Ford 641- Oil Problem

[MoBill]

I have a Ford 641 I recently got that has a strange oil issue. If the tractor sits for a couple days, the oil level will show full on the dipstick when it has the correct amount in it. After running the engine, it takes a couple days for the oil level to reach the full mark again.

The only thing I can think of is the oil return holes in the head must be restricted and the oil is sitting inside the valve cover.

Has anyone run into this before? The tractor has very low hours and spent almost it's entire life parked in a shed.

 

[Roadworthy]

I've never run into it on a tractor but I did have a Ford automobile and the drain on the heads clogged to the point that the oil would not return to the pan at all. I cleaned the gunk, ran a couple quarts of diesel with my oil for ten or twenty minutes, then changed the oil and filter. I ran that for a bit then changed oil and filter again. Problem did not recur. Is that your issue? I have no idea but I can tell you it is possible.

 

[MoBill]

It sounds like a similar situation. I guess I'll pull the valve cover and investigate. In order to get to the valve cover, I need to remove the front sheet metal and the fuel tank. Not a huge deal, but I'm not really looking forward to it. Hopefully, that solves the problem.

 

[ovrszd]

If this was the issue, after running a few minutes, it would lose oil pressure because all the oil would be stranded in the head and the pump would suck air.

I think you need to define "takes a couple days for the oil level to reach the full mark again". How far below the full mark are you talking?

 

[MoBill]

If this was the issue, after running a few minutes, it would lose oil pressure because all the oil would be stranded in the head and the pump would suck air.

I think you need to define "takes a couple days for the oil level to reach the full mark again". How far below the full mark are you talking?

Approximately 2 quarts.

 

[ovrszd]

Approximately 2 quarts.

Wow. Well there's no place else for it to be. Not a good situation at all. I'd be pulling the valvecover for sure.

 

[rScotty]

Wow. Well there's no place else for it to be. Not a good situation at all. I'd be pulling the valvecover for sure.

I think I'd wait a couple of days before pulling the valve cover. .......

 

[ovrszd]

I think I'd wait a couple of days before pulling the valve cover. .......

Definitely...….

 

[strum456]

It sounds like a similar situation. I guess I'll pull the valve cover and investigate. In order to get to the valve cover, I need to remove the front sheet metal and the fuel tank. Not a huge deal, but I'm not really looking forward to it. Hopefully, that solves the problem.

It is possible to pull the valve cover with out taking off the tank and hood. Use a gear wrench to take out the two acorn nuts, bump the valve cover with a block of wood to break the gasket seal, and pivot it out. You may need to pry the rubber seals over the studs first to get a little extra clearance.

 

[MoBill]

After thinking about it some more, I'm wondering if it isn't possible for it to take that long for the oil to drain back from the filter canister. It's possible that it's less than 2 quarts. I'm just guessing on that.