Overheated my '57 Ford 860; now leaks oil

botemout · Jun 5, 2011

I've been mowing down very large stands of multi-flora rose (nastiest plant that's ever evolved on planet Earth) over the weekend. This is very hard work for my 54 year old tractor (with 6' bush hog). These plants are 8-9' high and I'm mowing up and down pretty steep hills. Everything was going fine but I didn't notice that my radiator grill had gotten clogged up with seeds, leaves, and flower petals which caused the engine temperature to rise and it overheated (fluid pouring out of what looks like an overflow hose).

I went out the next morning and it started right up (love this machine!) but later in the day I noticed my oil pressure dropping. I checked the oil (which was low), added more and kept working. When I parked it earlier tonight it was leaking pretty bad (one drop every second or so).

So, I suspect that overheating it caused some warping of, perhaps, the oil pan gasket? Anything else that might cause this?

Thanks
JR

Wayne_H · Jun 6, 2011

It is hard for me to imagine how overheating an engine is related to an oil leak. I guess the first thing I'd do is figure out what is leaking. It could be very simple, and it could be a seal or something more involved. It does not sound like you over heated it too much, it runs the next day and did not stop running because it was too hot.

If it is the oil pan gasket, that would most certainly not be related to the hot run.

Wayne

botemout · Jun 6, 2011

Wayne_H said:
It is hard for me to imagine how overheating an engine is related to an oil leak. I guess the first thing I'd do is figure out what is leaking. It could be very simple, and it could be a seal or something more involved. It does not sound like you over heated it too much, it runs the next day and did not stop running because it was too hot.

If it is the oil pan gasket, that would most certainly not be related to the hot run.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne. I'll have to clean the motor to figure out where it's leaking from. Btw, it did stop running (i.e., it stalled) that first day when I overheated it. After resting a night though it started right back up and ran fine with good power.

kebo · Jun 6, 2011

Is the oil pressure come back up to where it was prior to the overheating??? If it's still low, that is indicative some internal damage might have occurred.

botemout · Jun 6, 2011

kebo said:
Is the oil pressure come back up to where it was prior to the overheating??? If it's still low, that is indicative some internal damage might have occurred.

If the oil level is where it should be it seems to hold about 40-50lbs.

handirifle · Jun 7, 2011

It's very easy to cause an oil leak from overheating an engine. You could blow a head gasket, which COULD leak oil out the side of the head, it that's where it blew. You could have cracked the block, if the head gasket blew internally, it might be leaking into the water. Check the dipstick for foamy oil, that means water's in it.

A blown head gasket could also cause lots of crankcase pressure and forces it to vent out a valve cover gasket. When it's running you'd notice a lot of blowby pressure coming out the oil filler cap.

The most common damage caused by overheating IS a blown head gasket. Find where the oil is coming out, and you'll be able to tell what's pushing it out.

Ford tractor · Jun 9, 2011

Probably blew the head gasket. Could have cracked the valve seat area on the head allowing oil into the exhaust or intake flow. Could have cracked the block too, but not as likely as the old 172 block was pretty tough.

One thing I've learned -- continuing to run it won't help and will probably cause a lot more severe damage.