer it to gasket material sheet, trace and then cut out with exacto knife, blade , scissors or however you can. You might be able to salvage old gasket by carefully removing the housing and then cover the gasket with some high temp RTV blue , let it skin and put all back together. You can also just use a bead of RTV gasket on the one side of the mating part, let it skin a bit and put it back together.

I had to overhaul my 1700's steering column and could not source a gasket quickly. I cut out one out of corn flex card board, Covered both side in RTV, let it dry out and then used with no issue. Disclaimer, this part was not under any air or liquid pressure and it was just to seal between steering column and the top of bell housing.

Thermostat Gasket
- SBA1459964 - New Holland Compact Tractor Parts

It sounds good so far on the oil, diesel get black quickly specially with 1700 vintage diesel engine. Did you get any white smoke out of the muffler? that could be sign of sucking some antifreeze in to the cylinder and burning with the engine combustion. Oil light has nothing to do with having antifreeze in the oil or not. The pressure sender only register pressure of the liquid that the engine oil pump is making and cannot tell the difference if there is any water/antifreeze presence. So far it's all good and I would not use any " stop leak". I would actually just change the gasket , run the tractor to operating temp and check for leak. if no leaks then will only change oil and the filter at the schedules routine oil change when it comes due. When engine is cold, get a clean bucket and open up the radiator drain petcock and drain some antifreeze in there and look for droplet of oil, that could also be a tell tale sign of head gasket. You can dump it back if your bucket is clean or use a coffee filter to pick up junk if any.

You are on the right track and sure hope it is not the head gasket.

JC,

JC-jetro · Dec 30, 2020

Ray,

you have water and oil passage way in the head. if there is failed gasket then there is potential of a sucking coolant in to combustion chamber or oil circuit. There is no way fuel from your your fuel pump and injector to get in the crankcase other than cylinder wall and that is highly unlikely. Now if you had a gas tractor that was carburated then there is always potential to flood the combustion chamber with gas if the float and needle assembly is stuck open or can't seal because of damage to the needle or seat. Here we're talking potential of coolant getting in the crankcase. if the tractor is stored outside there is a chance of moisture condensation or rain that might get in to crankcase that I don't believe it is your case.

By the way, you should be able to smell diesel in the oil if get a whiff of the dipstick. I don't thing it is what you have.

Just thought of something else, your injector pump input shaft is open to timing cover and if shaft seal leaks and there is potential for it to mix with crankcase oil... but if you ever had that then that would have destroyed your mechanical injector pump due to lack of oil and the pump only takes 2 oz of oil.

JC,

rayikeo2 · Dec 30, 2020

Went to JC's link to order a thermostat gasket, price was good and under $5, got to shipping and it was 12.95, canceled order. $12.95 was probably their minimum charge. I don't need anything additional to add to the order right now, will try to salvage the leaking gasket.

Marinemammal · Aug 19, 2023

I have a Ford 1700 diesel 4wd that lets water out of the radiator cap overflow when it gets warmed up. I have removed the thermostat and installed a new 13 psi cap and it still leaks coolant past the radiator cap. Little bubbles can be seen coming up through the radiator by looking down through the radiator hole when the cap is removed. I have been told that these symptoms mean a leaky head gasket. It has dripped water out of the overflow tube for years when it's warmed up, but recently has gotten worse. I am considering removing the head and replacing the head gasket, but could not find a new gasket at any of the usual places--Amazon, eBay, or Steiner. I haven't tried Ford/NH yet since I live quite far from the dealership, and they seem unwilling to ship me parts.

Any thoughts on the diagnosis or where to get a head gasket?

ROUSTABOUT · Aug 19, 2023

JC-jetro said:
Ray,

you have water and oil passage way in the head. if there is failed gasket then there is potential of a sucking coolant in to combustion chamber or oil circuit. There is no way fuel from your your fuel pump and injector to get in the crankcase other than cylinder wall and that is highly unlikely. Now if you had a gas tractor that was carburated then there is always potential to flood the combustion chamber with gas if the float and needle assembly is stuck open or can't seal because of damage to the needle or seat. Here we're talking potential of coolant getting in the crankcase. if the tractor is stored outside there is a chance of moisture condensation or rain that might get in to crankcase that I don't believe it is your case.

By the way, you should be able to smell diesel in the oil if get a whiff of the dipstick. I don't thing it is what you have.

Just thought of something else, your injector pump input shaft is open to timing cover and if shaft seal leaks and there is potential for it to mix with crankcase oil... but if you ever had that then that would have destroyed your mechanical injector pump due to lack of oil and the pump only takes 2 oz of oil.

JC,

Yes uh huh. Front seal on injector pumps leak oil into engines every day, on diesels.

Marinemammal · Aug 21, 2023

ROUSTABOUT said:
Yes uh huh. Front seal on injector pumps leak oil into engines every day, on diesels.

I am not getting oil into the coolant or coolant into the engine oil.

JC-jetro · Aug 21, 2023

Marinemammal said:
I am not getting oil into the coolant or coolant into the engine oil.

Do the following and make yourself an overflow collection recovery vessel

using a jar of an old Peanut butter. Make sure to consume PB first. Drill the cap just slightly smaller than OD of the rubber overflow hose to have a tight fitting. Put enough of antifreeze in the jar , about 1/2 inch and do make sure the end of the tube is in the liquid. Over flow when engine is hot is normal. it does not appear you have busted head gasket.This marvel of engineering will collect the overflow when engine is hot and gets sucked back in when the engine slowly cools off. I have had that for more than 10 years. You do need some high quality bailing wire to mount the jar in place securely.

That should cost you a nickle!