 davidchristopher
"4th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1664
Age: 42
Loc: Saint George, Ontario, Ca...
Reg: 08-02-09
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05-24-12 06:13 PM - Post#2229441
Okay- so- this is a "fresh" motor, built over the winter freshly 'broken in'. 350 Chevy, Edelbrock C4B intake, camel hump heads (461s). Mild cam. I'm using those finned corvette valve covers. Not running a PCV valve yet.
Was running it today, and the rad overflowed for a moment. I had just filled it- probably overfilled it, actually). Temperatures were around 210 when it flowed over, but it was only for a second before it dropped down again to around 180ish, maybe 190.
Oil pressure stayed up around 40-60lbs the whole time.
I did notice that I had a film/drip of oil coming from the oil cap, so I know I need to work out a PCV solution to keep the thing clean.
After the baby was asleep, and before the sun set completely, I went out and checked the oil. (I was planning on changing it). The dipstick looked clean. But then I popped off the oil cap/breather and...
Woah. That can't be good. Started to drain the oil from the pan, and it looks okay to me. I dipped a plastic cup into the pan to check it- it's oil... not at all milky. This is from the 'end of the pan' - meaning, after the oil had drained out...
Yanked off the valve covers... and more milk.
Ok, so I'm admittedly a "little" lost now. I'm definately learning as I go, so I'm looking for guideance and knowledge.
- Is it possible that this is merely the result of condensation? It's obviously not a lot of water.
- While setting up I had a leaky water temperature sender- could water have seeped in that way?
- Could it have been sucked in by the breather/cap on the C4B when the rad bubbled over? (I think this is a stretch)
- Could this be seeping up the head bolts? (I'm sure I used sealant, but I'm open to anything).
Please share your thoughts, comments. As I said, I'm learning as I go...
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Special. (350 4 Muncie '55 Driveshaft CE crossmember Heidts Mustang II front suspension, 3:10 Posi)
The '51 Chevy Blog
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motorman
Super Senior Member
Posts: 5038
Loc: south western pa.
Reg: 01-25-00
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05-24-12 06:24 PM - Post#2229445
In response to davidchristopher
sealer on the head bolts. get a rad pressure checker and pump up the water pressure and look for bubbles around the head bolts
| retired race engine builder,former NASCAR tech inspector. new corvettes owned 1959,1962,1963,1964,1965, 1966,1997,1999,2002,2005, 2008 plus 30+ other chevy cars and trucks along the way |
Edited by motorman on 05-24-12 06:26 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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davidchristopher
"4th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1664
Age: 42
Loc: Saint George, Ontario, Ca...
Reg: 08-02-09
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05-24-12 07:03 PM - Post#2229457
In response to motorman
Super dumb question Motorman, If it's the head bolts, can they be resealed w/o pulling the head? Or do I need to call in for a new head gasket set too?
Thanks for the tip. Totally 'preciate it.
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Special. (350 4 Muncie '55 Driveshaft CE crossmember Heidts Mustang II front suspension, 3:10 Posi)
The '51 Chevy Blog
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motorman
Super Senior Member
Posts: 5038
Loc: south western pa.
Reg: 01-25-00
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05-24-12 10:43 PM - Post#2229524
In response to davidchristopher
Super dumb question Motorman, If it's the head bolts, can they be resealed w/o pulling the head? Or do I need to call in for a new head gasket set too?
Thanks for the tip. Totally 'preciate it.
depends how many are leaking. i have redone 1 or 2 without pulling the head. you can also use KW block sealer if it is the head bolts.
| retired race engine builder,former NASCAR tech inspector. new corvettes owned 1959,1962,1963,1964,1965, 1966,1997,1999,2002,2005, 2008 plus 30+ other chevy cars and trucks along the way |
Edited by motorman on 05-24-12 10:49 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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models916
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 1941
Age: 62
Loc: Addison, IL
Reg: 05-28-10
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05-25-12 05:43 AM - Post#2229591
In response to motorman
GM supplies powdered aluminum sealer with all the hot cam kits for sealing newly installed parts. change the oil and water (no antifreeze) and add a tube of the stuff and run it for a while. You can get it at most auto parts stores. I use it in every engine I assemble.
