My L185DT lost it's oil!!!

[HandyAndy]

While starting my L185DT this morning, it started spitting all it's oil out of a non threaded hole behind the oil filter. Is this a frost plug. Something worse??

 

[Flintknapper]

While starting my L185DT this morning, it started spitting all it's oil out of a non threaded hole behind the oil filter. Is this a frost plug. Something worse??

Not a freeze plug. Some type of 'boss' cast into the block. i would be inclined to drill and tap it, then plug it with a brass threaded plug.

 

[Russell King]

You may be able to find the plug on the Kubota illustrated parts list.

I recall reading threads about that and it is a small metal plug that presses into the hole and mostly referred to as freeze plugs but smaller diameter

 

[kubotasam]

While starting my L185DT this morning, it started spitting all it's oil out of a non threaded hole behind the oil filter. Is this a frost plug. Something worse??

It is called an "oil Galley" plug. It happened to me with a B7100 I once owned. Check out this thread oil galley plug for suggestions.

 

[Flintknapper]

You may be able to find the plug on the Kubota illustrated parts list.

I recall reading threads about that and it is a small metal plug that presses into the hole and mostly referred to as freeze plugs but smaller diameter

Freeze plugs are utilized in the coolant system (to help prevent block damage from freezing/expanding water/coolant). OP has 'oil' coming from the hole. Must be part of the oil galley system. Might indeed take a small metal plug...but if it were me, I'd tap that hole and install a brass plug so it doesn't happen again.

 

[GeoHorn]

If you consider drilling and/or tapping that hole…. think about the metal chips you‘ll be introducing directly into your oil gallery.

 

[D2Cat]

What was there lasted 40 years. Why reinvent the wheel now! Just plug it again.

 

[Flintknapper]

If you consider drilling and/or tapping that hole…. think about the metal chips you‘ll be introducing directly into your oil gallery.

Unless the hole is tapered (unlikely) he probably wouldn't have drill at all, but even so.... a spiral drill bit brings nearly all the metal outwards.

Tapping is done with a generous blob of heavy grease on the tap (catches the chips). Any small chips remaining get filtered out by the oil filter. People/Mechanics do these things all the time with no ill effects.

 

[GeoHorn]

Unless the hole is tapered (unlikely) he probably wouldn't have drill at all, but even so.... a spiral drill bit brings nearly all the metal outwards.

Tapping is done with a generous blob of heavy grease on the tap (catches the chips). Any small chips remaining get filtered out by the oil filter. People/Mechanics do these things all the time with no ill effects.

The oil filter is at the BEGINNING of the gallery. For the filter to catch anything…it had to get all the way thru the system and back to the sump to be picked up by the oil pump. By that time any damage is already done. REAL mechanics do not deliberately introduce metal filings/chips to the oil gallery. Shadetrees might.
If that hole produces oil under pressure then if it is drilled or tapped it might help clear out the hole by running the engine for a short period. I think the Best Advice is to properly plug it.

 

[Flintknapper]

The oil filter is at the BEGINNING of the gallery. For the filter to catch anything…it had to get all the way thru the system and back to the sump to be picked up by the oil pump. By that time any damage is already done. REAL mechanics do not deliberately introduce metal filings/chips to the oil gallery. Shadetrees might.
If that hole produces oil under pressure then if it is drilled or tapped it might help clear out the hole by running the engine for a short period. I think the Best Advice is to properly plug it.

Ever pull a magnetic oil drain plug (especially on new engines breaking in)? You will find very small pieces of metal that flake/chip off various gears, etc. They are generally too small to be of any consequence. These too make their way through the oiling system until they reach the filter where they are trapped. We aren't talking chunks of metal.

Anything too large to get in between the clearances of rod or crank bearings and their respective journals obviously can't harm anything. Anything small enough to do so (unless in a huge amount) is of little concern. It is not unusual to find very small bits of metal (you really have to look) embedded in the soft surface of a crank bearing or rod bearing. And since the clearance is there so that each reciprocating part rides a film of oil (NOT metal to metal) they have no effect.

Yes, it is always your purpose to not 'deliberately' introduce metal chips (of significant size) into the internals of an engine. That is why when tapping....you coat the tap with grease and clean it frequently. It has worked fine for thousands of folks for a hundred years or so....(when disassembly of the part doesn't make sense) or is not possible.

I wouldn't do it on a rocket carrying 7 astronauts into space...for obvious reasons. Conversely, I would have no reservations doing it on a tractor engine IF a press fit plug is proving unreliable.

 

[whitetiger]

Freeze plugs are utilized in the coolant system (to help prevent block damage from freezing/expanding water/coolant).

Freeze plugs are an Old Wives Tale, there is no way that frozen ice is going to pour out of a hole rather than crack a cylinder block.
Those plugs are core plugs or soft plugs and their only purpose is to remove the casting sand from the cooling passages when the block was cast. They also can serve as a way to wash out the cooling passages if needed.

 

[Flintknapper]

Freeze plugs are an Old Wives Tale, there is no way that frozen ice is going to pour out of a hole rather than crack a cylinder block.
Those plugs are core plugs or soft plugs and their only purpose is to remove the casting sand from the cooling passages when the block was cast. They also can serve as a way to wash out the cooling passages if needed.

I believe that is largely true...as they do serve two purposes, especially with respect to the block.

But....I've seen instances on in-line six cylinder heads (vehicle) where a plug was actually displaced before the head cracked...but agree with you that an engine block (depending on construction) could be very hit or miss, mostly miss.

I'd wager most of the time...a displaced freeze plug is the engines way of telling you....you now have a cracked block.

 

[Pau7220]

What was there lasted 40 years. Why reinvent the wheel now! Just plug it again.

With a few drops of this.

Loctite Threadlocker Red

Securing nuts and bolts from accidental loosening. Heavy duty; removes with heat and hand tools.

www.loctiteproducts.com