milky pcv valve
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 446
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From: Washington PA
milky pcv valve
As the car is away for the winter, I have been spending a few days in the garage cleaning and fixing a few small things. I noticed today that the pcv valve has a coating of milky oil around it, as well as the oil filler cap (very small amount). I couldnt see any inside the valve cover, on the dipstick or in the coolant. Keep in mind the car has not been started in 2 weeks in a un-heated garage. Is this just condensation, or could I have a major problem here
Thanks
Thanks
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Re: milky pcv valve (bogus)
PROBABLY nothing to worry about. Just condensation. PROBABLY
With great emphasis on PROBABLY .
[Modified by bogus, 1:50 PM 12/23/2003]
With great emphasis on PROBABLY .
[Modified by bogus, 1:50 PM 12/23/2003]
Two weeks laid up in an unheated garage isn't much! Keep your fingers crossed, but with the car laid up for winter anyway, I think I would start checking for head gasket, manifold gasket leaks....better to find out now if you have a problem than wait for the weather to get nice again
:seeya
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
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From: Calgary, Alberta
Re: milky pcv valve (jackdaroofer)
PROBABLY nothing to worry about. Just condensation. PROBABLY
With great emphasis on PROBABLY .
[Modified by bogus, 1:50 PM 12/23/2003]
:rolleyes: :iagree:
Two weeks laid up in an unheated garage isn't much! Keep your fingers crossed, but with the car laid up for winter anyway, I think I would start checking for head gasket, manifold gasket leaks....better to find out now if you have a problem than wait for the weather to get nice again
:seeya
With great emphasis on PROBABLY .
[Modified by bogus, 1:50 PM 12/23/2003]
:rolleyes: :iagree:
Two weeks laid up in an unheated garage isn't much! Keep your fingers crossed, but with the car laid up for winter anyway, I think I would start checking for head gasket, manifold gasket leaks....better to find out now if you have a problem than wait for the weather to get nice again
:seeya
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Washington PA
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
Now I'm really getting scared! I will let it run for a while tomorrow and see what happens. It has been running really good, so I hope I don't have to tear anything down. Are head gaskets a normal thing for lt1's? I just got the car in June and do not know any history on it, so I will keep my fingers crossed. :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
You may have coolant leaking past your intake gaskets. If it gets in the combustion chamber, it'll cause extra blowby, send water into the oil and bearings, and ultimately force some out the pcv valve.
The best thing you can do is after letting it sit for a day or so, pull the drain plug, let about a cup of oil drain out into a clear container, and look for water bubbles in the oil.
Water is denser than oil, and will sink to the bottom of the oilpan given enough time, and come out when you pull the drain plug. If it is an intake gasket leak, it's not the end of the world. Parts are cheap, but the labor is sort of intensive. If you have a little mechanical experience and a helper, it's sort of a fun repair.
I hope for your sake it's not a head gasket. Pop your radiator cap and check for bubbles when the engine is running.
The best thing you can do is after letting it sit for a day or so, pull the drain plug, let about a cup of oil drain out into a clear container, and look for water bubbles in the oil.
Water is denser than oil, and will sink to the bottom of the oilpan given enough time, and come out when you pull the drain plug. If it is an intake gasket leak, it's not the end of the world. Parts are cheap, but the labor is sort of intensive. If you have a little mechanical experience and a helper, it's sort of a fun repair.
I hope for your sake it's not a head gasket. Pop your radiator cap and check for bubbles when the engine is running.
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Le Mans Master
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Re: milky pcv valve (CentralCoaster)
In my youth I did many many oil changes. More times than not I would find milk on the fill cap when I took it off. That is why I say probably not. Check your antifreeze level if it is cool (full) guess what so are you (not full but cool).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 7,339
Likes: 137
From: WilkesBarre PA
Re: milky pcv valve (CentralCoaster)
You may have coolant leaking past your intake gaskets. If it gets in the combustion chamber, it'll cause extra blowby, send water into the oil and bearings, and ultimately force some out the pcv valve.
The best thing you can do is after letting it sit for a day or so, pull the drain plug, let about a cup of oil drain out into a clear container, and look for water bubbles in the oil.
Water is denser than oil, and will sink to the bottom of the oilpan given enough time, and come out when you pull the drain plug. If it is an intake gasket leak, it's not the end of the world. Parts are cheap, but the labor is sort of intensive. If you have a little mechanical experience and a helper, it's sort of a fun repair.
