1960 Massey Ferguson TO35 water in oil

racingjoe66 · May 22, 2018

Okay guys, I just picked up a 1960 Massey Ferguson TO35. It has water in the oil which I have confirmed by cracking open the oil drain plug and nothing but coolant drops are coming out of it. The oil on the dipstick is like a melted chocholate milk shake. I pulled all 4 spark plugs and the front and rear one are bone dry and look great as are the cylinders inside are dry. Now for #2 & #3 the middle cylinders they are both wet on the plugs and you can see water droplets around the top edge of the cylinder wall. I did a compression test and from the front to back its 140, 140, 140, 150 with the back cylinder the highest. So would it be same to assume the head gasket is okay since the compressions are okay and its most likely a cracked block between the 2 middle cylinders?

Is it worth a shot to try some liquid glass to try to seal it up before tearing it down? If so what stuff do you guys suggest to try?

Thanks for any and all input and help

drs1023 · May 22, 2018

The compression check won't necessarily tell you if the head gasket is blown or not. If the gasket is blown outside the cylinders, the compression could still check ok. Did you get any info from the other guy? I would drain the pan, change the oil filter, top off the coolant and start it up for 5 minutes, or until the thermostat opens. Check the oil and coolant both for contamination at this time. When I got my '61, it was toast from a bad oil pump, and $2500.00 later, it's near perfect.

racingjoe66 · May 22, 2018

No info from the guy, he wasn't mechanical inclined at all unfortantly. Him and his wife bought it from the original owner and he has since passed and this couple didn't do any maintenance to it at all. The Distributor hold down bolt was out about 1/4", the wire from the coil to the distributor was loose, the spark plug wires look to be cut down from longer ones so just wires going into the distributor end and the power steering pump had no fluid in it (thankfully I put fluid in it and it worked instantly before I bought it).

I have a new oil filter on its way and should be here in 1 - 2 days and planned on changing the oil out. Just going to use some cheap 10w30 oil to change out this first time and flush the system. Then will do another change with some semisynthetic 15w40 when the leak problem is figured out.

If the outside part of the head gasket is bad, can it still leak coolant into the 2 middle cylinders itself? Hence the water droplets on the tops of the cylinder walls.

drs1023 · May 22, 2018

I've seen them blow and leak exhaust only as well as oil and water mixing. I'd guess you'll have to replace the gasket. It won't hurt to drop the pan and change the rod and main bearings too. If the cylinders aren't well worn out, rings are cheap at this point. Then you're looking at many years of dependability after the work.

racingjoe66 · May 22, 2018

Thanks for the info

I suppose to tell if it is the head gasket for sure would be to do a leak down test? Yea deff wouldn't be a bad idea to change out the bearings as well and possible rings. Just hoping the block's not cracked and hoping it is just the head gasket.

racingjoe66 · Jun 11, 2018

Did a leakdown test and when doing that I could see fresh coolant sitting ontop of both #2 & #3 cylinders before doing the test. While doing the test on those 2 cylinders they both pushed coolant up and out of the radiator. #2 also could feel a little air coming out of the oil dipstick tube. #1 & #5 cylinders were good.

head gasket or cracked block between those 2 cylinders?

drs1023 · Jun 12, 2018

Probably head gasket between the cylinders

racingjoe66 · Jun 12, 2018

That's what I am hoping it is.

WranglerX · Jun 13, 2018

Your diagnosis of leak down and pushing coolant out radiator screams head gasket to me... BUT keep fingers crossed that is all it is....IF you go into it, check to be sure head is not warped, simple surface grind at automotive machine shop can take out any warp if not to severe...

Dale

racingjoe66 · Jun 13, 2018

Thanks Dale! My fingers and toes are both crossed its only the head gasket between the 2 cylinders. If I took the head off, I would deff have it shaved to a flat surface as well as go through the whole head before putting it back on.

I was thinking about trying some liquid glass seal up stuff and see if that seals it up first before tearing it down. Any thoughts on trying that stuff?