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 DavidTX
"5th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1001
Loc: Killeen, TX
Reg: 08-11-03
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05-25-12 06:29 AM - Post#2229603
In response to models916
What temp thermostat are you running? If it is too low then the engine temp will not be high enough to keep the moisture out of the engine especially if you aren't running a PVC valve. The moisture doesn't have any place to go.
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 grumpyvette
Senior Chevytalk Moderator -- Performance Subject Matter Expert --
Posts: 15669
Age: 65
Loc: FLORIDA USA
Reg: 03-16-01
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05-25-12 07:17 AM - Post#2229613
In response to DavidTX
while you may have a leaking head or intake gasket, that amount of moisture, without a working PVC that might be the result of simply not running the engine long enough at a high enough temp to burn out the moisture the engine collected while sitting for several weeks time.
http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?...
http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?...
http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?...
http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?...
| " " IF YOU CAN'T SMOKE THE TIRES FROM A 60 MPH ROLLING START YOUR ENGINE NEEDS MORE WORK !" |
Edited by grumpyvette on 05-25-12 07:24 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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davidchristopher
"4th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1664
Age: 42
Loc: Saint George, Ontario, Ca...
Reg: 08-02-09
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05-25-12 07:44 AM - Post#2229625
In response to grumpyvette
...and it's been sitting for a lot longer than a few weeks. More like a few months, actually.
I'm getting a few different answers here (and elsewhere), but the most common is answer is condensation.
Thanks for the links, Grumpy. Good stuff in there 
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Special. (350 4 Muncie '55 Driveshaft CE crossmember Heidts Mustang II front suspension, 3:10 Posi)
The '51 Chevy Blog
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davidchristopher
"4th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1664
Age: 42
Loc: Saint George, Ontario, Ca...
Reg: 08-02-09
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05-25-12 03:55 PM - Post#2229756
In response to davidchristopher
Well, I changed the oil and fliter, and re-ran the motor, just bringing it up to temperature. (Hottest it got today was 200, it settled back down to around 170). And it was damn hot out when I did it...
Compression is acceptable, but low (in the 130s, with a 10% variance from low to high).
Popped off the driver's side valve cover and I've got more milk. Looks like I've got a head gasket replacement in my future.
Anyway, this is a good opportunity to drill/baffle the C4B intake for a pcv, anyway.
I'll play around with it tonight after the sun sets, but it looks like I didn't install the head gaskets correctly (?) because they're new felpro gaskets.
Also, I'm sure I dabbed sealer on the head bolt threads, but I might pull them one by one (in order) and check.
I'll also pull the intake - if water is seeping past the intake gasket, is there a tell? What should I look for?
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Special. (350 4 Muncie '55 Driveshaft CE crossmember Heidts Mustang II front suspension, 3:10 Posi)
The '51 Chevy Blog
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davidchristopher
"4th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1664
Age: 42
Loc: Saint George, Ontario, Ca...
Reg: 08-02-09
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05-27-12 02:44 PM - Post#2230420
In response to davidchristopher
Just thought I'd jump back in with an update- I figured I'd start "from the top" - and I'm pretty sure it was the intake gaskets / intake that was leaking water.
I pulled the intake, cleaned the crud off, and replaced the gaskets. This time I used sealer around the water ports on the intake (just to be safe).
While I had the intake off, I drilled the back of the intake and put in a PCV in a baffled grommet, which, surprisingly I found at my local Canadian Tire (which is sort of like Walmart, but with an only slightly better auto section).
I put it all back together last night, but it was way too late to start the motor- and I was tired so I wanted to get a good-nights sleep before kicking the motor over again.
Reset the timing and idle (now with the PCV). Good vacuum @ 13-14
Ran it up to operating temperature and revved it up a little (2.5k rpm or so). Oil pressure stayed good, temp creeped slightly over 200, but hovered around 175 at idle.
No more water.
I repeated it again this evening and we're all good.
PS: Gasket Remover makes a pretty powerful paint remover. FYI.
1951 Chevrolet Styleline Special. (350 4 Muncie '55 Driveshaft CE crossmember Heidts Mustang II front suspension, 3:10 Posi)
The '51 Chevy Blog
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