I have a D2 I picked up last year that after I ran the tractor a bit noticed that the water level was lower and the oil level was higher. I changed the oil/filters last year but have run the tractor for very short periods (less than ten minutes each) since the oil change. This past weekend I used the tractor for a few good thirty minute intervals pushing some small amounts of dirt. When I went to check the radiator I noticed the water level was below the rad core and the oil level had risen an inch on the tractor with the motor cool. Is there a definitive way to diagnose a cracked head vs. head gasket. I don't want to wrench on the tractor yet as it runs well (no slobbering or idle issues) but I am leary of what I may do if I push my luck or leave this situation unattended too long.

Advice from the knowledgable is greatly apprecaited. I am trying to finanically (and emotionally) prepare for what may come of this repair.

Thanks a bunch,

Greg

Greg? IF you're getting water/ antifreeze in the oil, it's time to do something about it. As far as diagnosing whether it's a cracked head or a blown gasket, I don't know how. .maybe someone else does. Are you getting bubbles in the radiator filler when it's running? And maybe a trace of oil/ fuel in the radiator? By your description of the oil level rising, it's also probably getting gray or white. .that's water in the oil:eek: . Either way, it's time to take the head off and check. .hopefully it's just a head gasket and not a crack in a cylinder wall or a cracked head.

Ol'Grump, The oil is remaining black and not getting white or foamy when the tractor is under use. I have not noticed traces of oil in the antifreeze but then again I would need to look carefully and I have not done that. Greg

You need to fill it to top again and watch see if it bubbles . If water is going to oilpan then the oil will turn milky colored and if precup are ate thru or coppers are bad then youll get fuel floating in rad.if Sounds to me like maybe the therostate open and filled some viods with water and the oil got warn and expanded. But as for your orig. quest. if its head gasket it will bubble the same hot or cold a crack will get worse as it warms up, Fill it up to rim watch for bubbles and or black soot and oil coming to top

Hi Dunefanatic,
just possible it may be caused by an air lock in the pony engine cooling system, see the att. scans relevant to bleeding air out of the vent cock on top of the pony manifold.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

gaining oil is most often due to fuel dilution.

I can see some thermal expansion or aeration of oil raising the level slightly while running, so check carefully after it has cooled off or something to make sure what you are measuring.

On my D2-J series, the manual says to check the oil level running because when you shut it off, oil may/will drain back from the oil cooler into the crankcase. I agree that it would be milky if the crankcase had water in it.
You can go to your local automotive repair shop and buy a kit that allows you to put a base sample of your crankcase oil in it and a sample of your suspect oil to send out to be tested. It costs about $25 or so. Cheaper than taking off a head.
I had alot of trouble with mine blowing water until all the Prestone radiator flush cleaned the rust out of the engine passages. Then we got the air purged out of the pony and the engine block. The level has been fine since.
drujinin

As I recall, Greg's 5U is direct electric start.

If your head is cracked,blown gasket,low liner,precumbustion chamber pitted,loose or a cracked cylinder liner that would allow hot compression to leak into the cooling system and it would overheat very quick,it is possible that the seals on the bottom of one of the cylinder liners is leaking,that would not cause slobbering or overheating just coolant loss and the oil rising,next time you park up fill the rad full,when you come back to it check if the level has dropped and top it up again to see how much it takes,if it more than a pint it must be going somewhere,before you start the engine undo the sump plug and drain off a quart of what you will be hoping is oil,if there is coolant in it you should see it,if you find no coolant look for an external leak water pump, rad and hoses etc,see if the oil smells of diesel fuel or is diluted as that may be the cause of the level rising.
AJ

I hope it's just something like air in system. But if it turns out that you're "making"oil from getting antifreeze or fuel in oil it's not good. Fuel or antifreeze in oil plays havock with bearings & innards.
My 2cents....If you decide it's antifreeze and you're planning to still run it some before you "park it", it would be better to drain & refill with straight water this time of year. Some pure water in oil isn't as bad...not good either....especially if engine is run short trips.

Years ago when I was much poorer and figured there was no way in he** I could find any money, house full of barefoot kids, wifey that stayed pregnant, I had a 1693 Cat in an 'ol over the road truck. It got to seeping antifreeze into the oil. I pulled several oil samples over several months, Cat kept telling me to Fix it Boy, Fix it!! But I kept "limping" round the country trying to make money.

Well, when it finally went down it really cost to overhaul. I pulled rabbits out of hats & got it done because Me, Cat, The Banker, Tooth Fairy, & The Easter Bunny all became partners with an overhaul loan on a truck.....

Ahhhh, the good 'ol days.....sighhhhh