Tractor Repair: Oil In Antifreeze, oversize pistons, detergent solution

Question
On this 9N there is no external oil cooler for the two fluids to intermix. Now they use two different types of sleeves for the pistons (cast and steel). If i'm correct if the sleeves weren't installed corrrectly there is seals on the sleeves to seal off the oil.What difference is there for the two types of sleeves for the block. Can they be interchanged with no problems or is the block cut for each type of sleeve? This is the only other place that the oil can mix with the antifreeze.

Answer
Hello,

  The only way that cylinder sleeves can leak is in an engine that uses wet type sleeves.  These engines have no casting in the block to surround the sleeves, so they are totally exposed to the coolant and have rubber o-rings on the bottom where they fit into the block and if not carefully installed, the o-rings can be damaged causing the coolant to leak into the oil, not oil in the coolant.  But that's impossible on a 9N anyway because it uses dry sleeves that are not exposed to the coolant.  The block is made like a non-sleeved car engine, but has thin sleeves that are pressed inside the bores so it can be overhauled without boring the cylinders oversize and installing oversize pistons and rings like a non-sleeved engine.  Whether dry sleeves are cast iron or steel makes no difference, the block is only machined one way.  I know a 9N has no oil cooler, but that is the only way oil can get into the antifreeze.  The problem is normally antifreeze in the oil.  I did see a 8N or 9N once that had what appeared to be oil in the radiator, but never determined how it got there.  The cooling system was drained and flushed with a detergent solution, and new antifreeze installed.  It never happened again, so it was an unsolved mystery as to how it got there.  Especially because it's theoretically impossible on an engine without an oil cooler.  The only thing I can think of would be a flaw in the engine block casting allowing oil pressure from a lube passage to be pushed into the water jacket.  I've never heard of this happening, but like I said before, nothing is impossible.

                     Good luck,

                          Arnie