I hope for your sake it's not a head gasket. Pop your radiator cap and check for bubbles when the engine is running.
The best thing you can do is after letting it sit for a day or so, pull the drain plug, let about a cup of oil drain out into a clear container, and look for water bubbles in the oil.
Water is denser than oil, and will sink to the bottom of the oilpan given enough time, and come out when you pull the drain plug. If it is an intake gasket leak, it's not the end of the world. Parts are cheap, but the labor is sort of intensive. If you have a little mechanical experience and a helper, it's sort of a fun repair.
I hope for your sake it's not a head gasket. Pop your radiator cap and check for bubbles when the engine is running.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,506
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From: Vancouver,Wa.
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
What temp of a thermostat are you running? Engines are big vaccums. If the oil don't get hot enough the moisture that is pulled though the engine will never cook out. Short drives are the same thing over a period of time. One more thing I would make sure that your PVC valve is working..
[Modified by Corvette0096, 6:58 AM 12/24/2003]
[Modified by Corvette0096, 6:58 AM 12/24/2003]
Race Director
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From: Texas
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
Pressure test the coolant system like Rich S suggested. You can also go to AutoZone and get strips to dip in the coolant that test for combustion byproducts. If it fails either of the above tests, then most likely one of the head gaskets is failing.
In all probability however, it's just condensation.
In all probability however, it's just condensation.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Washington PA
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
I think (keping my fingers crossed!) that everything is OK, there was a milky film on the top of the valve covers, but after 3 heat cycles (letting the car warm up for 20 minutes, shutting down for an hour, then starting again, it has gone away. I will keep my eyes on it and see about getting a coolant pressure tester. I'll keep you posted over the next couple weeks.
Thanks a million
Thanks a million
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Kempner Texas
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
Did you pull the valve covers and take a look at the inside? If you have a milky substance clinging to the inside of the valve covers you can about bet the bank you have a coolant leak.
Probably intake gasket, since it's the most common cause.
Every time I've seen milky substance it's been caused by a leak somewhere. Once it was caused by cracks in the cylinder head itself, right at the head to block bolt holes. Later found out the engine owner installed the heads with an impact wrench.
My home is Chicago, where the temps go from -20 or more below zero to 100+ in the summer and I've never seen milky substance on any engine that wasn't the result of a leak.
Sorry for the bad news on Xmas eve.
Just my thoughts.
Jake
Probably intake gasket, since it's the most common cause.
Every time I've seen milky substance it's been caused by a leak somewhere. Once it was caused by cracks in the cylinder head itself, right at the head to block bolt holes. Later found out the engine owner installed the heads with an impact wrench.
My home is Chicago, where the temps go from -20 or more below zero to 100+ in the summer and I've never seen milky substance on any engine that wasn't the result of a leak.
Sorry for the bad news on Xmas eve.
Just my thoughts.
Jake
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Washington PA
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
I thought that LT1's did not have coolant passages in the intake? If this is true, the intake should not be in contact with coolant.....is this correct??
I did a search and saw that others have also had this happen, only to find out condensation was the only problem. I will head back to the garage over the weekend and hopefully find some more good news. :confused:
I did a search and saw that others have also had this happen, only to find out condensation was the only problem. I will head back to the garage over the weekend and hopefully find some more good news. :confused:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
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From: Texas
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
I thought that LT1's did not have coolant passages in the intake? If this is true, the intake should not be in contact with coolant.....is this correct??
I did a search and saw that others have also had this happen, only to find out condensation was the only problem. I will head back to the garage over the weekend and hopefully find some more good news. :confused:
I did a search and saw that others have also had this happen, only to find out condensation was the only problem. I will head back to the garage over the weekend and hopefully find some more good news. :confused:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
From: Washington PA
Re: milky pcv valve (96redvette)
YEA!!!!!
no more milky oil!! after letting it run, then cool down a few times, I checked it a little bit ago and everything is back to normal. It was condensation. I think a faulty PCV valve did not hepl matters either, I'm still going to keep my eye on it and holp for the best
Merry Christmas! :hurray:
no more milky oil!! after letting it run, then cool down a few times, I checked it a little bit ago and everything is back to normal. It was condensation. I think a faulty PCV valve did not hepl matters either, I'm still going to keep my eye on it and holp for the best
Merry Christmas! :hurray: