Ya, that's right! AGAIN! I have coolant in my oil.

Some history on the motor:
New motor. Only about 1,000 miles. Took the motor out due to cylinder head rocker-arm studs pulling out. Otherwise, the motor ran GREAT! I use to race it!!! I sealed it, then packed it away in a crate. Then, I got some money together and just did a gasket overhaul. Prior to replacing the gaskets, every part on the motor is brand new. All the way down to the oil pan!

As I put the motor back together, I installed new head gaskets, intake gaskets, water pump gaskets, timing chain cover gaskets, valve cover gaskets, water outlet gasket, oil pan gaskets. Within 30 seconds during the initial run, I found coolant in the oil.

Ok, just to re-cap, this is what I've done in ATTEMPT to fix the problem with the coolant in the oil:

1st attempt: I replaced the intake gaskets and re-installed the intake. Fired it up for about...20 seconds. I found coolant in the oil again!

2nd attempt: I figured that maybe I installed the head gaskets incorrectly or maybe what I THOUGHT were flat heads, were warped heads. I tore the top end of the motor apart to remove the heads. I took the heads down to a local machine shop where they magnifluxed them. They didn't find any cracks. (Thank God!) They then told me that they located about 6 valves that were warped (probably due to the rocker arms loosening from the studs pulling out). They grinded them down so they weren't warped anymore. They installed new valve seats and milled the heads. I got the heads back in better shape than when I bought the motor. I then followed the installation sequence even CLOSER than the initial build-up. After installing the rest of the parts, I fired it up for about 30 seconds again only to find coolant in the oil AGAIN!

3rd Attempt: (TODAY!) I figured maybe I didn't get a good seal on the timing chain cover to the block, causing the coolant to go from the radiator straight into the oil pan. I tore the front of the motor down to the timing chain. After a lot of cleaning, I located a bolt that had broken off on the motor. I then got the broken bolt out and re-threaded the hole. That's when I thought that maybe it wasn't getting a good seal from that broken bolt. I then installed new gaskets and a couple beads of sylicone sealant. After I installed the rest of the parts, I fired it up only to find coolant in the oil AGAIN!

Can somebody PLEASE give me any other suggestions or ideas as to what I've missed? I'm at a loss for words!

-TNT
858-568-5032

 

Did you run the gasket sealer stuff around the water jackets on the intake and heads met?I believe there is a freeze out plug inside of some of the heads that could be leaking.Do a compression test to see if its the head or block cracked.

 

Time to pressurize the cooling system with the plugs out. Drop the pan, and hit it with air. You'll find your leak.

 

Hi there andrewmp6. Thank you for the reply. Yes, I put beads of sylicone sealant around the ports of the intake and the heads.

Hello cprstreetmachines. Thanks for the reply. Well, that sounds like a good idea, except...I don't have an air compressor. Can you recommend an alternative method? Do you think that maybe I can drain the oil, fill the cooling system and do a radiator pressure test? And, even if I drop the pan, do the pressure test and end up seeing coolant come out from the crank case; how will I know what exactly is leaking? Thank you again for the help.

 

Fwiw, a few years ago a friend was running the air gap RPM and it ALWAYS leaked water until we got the gasket that edelbrock said to use. Changed the gaskets 4-5 times, he even took it to a shop and it leaked after they tried to seal it. No clue WHY it wouldnt seal with other gaskets. He ended up with a set of heads from them because of all the money and time spent trying to get it to seal. Just an idea...

 

Hey Gary H. Thank you for the reply. WOW! That really sucks! 4-5 gaskets? I've done the intake gaskets twice in the last 3 months and I'm just plain ticked off at this point! Thank you for this information. Do you really think that, THAT much coolant would be escaping the water jackets and flowing into the oil pan? I mean...it's a LOOOOOOT of coolant! I'm talking...the oil/coolant is showing 3/4 up the dipstick! Thank you again Gary H.

-TNT

 

Seen stories of eddy heads and gaskets. But Ford crate motor require a 1262R intake to not void warranty. But we sealed it to an airgap. The eddy gaskets are thicker. But we just sealed a RPM airgap to AFR heads with a felpro gasket without problems.

If you drop the pan and you seen it in the center(ish), or the oil drain back under the intake, it's an intake leak.....which is my guess. but this is extreme. Or you can tape the water crossovers and fill the motor with water. poke tiny pin holes in the tape to let out the bubbles and keep looking for the leaks.

 

if you dopn't have a compresor, there are some water system pressurisers that you might be able to rent that come with a manual pump. great thing with that is you get the full pressure on the system without having to be afraid of boiling water

 

When we had that problem, it dumped alot of water into the pan. Pretty much instant milkshake. Which gaskets have you used?