8N Ice in crankcase breather cap breather tube

[Dale J. Swanson]

Thanks for your comments on my changing from 30W oil to 10W 40. While plowing the oil pressure read around 40 and while idling around 15. Is this acceptable? The only thing that I have a question about is ice in the crankcase breather cap and the breather tube this morning. Is this common or is this something to be concerned about? Also if I put 5W 30 oil in it would it be better for my engine?
 

[R Geiger]

[old]

I would stay with the 10W40 since you have good pressure with it and may not if you drop down to a thinner oil. As for the ice well that is condensation from the cold engine so normal as long as you run it enough to melt it off and steam it away
 

[duey]

One of the best things for ANY engine is a good thermostat... be sure your engine warms up properly....
 

[Colin King]

Your oil pressure is great.

In addition to what the others have said about a thermostat, you may want to service the breather cap. They can and do get plugged up with oil and combustion sludge after 60+ years of service. Test it so see if air passes through it.

If no air passes through it, clean the breather element with a degreaser of your choice. I soak mine overnight in whatever cleaning solvent I have at hand - usually old diesel or mineral spirits.

Colin, MN
 

[Ultradog MN]

There are a lot of questions here about water or milky looking stuff under the oil fill/breather cap. Usually it is caused by condensation.
That is good advice below about making sure you have a good working thermostat.
But even with a good thermostat it's still important to get the tractor out and work the snot out of it regularly. That will make the condensation evaporate in not only the engine but the tranny and rear end too.
 

[Dale J. Swanson]

My transmission fluid had a brownish look to it so I went to Tractor Supply and bought some 90W oil that is recommended for older Ford Tractors from 1939 to 1952. My tractor is a 1952 8n. After draining my old oil out I started replacing it with the new, I noticed quite a difference in the thickness of the new oil. Now it seems to me it would take forever to warm this oil up before I could begin to plow. I only put in 4 Gallons because I wanted to check with the experts on the Forum to see if their is a possible way of thinning it out. Has anyone heared of adding mineral spirits as a thinner?
I only use my tractor in the winter to plow when the temperatures are normally below freezing here in Michigan. Would this thick oil slow down the response time when lowering & raising the plow?