SBC - How bad is this?

[miker]

The SBC in my FJ40 has been using oil for awhile and the oil coming out of the engine from oil changes has had some signs of water. Today I started to change and oil and filter saw some things that looked like it was getting worse so I also pulled the valve covers and had a look in there.

There are several things that don't look good however, this vehicle gets started often and then does not get a chance to warm up so I expect to see some signs of moisture in the engine but this seems excessive to me. Also, the cooling system color and condition look good and not like its contaminated. the coolant is Toyota "red" so the color is correct.

On top of the filter and in the recesses of the heads, there is a large amount of grey paste material like what you would see in a manual transmission, transfercase, or differential. This is concerning to me since I've never seen this to this extent in an engine and I fear it might be bearing material or perhaps coming from a cam lobe?

What do you think? Is it time to tear it down or just keep ruinning it for awhile longer? I've been trailering it the last couple years to and from the trail so a breakdown on the highway is really an issue for the time being.

First picture shows top of head and around head bolt that is water. On top of rocker adjuster nut it is really white color. It is an oil and water mixture.

Second picture is the oil that I drained out of the engine.

Third picture is in inside of the driver side valve cover. This side does contain the PCV valve. The passenger side also had this as well but not as bad.

 

[miker]

Here is another picture of the valve cover.

Then a picture of the grey paste on top of the oil filter

Then a picture of the coolant at the filler cap which looks fine to me. Its the correct color.

 

[miker]

Here's the grey paste collecting on top of the recesses on the heads.

 

[miker]

By the way, I've been running this motor for about 10 years. I would guess it has 20 to 30 thousand miles. It is used only for 4 wheeling and driving to and from the trails. Its never been a daily driver.

The motor has always used oil from day one. Runs fine but down a little on power.

Also, this oil I drained out is about 11 months old and has very few miles on it, like less than 1000.

 

[HAMBURGLAR11]

BLOWN head gasket!!!!!!

 

[miker]

BLOWN head gasket!!!!!!

I'm not sure how a blown head gasket explains the grey paste. It could explain the water in the engine.

I did run leakdown test and didn't find any obvious problems. All cylinders were less than 10% leakage and it was through the rings. I expected to have some leakage since it does burn some oil.

 

[BDSeff1fitty]

the oil looks kinda milky, i would guess water like you said. you can do a few oil changes and see if the oil gets any better.

 

[miker]

The grey "paste" is super combined oil/water.

I did the same thing to an old S10 blazer. 100% blown head gasket

Interesting, never knew oil/water could produce a grey paste. The paste texture is not completely smooth like what is in the valve cover but seems to have a bit of a grit to it like a very fine polishing compound. Is that what you saw in your S10 engine?

 

[orangefj45]

wow, cool brains in the drain pan!


looks like you'll be pulling the heads off that puppy mike. not a horrible job but you'd better do it before the water reaks havoc on other engine components.

 

[bsmith123]

water in oil

do you have an oil cooler cooled by water? dont know if there is such a thing for a SBC? If so you may want to leak check it.

Also you could do a compression test that might turn up the bad gasket

Have you had any of the other classic symptoms like white smoke from the exhaust

bubbling radiator

sweet smelling exhaust?

If the Head Gasket looks good check for cracks

 

[miker]

wow, cool brains in the drain pan!


looks like you'll be pulling the heads off that puppy mike. not a horrible job but you'd better do it before the water reaks havoc on other engine components.

lol. yeah, that's the first thing I thought it looked like, BRAINS!

I'm sure the bearings have taken some punishment. The cruiser sits a lot and the water can't be doing them any good. The oil poured out very quick like it had almost no viscosity left.

Yeah, I think I need to pull it apart.

 

[miker]

do you have an oil cooler cooled by water? dont know if there is such a thing for a SBC? If so you may want to leak check it.

Also you could do a compression test that might turn up the bad gasket

Have you had any of the other classic symptoms like white smoke from the exhaust

bubbling radiator

sweet smelling exhaust?

If the Head Gasket looks good check for cracks

No oil cooler. Did a compression test awhile ago and looked fine. Maybe I'll do one just for kicks but the leakdown showed nothing.

Have not noticed any bubbling in the coolant or over pressurizing the system.

Have not noticed any white smoke other than normal startup.

I've not noticed any coolant loss so that part is kind of strange. Maybe a small amount of water goes a long way in the oil....

I hope its not a crack. Running Edelbrock heads. I guess it could also be a crack in the block. Block is bored .030 over.

All in all, I guess its time to do some more serious investigation and figure out what's going on.

 

[dargreg]

Looks like you got roller rockers therefore some guys put HP coppergasket in to higher the compression ,they tend not to last to long and are famous for breaking head bolts because of improper torque procedure.Either way high prf gasket or regular one the heads have to come of now! Bearings do not like antifreeze.Make sure the deck isnt cracked around the head bolt threads as sbc are drilled right into the water housing. Put new head bolts in if you can.

 

[green71fj]

intake or head gasket

 

[roadhouse]

looks like a head gasket, but as you said its running ok maybe not, the headstuds on SBC go into the water jackets, if they havent been installed with sealant they will leak water into the heads and it will mix with the oil making a nice fun paste

 

[79fj40moneypit]

If your compresion is up to snuff then check your intake it could be leaking around the water passage crossover.

 

[poopboy]

I recently had a 327 that I thought had a bad head gasket because of similar grey junk in the oil. It turned out the carb had junk in it and it was just the float was stuck and leaking past the cylinders while it sat. My motor always had plenty of coolant so I was unsure of where it was coming from. Does it smell like gas at all. Mine was very faint which made me think it was the head gasket at first.

 

[miker]

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm not using copper head gaskets. They are felpro composite made for aluminum heads. FYI, compression is about 9:1. Its a 383 with 18cc dished pistons and 70cc Edelbrock heads.

Head bolt threads were sealed when installed using a permatex thread sealant. Also, head bolts were new (ARP) when installed.

Oil does not smell like gas to me.

I may have some time today to check it out some more. If so, I'll post up anything I find that looks like a smoking gun.

 

[Magnum44]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but possibly a crack in the water jacket into a cylinder would cause this problem. You are running a 383 so are the cylinders bored .060 over? Also a longer stroke and depending where in the cylinder it might be could be why there are no bubbles in the coolant. I'm just going off the top of my head so I haven't thought it out much but it seems very possible. This would also be why your compression isn't really affected.

 

[fj hunter]

aluminium head?

that reminds me of the time my aluminium head blew through to the water journals. did you have a time lately where the engine overheaded? that can KO an aluminium head fast. I would not run the engine without lube change and recheck. Are you sure that someone did not add coolant directly to the engine oil port? the "brains" looks real familur to me. mine was a bit more blueish in color. either way, i'd run the engine til it drops if you find there is not a direct leak into the oil by something...else. i'd suspect the head first. then my wife, if she added coolant for me.