So I installed a cam and heads on my 2000 c5. it has been driven roughly 1200 or so miles since the install. Today I got a low oil light. I pulled the engine oil filler cap off and found a yellowish fluid in the top of the cap. Unfortunately I rubbed the stuff almost completely off the filler cap before I took a picture.

I checked the dipstick and found nothing out of the ordinary (so I think). I drained a small amount of oil out of the engine and took a look but did not see any tell tale signs ( so I think).

I am going to check the spark plugs and do a leak down test next to see what results I come up with.

I took some pictures but can not seem to find how to post the pics. I just had the car tuned on the dyno last week and it pulled 365 wheel horse power.

Any advice is welcome.

Update 1:

Uploaded pictures to Flickr, not sure if the link will work though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55678285@N07/

Update 2: Found fluid on the threads of the number 6 and 8 spark plugs. The number 8 spark plug was very white like it was lean. Could be caused by coolant in the number 8 cylinder? Started the leak down if the #8 cylinder. Added more pics. Someone let me know if the link is not working. I tried it and it worked. Thanks.

Update 3: Found fluid on the #7 spark plug, but no lean condition exists according to the plug. I did drive for about four hours in the rain yesterday. It may explain the liquid on the spark plug threads, but what about the lean condition on cylinder 8 and the yellowish crap in the oil filler cap? Someone chime in here!!!

Leak down on #6 coming up!

Update: Look below for the pictures

 

Everyone is working today, huh?

 

Ok figured out how to post pictures (picture sticky)


I already wiped most of the yellow crap out before the picture


Oil I drained from the motor


Dipstick, sorry used the flash


Spark plug #8. Looks very lean to me


Start of leak down #8


End of leak down after 30 minutes. No loss of compression.

 

Could just be a partially clogged #8 injector. Swap injectors with another cylinder, put a new plugs in #8 and the cylinder you swapped injectors with and see what happens.

 

I will swap the injector. They are new 30lb fords. #6 held compression as well as #8. Wondering if the yellowish fluid I found is due to condensation or the recent rain. Any thoughts?

 

Could be normal condensation. Next oil change collect all the oil in something you can see through, if you have any significant coolant, you should see it seperate after sitting for a while in the container.

 

Sounds good. I plan on changing it. If I think water is in the oil I will take pictures for all to see. I appreciate the advice. I swapped the #8 injector with the #2 and ran the car for a little while. We will see. I am more comfortable driving the car now because the only cylinders with signs of a problem held compression.

 

That's not how you do a leak down test. That gauge should sit there all day. You have to release the pressure to test the next cylinder, right?

Unless I'm missing something there...

Sorry that's no help to your original problem but your trouble shooting methods don't seem correct to me. And, that spark plug looks way too lean, from the way it looks to me.

 

The cylinder is lean due to the injector. I swapped it to cylinder two and it turned that plug white as well. Maybe it is clogged. if it is clogged, can i get it un clogged?

I did not know that I needed to leave the gauge hooked up all day. If I get an actual leak down tester ( the kind that hooks up to compressed air) I should be able to look in the coolant reservoir for air bubbles being a sign of a blown head gasket, correct? I don't have a proper leak down tester so I would have to rent one.

I was under the impression that the compression would go down over a short period of time if the gasket was blown ( like a compression test).

Guess I will get a proper leak down tester.

 

You can do a coolant system pressure test to see if the cooling system holds pressure. I don't really think you have an issue, especially if the coolant resevoir isn't losing coolant.

I send injectors to www.cruzinperformance.com he flow tests them before and after cleaning and also put in new screens.


Leakdown tests are more about finding leaks in valves/rings than cooling systems.

 

I was going to send the bad one back to ford racing based on the guidance from brother's performance where I bought them. After I change the oil I will know for sure if I have water in the oil or not. All this because my low oil light came on.

 

The hard part of doing it this way is the expansion of aluminum heads, you might not have a leak cold. Are you losing coolant from the recovery tank over time??

 

The reservoir is still full. I think I am over reacting. I just drained the oil and it is brown. I think it is pretty toast from the dyno tuning, but I don't see any signs of water in the oil. I will know for sure tomorrow. I am going to let the oil sit over night to see if any water has separated from the oil.

 

Here is pictures of the oil. We'll see tomorrow if anything separates. Just smells burnt.

 

Well at least I found a bad injector through this whole mess. Thanks for the help.