53 Jubilee- Grey engine oil

[jrpontiac]

I"m looking at buying a 53 Ford Jubilee. It has a Ford 1200 loader, and is in good shape, and the price is right.

Now the item that concerns me is that the engine oil is greyish. I"m guessing it is because water is in the oil but the oil is still fairly thick. Has anyone ever dealt with water in the oil and it wasn"t a sign of a much bigger problem. I"m trying to talk myself into buying it.

 

[Bob Harvey]

Greyish could be moisture or just plain dirty. I'd ask the guy to change the oil (and to split the differnce-supply the oil) Just sayin'. HTH

 

[elmersooner]

usually if it is a lot of water it will look more like chocolate milk--- if grey you might want to ask him if he uses aviation gas--since it still has the grey lead in it--tore many race motors apart that used av gas. or could just need it changed. you might want to get a compression test done before buying--or if you r like me--roll the dice

 

[souNdguy]

grey oil is most like water emulsion.

is it a signe of a cracked block or blown head gasket? that's where i'd lay my money...

could it just be lots of condensation from no use that got churned up ? sure. MIGHT be.

a comp test and oil change will tell you alot.

 

[Dean]

Most likely water contamination.

How serious? Insufficient information.

See if you can find out when the oil was last changed.

Dean

 

[36 Coupe]

Pull the spark plugs, the one that is clean is getting water in the cylinder,The oil pump can mix oil and water into an emulsion.Could be a cracked head.

 

[NoNewParts]

(quoted from post at 21:47:45 08/29/12) Pull the spark plugs, the one that is clean is getting water in the cylinder,The oil pump can mix oil and water into an emulsion.Could be a cracked head.

in addition to 36's test
if the owner ok's pulling the plugs, get there early before it has the first start of the day,
and loosen the oilpan drainplug just enough to leak,
and see if the first drips are anti-freeze.
not a deal-killer on a cheap NAA with the nice 1200 loader,
but it will be a serious negotiating tool.