Water In The Oil?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 900
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From: New Bern NC
Water In The Oil?
410 QI motor getting water in the oil. Had the block and heads pressure tested. They both checked out fine, no leaks! Where else could it come from? All input appreciated.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,243
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
Some background info would be helpful? When did this start? How did you find it? Is it truly water, or coolant? Was it enough to turn the oil milky?
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: SHREVEPORT LOUISIANA
Motor getting water in the oil
Did you check the radiator? There is an integral oil cooler built in to the bottom of the radiator. If it has a leak you will get water in the oil. Open the radiator cap and see if there is not an oil film in the radiator. If there is, then thats your problem....
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,243
Likes: 1,091
From: Dyer, IN
I take it you are referring to the transmission fluid?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 900
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From: New Bern NC
Well, the story could get a little long, but I'll keep it short.
Originally we were dealing w/ a vibration which turned out to be a bad harmonic balancer. It vibrated so bad it beat the journals off the timing chain. Being concerned there could be further damage, we pulled the motor and heads. I had noticed the coolant level dropping before we pulled the motor, and there were signs of moisture in the heads. We thought that the vibrations could have caused some head damage, so we sent them to be checked and resurfaced. We put the motor back together.
It seemed to do fine on the dyno. My first pull on the road, milky white oil water mix shot out of the valve cover vent making it obvious there were problems. We pulled the motor and discovered the bearings were damaged and water in the oil. I took the block and heads to a different machine shop , they concluded the heads and block were fine. This car is a 97 model.
Originally we were dealing w/ a vibration which turned out to be a bad harmonic balancer. It vibrated so bad it beat the journals off the timing chain. Being concerned there could be further damage, we pulled the motor and heads. I had noticed the coolant level dropping before we pulled the motor, and there were signs of moisture in the heads. We thought that the vibrations could have caused some head damage, so we sent them to be checked and resurfaced. We put the motor back together.
It seemed to do fine on the dyno. My first pull on the road, milky white oil water mix shot out of the valve cover vent making it obvious there were problems. We pulled the motor and discovered the bearings were damaged and water in the oil. I took the block and heads to a different machine shop , they concluded the heads and block were fine. This car is a 97 model.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Stock heads?
Did you re-assemble with stock GM gaskets and head bolts?
Were the head bolts new?
Were the head bolt holes clear of coolant prior to head installation?
When the heads were sent to the shop, did they inspect for cracks, etc.?
Is the PCV system stock and correctly connected?
Did you re-assemble with stock GM gaskets and head bolts?
Were the head bolts new?
Were the head bolt holes clear of coolant prior to head installation?
When the heads were sent to the shop, did they inspect for cracks, etc.?
Is the PCV system stock and correctly connected?
Last edited by vettenuts; Jan 20, 2011 at 05:31 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
I don't think it can just happen, especially since the motor has never over heated. It's my assumption it came that way from GM. I purchased the block new from a GM dealer. This is a lessen to everyone, have the deck surface milled when having the other machine work done.
