Diesel in engine oil

[Jerry/MT]

Maybe this was a false alarm? I just went out and checked the oil, and it is the same place it was when I initially filled it with oil (it is not overfull).

I think and hope I was getting a false reading, as it was hard to tell exactly where the level was with the clean oil in it. Now that the oil has a little color to it, it is easy to tell that it is normal (I feel like an idiot). I'll just have to keep an eye on it.

It still has a lack of power though. With no load, it accelerates and sounds normal. With a load that I would consider to be moderate, it seems slow to accelerate. The exhaust is pretty clear at all times. Even when it is under a heavy load, the amount of black smoke is minimal compared to most diesels I have seen. Does anyone have any thoughts on the power issue?

Make sure that your filter(s), both fuel and air, are not clogged. Diesels are pretty simple and baring a timing issue or a bad pump, they need the engine to be in reasonable mechanical condition (read good compression and properly adjusted valves) and have good delivery of clean air and fuel. When is the last time you changed your fuel filter and checked the fuel delivery to the filter? Some times the strainer clogs on the bottom of the tank and rstricts fuel flow. A clogged fuel filter will do the same. Air filters are often neglected and can clog, limiting power also. So check 'em out.

 

[strum456]

Make sure that your filter(s), both fuel and air, are not clogged. Diesels are pretty simple and baring a timing issue or a bad pump, they need the engine to be in reasonable mechanical condition (read good compression and properly adjusted valves) and have good delivery of clean air and fuel. When is the last time you changed your fuel filter and checked the fuel delivery to the filter? Some times the strainer clogs on the bottom of the tank and rstricts fuel flow. A clogged fuel filter will do the same. Air filters are often neglected and can clog, limiting power also. So check 'em out.

Thanks Jerry,

The first thing I did when I got the tractor home was change the fuel filter and clean the water separator. I pulled the air filter and blew it out. Didn't seem that bad, but maybe I should just put a new one on it anyway. Now that you mention it, I remember having the same problem with a 2355 John Deere years ago. That thing ran like a muscle car after I put a new air filter on it.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Thanks Jerry,

The first thing I did when I got the tractor home was change the fuel filter and clean the water separator. I pulled the air filter and blew it out. Didn't seem that bad, but maybe I should just put a new one on it anyway. Now that you mention it, I remember having the same problem with a 2355 John Deere years ago. That thing ran like a muscle car after I put a new air filter on it.

Change the air filter and see if that's the problem.
But also check to make sure that you have good flow from the tank to the filter. The strainer on the tank valve can get clogged with crud (especially if you live in a coastal climate or a high humidity climate) and limit the fuel flow at higher power. It will start and run normally at lower throttle positions but limit fuel on accel and at higher power.

 

[J Penner]

Maybe this was a false alarm? I just went out and checked the oil, and it is the same place it was when I initially filled it with oil (it is not overfull).

I think and hope I was getting a false reading, as it was hard to tell exactly where the level was with the clean oil in it. Now that the oil has a little color to it, it is easy to tell that it is normal (I feel like an idiot). I'll just have to keep an eye on it.

It still has a lack of power though. With no load, it accelerates and sounds normal. With a load that I would consider to be moderate, it seems slow to accelerate. The exhaust is pretty clear at all times. Even when it is under a heavy load, the amount of black smoke is minimal compared to most diesels I have seen. Does anyone have any thoughts on the power issue?

that does sound like late timing of fuel injection

 

[Andrewnewy]

that does sound like late timing of fuel injection

Good to hear it's not Oil/Fuel!

I'd agree, this sound like pump timing, We actually are actually seeing a few fords come through, where the timing on the Pump has slipped over time. we actually did one the other day. Farm had brought it in as while it ran, it had got to the point where it could barely move a roll of hay, Poor of Farmer was thinking the worst, Brought it in and said, 'Think I need a Re-Build!' Boss had a look, Said timing was out, sure enough checked it and it was, fixed in no time.
I was chatting to the farmer last week, and the tractor is running the best it ever has!

 

[rsewill]

Because the tractor is new to you, it might be worth taking it to the dealer for a once over. Peace of mind is worth a lot.

 

[strum456]

Good to hear it's not Oil/Fuel!

I'd agree, this sound like pump timing, We actually are actually seeing a few fords come through, where the timing on the Pump has slipped over time. we actually did one the other day. Farm had brought it in as while it ran, it had got to the point where it could barely move a roll of hay, Poor of Farmer was thinking the worst, Brought it in and said, 'Think I need a Re-Build!' Boss had a look, Said timing was out, sure enough checked it and it was, fixed in no time.
I was chatting to the farmer last week, and the tractor is running the best it ever has!

Thank you very much! Now that I know that the timing can slip out of adjustment, I will look it up in my manual and dig right in. I didn't think that could happen, so I was reluctant to mess with it.

 

[strum456]

I looked up how to set the timing in my book (a ford shop manual). It said to set it at zero, if the pump was internally timed. I you are going to remove the pump without internally timing it, then it said to mark what lines it was on before removal.

It was at zero when I started. I tried rotating it down one line. It would not start, and smoked a lot. Then I took it up past zero one line. It started, but did not rev like it should. It looks like where it was (zero) is the best setting.

I put a new air filter in it. I think it is better, but not a big difference. I am pretty sure the fuel flow is good to the filter, from what I noticed when I bled the system after changing the fuel filter.

What else is there to check? Injectors or valve lash? Is it possible that the timing advance isn't working properly? Can the advance be checked somehow?

 

[grsthegreat]

Have you dumped out all the old fuel and put in a winter blend? with new fuel filter. who knows how long the old fuel sat.

just a thought

 

[whodat526]

Good to hear it's not Oil/Fuel!

I'd agree, this sound like pump timing, We actually are actually seeing a few fords come through, where the timing on the Pump has slipped over time. we actually did one the other day. Farm had brought it in as while it ran, it had got to the point where it could barely move a roll of hay, Poor of Farmer was thinking the worst, Brought it in and said, 'Think I need a Re-Build!' Boss had a look, Said timing was out, sure enough checked it and it was, fixed in no time.
I was chatting to the farmer last week, and the tractor is running the best it ever has!

i have never heard of a rotary injection pump on a ford/nh slip time since they are gear driven and either have three bolts and a roll pin to hold the pump gear on are a key way i dont even see how it can get out of time. Now on a sims pump it can get a little bit out but not very much around 1 degrees. And the tractor he has has a delphi rotary pump most likely