Coolant in Oil

adventure bob · Nov 10, 2016

The minimum machine work depends on some of the testing you've already had done: I'm assuming you had it magnafluxed and/or pressure tested? Howd the results go? If there are no issues with the head and its flat at the deck, you may get away with doing nothing to the head. If it pressure tested fine at the valves and you were on a tight budget Id leave them alone. Ooops more later computer is applying an update.

adventure bob · Nov 10, 2016

You haven't said if they found a leak in the head so I'm assuming you still don't know why you had the original issue.
If the valves or stem seals leaked, Id replace the valves and have them do the machine work for that and replace the valve seals.
Some of the machining on the block would be based on a diagnosis from: hot tank, pressure check and magnaflux for cracks.
If there's no issues in the block you can choose how much "freshening" you want to do. New bearings? deck the block? New sleeves?
As in my original response, finding nothing wrong isn't really helpful in diagnosing your original issue though.

KubotaSteve · Nov 10, 2016

I'm still waiting on the results from the head. They had hoped to get to it this week but I haven't heard anything yet. I'm gonna clean the valves up some. I didn't take the block out as I have no way to handle it due to weight. I'm still leaning towards the head gasket being the issue. If I get a good report on the head, I'm gonna put it all back together and see how it does. If it happens again, I may have to have someone come and get it to work on it at their shop

adventure bob · Nov 10, 2016

You may want to take get a machinist rule and check the block. It wont be totally accurate but you can get close enough. Run it corner to corner and try to slip a feeler gauge under it. If it seems pretty flat then it may be ok. You haven't unbolted the crank or any of the internals yet have you?

melli · Nov 11, 2016

Did you do a compression test before you pulled the head?
I second Adventure Bob's suggestion. I'd also get some light on block and look for hairline cracks on top of block, especially around bores.
I had an engine blow up this way (coolant in oil). New head gasket masked symptoms for a few days, then I really cracked block....lol
Didn't need a light the second time around...

KubotaSteve · Nov 11, 2016

I took the oil pan off today and looked up inside. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I looked the block over top and bottom and I didn't see anything. I was actually looking at the real precision straight edges online.
I haven't taken anything off the internals as they all look good. Still no word on the head yet.
The reason I'm leaning towards head gasket is that the head bolts seemed a lot tighter than the specs. I'm thinking someone replaced it and overtightened it.
I didn't do a compression check before pulling head. I realize now that I should have done that first but hind sight is always 20/20

adventure bob · Nov 12, 2016

How do the cylinders look for wear and tear? Do you see any evidence of blow by from the bottom end? any weird wear patterns in the cylinders?

KubotaSteve · Nov 15, 2016

Everything looked fine to me, but to be on the safe side I'm having a mechanic come by and take a look at it either today or tomorrow. He wants to check the bearings as well to make sure they aren't hurt. He also mentioned pulling the water pump off and looking at it as well. Depending on his advice and the results of the head tests will tell me what my next move will be. If all is well, I hope to have it back together in the next week or so.

KubotaSteve · Nov 18, 2016

Well I got the head back today and it was good for the most part. They did resurface the head and cleaned it real good. picked up new gasket set and getting ready to reassemble it. I've already got the head put back together. John Deere dealer did not have all the head bolts in stock, but I'll have them Monday. Also found a bypass hose on water pump that needed replacing as it is a molded hose and someone replaced with cheap hose that was pinched off.
Any other tips or suggestions putting it back together.