Tractor spits oil out the exhaust

“My Old Fordson Major Spits Oil From the Exhaust!”

“I look like a bloody Dalmatian after driving it for an hour!”

Short answer: an old tractor pushing oil out the exhaust often isn’t mechanically damaged — it’s fouled up with carbon, sludge and sticking piston rings. Cleaning it up first with FTC Decarbonizer in the fuel is far cheaper than pulling the engine apart, and often fixes it.

When Trevor rang us, we had to laugh as he told us how his tractor spits oil out the exhaust. There are plenty of old tractors out there still earning their keep on farms, and Trevor’s Fordson Major is one of them — except his was pushing oil out the overhead exhaust and leaving Trev looking like a “bloody Dalmatian.” A problem like this could be down to damage inside the engine, or it could simply be fouled up with carbon, sludge and sticking piston rings.

How to Stop Oil Spitting From the Exhaust

Cleaning things up is usually the best first move — it’s a fairly common problem in mid-life and older engines, and a hell of a lot cheaper than putting a spanner to the engine. After talking through his options with us, Trev decided to run FTC Decarbonizer in the diesel to clean up around the combustion and exhaust spaces.

Well and truly over the “Dalmatian look,” Trev ran FTC Decarbonizer-treated diesel through the tractor for the next four nights — parked up at high idle for 30 minutes each time, just to start it working through the system.

The next day he did an hour’s slashing, then cleaned the spots off himself and the tractor, as had become his routine. Back on the tractor the day after — and no more oil spitting. The exhaust pipe got drier and drier as she worked. Problem solved cheaply, and Trev’s little Fordson Major carries on serving her master.

Oil coming out the exhaust is closely related to blow-by and carbon build-up. For more, see our guides on how to fix engine blow-by and how FTC Decarbonizer works.

Got an engine spitting oil or smoking? Give the team at Cost Effective Maintenance a call on 07 3376 6188.

Recommended Products to Stop Oil Coming From the Exhaust