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Diesel Fuel in Oil

T

thirdrock

Member
Recently had oem diesel injectors rebuilt on a 1980 Ford 540. Prior
to rebuild tractor ran well but would constantly blow a bit of grayish
smoke even when warmed up. Tractor ran better with less smoke
after rebuilt injectors were installed. It has maybe 10 hours on it since
injectors were installed. I checked the oil and noticed it a bit overfull.
There is a scent of diesel on the dipstick.

I did notice that there was a slight fuel leak where circled in the
photo. I hadnt tightened it down properlyhave now resolved that &
havent turned the tractor back on. I guess I had been running 10
hours or so with it dripping slightly.

Do you think a leak in that location could have introduced diesel into
the engine oil? If not, what diagnostics should I perform next?

Im waiting to change the engine oil / filter until I resolve this.
cvphoto164206.jpg
 
The injector nut is an external leak, not into oil. What CAN put fuel into oil is the Thermostart intake heater if engine has one or the injection pump drive hub seal which I have been seeing more lately on pumps I get in for repair. Another common leak is an engine operated supply pump if fitted. Your Ford does not have one though.
 
The IH Ambac M100 pumps usually leak at the lower head seal, control unit O ring, or the gear pump assembly. I just went through a 1086 pump for the same trouble.
 
If you are just pttering around idling with it a lot will let the fuel washout the rings and allow fuel into the oil by the piston rings. IT doesn't have to be run wide open either just run it up around a 1000 RPM or so when using it .Just not idling every place. I can't get dad to move his loader off idle while running and it smokes so the skeeters will be gone therefrom the fuel smoke out of it. If ran at a higher throttle it quits. Other wise it has to be a internal leak like pump seal.
 


Excessive running time at below normal operating temperature will cause oil dilution by fuel. Running at high idle will keep a hot diesel from cooling off so quickly as idling, but to get it up to temp in the first place you need to do some work with it to put a load on the motor.
 
I've pulled the dipsticks on every diesel engine on the farm and sniffed them... They ALL smell of diesel fuel, and the gasoline tractors all smell of gasoline. I don't think there's anything alarmingly wrong with any of them.

The point is, smelling the oil doesn't prove anything because it's always going to smell like the fuel that the engine burns.
 
Most likely the power steering pump (if equipped) is leaking at the front seal, into the oil and causing the level to rise... very very very common with a bit of wear/wobble on the power steering shaft and a 60 year old front seal.... The power steering level will slowly go down and the oil level will more slowly go up. Second most common would be the engine mounted hydraulic pump having a bad seal... Third likely would be a bad seal in the injection pump is leaking into the crank case... and 4th likely is a dribbling injector is leaking into the engine... are the odds.... but you could be the odd man out.
 
(quoted from post at 07:43:35 10/05/23) I've pulled the dipsticks on every diesel engine on the farm and sniffed them... They ALL smell of diesel fuel, and the gasoline tractors all smell of gasoline. I don't think there's anything alarmingly wrong with any of them.

The point is, smelling the oil doesn't prove anything because it's always going to smell like the fuel that the engine burns.
Click to expand...


I agree. to me they all smell like what they're burning after you run it a while and the new oil smell leaves.
 
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