Engine oil leak

mowermann

New member

Equipment
L185
May 9, 2011
2
0
0
Lewistown, PA USA
While driving out of the barn on my L185, oil suddenly started gushing out of a hole cast in the block, slightly below the oil filter. Is this a plug that has blown out? I couldn't find any signs of threads in the hole. Can I solve this problem by tapping the hole and inserting a steel plug? HELP!!!!!
 

gurn

New member

Equipment
Kubota L175
Apr 15, 2011
239
13
0
Nashville,Tn
Parts book shows it as a "plug pin" with several different part #'s I guess for different sizes.
 
Last edited:

E/S

Member

Equipment
2009 M8540HDC 4x4 w/ Cab
Jan 6, 2010
251
1
16
Reno, NV
Yes
It is a pinned hole that can be taped and plugged.

E/S
 

chogg

New member

Equipment
L245H, L3800, Farmall 140, Farmall cub, mechanical transplanter
Jan 3, 2012
5
0
0
Forsyth, GA
Plug popped out of my L245H yesterday on engine startup, temperature was in the 40's(cold) . the plug that came out on mine was just above and behind the oil filter location. pumped out 5-6 quarts in about 5 seconds. there are two different sized plugs located in this general area . I bought one from my dealer but it was not the right size for the one that came out. Looks like what I need is 1/4 inch diameter. the plug I bought is aluminum . I think a piece of 1/4 inch aluminum rod/bar stock would suffice but I have the part on order, they are about one dollar.
 

chogg

New member

Equipment
L245H, L3800, Farmall 140, Farmall cub, mechanical transplanter
Jan 3, 2012
5
0
0
Forsyth, GA
followup: I had found the plug on the ground and put it back in , filled the engine oil to full level. no further problems at this time.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,206
6,378
113
Sandpoint, ID
Wow... 22 Month for a repair :eek:... Way to go there speed mechanic!;)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 user

gpreuss

New member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200DT w/FEL, K650 Backhoe, 5' Rotary, 40" Howard Rotavator, 6' Rhino blade
Oct 9, 2011
1,166
6
0
Spokane, WA
My neighbor bought my old L185DT. Last year he had the same plug blow out. He never found it, but the oil shot out about 20'! He got a new plug, and never had another problem.
I just wonder where the pressure came from to pop it out, and shoot oil that far?
 

jbsealy

New member

Equipment
Kubota BX25 Backhoe and FEL
Mar 20, 2011
8
0
1
Stokesdale, NC
Re: Engine oil leak L245H

I too have had the plug blow out and oil go everywhere. I got a plug from the dealer but it is too large. I need the plug that is about 1/4 inch Dia. Could any of y'all help with a part number? The dealer seems clueless.

Really appreciate any help you might give. My father bought this tractor new and I would rather not just make a plug.

I also wonder where the pressure came from to push i8t out. It seems to be a plug for a casting hole in the uper part of the crankcase.

JS
 

ShaunRH

New member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200
May 14, 2014
1,414
6
0
Atascadero, CA
Re: Engine oil leak L245H

I too have had the plug blow out and oil go everywhere. I got a plug from the dealer but it is too large. I need the plug that is about 1/4 inch Dia. Could any of y'all help with a part number? The dealer seems clueless.

Really appreciate any help you might give. My father bought this tractor new and I would rather not just make a plug.

I also wonder where the pressure came from to push i8t out. It seems to be a plug for a casting hole in the uper part of the crankcase.

JS
You might need to do the tap and bolt thing if you can't wrangle up the proper plug but I'd try Messick's or any of the other parts sites first.

I'd think that pressure in the block is usually a product of blow by from either a gasket or bad rings. Sometimes you can stop the buildup by putting an oil breather cap on your fill port if it doesn't already have one. If it does, then it's probably plugged up and needs a good soak in degreaser. Gasket is far easier to deal with than rings...
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,206
6,378
113
Sandpoint, ID
The plug comes out not because of excessive pressure, it comes out because both the plug and the block have expanded and contracted many, many times and it just got loose.

Put a new plug in it and it will be fine.
There are several plugs in that block give an exact location.
Most likely it's 15221-33630 or 15521-96020
 

musclesbenz

New member

Equipment
L245DT Kubota, Woods 6500 Backhoe, 6' Landpride Grader, and 4' McKee Snowblower
Sep 30, 2021
4
0
1
North Idaho
Hello all.

1979 Kubota with Serial L245DT-55880

Same issue as the OP. Started up the tractor in cold weather (mid teens) and the oil started gushing into the snow under my tractor. Oil only shot 2ft or so, but it was pretty thick since it hadn't warmed up yet. Snow everywhere, so recovery of the pin is unlikely. Haven't melted down the oil/snow mix yet to search through it, but I would rather just pay to make sure I have the pin on hand sometime in the next week or so.

I'm looking for the correct part number on this pin (see pictures for pin location).

It is one of the below part numbers, but I can't say for sure which.
15221-33630
15521-96020
15221-33640
15521-96030
34150-27580

Does anyone have any further insight? I can buy one of each if I need to, but I'm hoping to avoid it if I can.

Thanks,

Justin

IMG_20221220_160056033.jpg
IMG_20221220_160102570.jpg
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,206
6,378
113
Sandpoint, ID
Don't think that plug is a threaded plug, feel for threads first.
If does have threads, Go to North 40 and get a metric Allen plug.
If it does not have threads, a grade 2 bolt ( after the threads ) ground to a sight taper, then drive it in and then cut off extra.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,206
6,378
113
Sandpoint, ID
Further Research, good to do when it's -14f outside, shows that that model came with both threaded and drive type plugs.
Only way to know is to inspect hole for threads.
Or search the ground, around where the oil is, for the original plug.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,843
5,066
113
Eastham, Ma
Further Research, good to do when it's -14f outside, shows that that model came with both threaded and drive type plugs.
Only way to know is to inspect hole for threads.
Or search the ground, around where the oil is, for the original plug.
A "drive in" plug.... as an oil plug?
Did Fred Flintstone build Kubotas of that vintage?
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,206
6,378
113
Sandpoint, ID
A "drive in" plug.... as an oil plug?
Did Fred Flintstone build Kubotas of that vintage?
HAHAHA, my wolf will pull a Dino and put her head out the sunroof of the truck if i have it open.

Old Kubota's used aluminum and then steel non threaded (drive in) plugs, till they finally got smart and changed to treaded plugs in later designs.
 

William1

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX25D
Jul 28, 2015
1,118
310
83
Richmond, Virginia
Jam in a cork, then put a #14 - 1" long wood screw in the cork to 'expand' it until you get tap and properly plug.