L48 Coolant in Oil help???

[IH Man]

Just got back from a farm I do some small engine work for, while I was there the owner showed me the oil he drained from his Kubota L48 backhoe. It was a green and grey slurry soup. He asked me if I would be willing to work on it for him so I told him I'd get back to him tomorrow.

I'm suspecting either a head gasket, freeze plug, or cracked head or block. I was going to go back over there in the morning and test the antifreeze that's left in the radiator for a start. I asked the owner if he saw any white smoke, and he said no, that has me concerned that it's getting in through the bottom end. We had a week of very cold weather here, didn't make it out of the teens all week.

I guess my question is has anyone run in to this before? Anything in particular I should look for or test?

My only other problem is the tractor is sitting in his shop with no oil, the loader on the ground and the hoe resting on the floor. I'd really like to get it on my trailer and bring it to my shop. What do you think about putting a fresh filter and new oil in, and running it just enough to pick up the implements atleast. Maybe even quickly run it on the trailer?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Stumpy]

I'd drain the coolant and oil and refill the sump with whatever not full of water engine oil you've got lying around. Doesn't much matter what oil as long as the weight's close. My two concerns are the overfull sump pushing out the oil seals and the oil\water in the sump being too thin to lube the bearings. I wouldn't use the engine longer than about a minute or two between coolings for lack of coolant. Fire it up, get it to like 30% throttle, pick everything up and shut it down.

Most of these engines have a casting plug (freeze plug) in the block that lives under the cam gear case on the front. If that pops loose you can get coolant in the sump, there's also an oring in there that can do the same thing. If you've caught it before anything has rusted or he's done any bottom end damage it's probably fine just to drop a new plug in and button it back up. Unfortunately you can't really check any of the main bearings without a complete tear down so you'll have to use your judgment on that.

 

[IH Man]

Thanks for the advice. That's pretty much what I was thinking as far as moving the tractor. I may need a little more guidance to that O-ring you're talking about in the front gearcase.

I'm going to try to get it to my shop tomorrow, once I get it here to the farm, I should be able to hook the loader hydraylics to another tractor to take it off.

I'm not familiar with this tractor at all yet, do you know if it is ok to tow it a short distance in Neutral, or if there is another way to disengage the hydro?

 

[IH Man]

I just went back over to the farm, I was going to test whatever antifreeze was left. When I got there, the owner said he had put some coolant in the rad. yesterday and it ran straight through and out the oil pan. I am surely not an expert on these engines, but it sounds like a cracked block to me? Would a freeze plug allow water to pass straight thru the radiator in to the sump?

 

[Stumpy]

Oh it's a hydrostatic? I believe putting the range transmission in neutral will suffice but I don't know for sure. If not there should be a lever somewhere that will disable the hydraulic motor allowing for towing. Someone else will hopefully weigh in on that. Ask him for the owners manual, that will be in there for sure. If it doubt just drive it up onto your trailer.

Coolant goes into the cam gear case through the lower radiator hose where it then enters the block through a water neck that's under the gear case. This neck is sealed by an oring but I'd bet on the casting plug being the issue.

EDIT: Yes that's exactly what would happened with a popped plug. The head or block may be cracked but I'd start with the plug.

 

[IH Man]

Thanks Stumpy.

Would you still recommend putting oil back in it and running it enough to pick up the implements? I was thinking that was out of the question when I saw this.

 

[Stumpy]

It occurs to me just now there is a question of whether the plug has fallen completely out and could get pulled into and destroy the cam gears but I think it's probable he ran it for awhile after it could have gotten pushed out and therefore is safely at the bottom of the gear case. I think I'd try it in your shoes but if you've got another machine to provide hydraulic power to lift the implements that may be the smarter choice. Again if you don't get a reply about the towing the HST before you head over check his manual or start it up.