I have a 540 Pro charger with dart pro 1 heads and oil cooler (no thermostat). I have noticed moisture in the oil. Is this common with the aluminum heads, or is it because I have no thermostat to heat up the oil. I just replaced the intake manifold gaskets to see if that would help, but still see the moisture.
I checked the compression to see if I possibly blew a head gasket, but the compression is up in all cylinders.

Could it still be a head gasket, or is that unlikely?

Thanks in advance!!!

depends on what you mean by moisture. if the oil has changed color to that dull ugly grey then thats more than just condensation, in my opinion. if you are seeeing a little steam in the valve covers but the oil is still not emulsified, then that probably IS condensation. you need to be seeing something around 220 deg of oil temp to boil off the contaminants and the moisture.

i am seeing a milky looking oil. I don't think i am getting my oil up to 220 degrees though.

I remembered this thread from a short time ago. I hope this isnt your issue, but its good information to know.


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...ater-leak.html

I got the same problem Milky oil.Alm. heads motor has maybe 5 running hrs on it. I actualy had water poor out of my breather baffles. little less than a table spoon. I can see big water drops on my rockers and heads on both engines. Heres what I tried today to prove or disprove head gasket or intake problems. Pulled all plugs and spun over No standing water in cylinders slite mist came out of #5 .Compression check 205 210 all cylinders. Clamped off exhaust manifolds water inlets so they wouldent even enter into the dianoses. Figured any water from inverion shouldent realy get into the oil should be in cyl. and expelled thru exhaust. Then I made a water presser vessel and atached it to the intake pressered the whole system to 25 psi . I have a guage for water presser on the dash. Then I drained the oil no non mixed water came out. The presser still maintained steady at 25psi. then with oil completly drained still under water presure sat for 1.5 hrs NO water came out the pan. Then I put in new oil ran the motor about 1 min. water presser still held . Actualy it held for around 4 hours . So figure this one out ?? If I had a bad gasket intake or head or worse a crack ,presure would not hold right ? So how much condinsation does it take to make oil milky? Im running Mobil 1 And if this is a condinsation prob Will it burn out of the oil as vapor and the oil is OK again ?

[QUOTE=redcorvetteman3;2882238] Figured any water from inverion shouldent realy get into the oil should be in cyl. and expelled thru exhaust. /QUOTE]


I like everything you did. You had some great ideas on how to check the cooling system for leaks. The only thing I disagree with is the above quote. Reversion water will enter the cylinders and squeeze right past your rings and into the oil pan. What exhaust system are you running? You mentioned manifolds, did you pull the risers and check foir signs of water in the manifolds?

I just went through this same problem. My motor would pressure test fine. the compression test was also fine. we did a leak down and it was perfect. the problem was that the head bolts on the end of my dart heads were a little long. there was enough gasket crush to make all the test read correctly but when it was running it was lifting the head and mixing water in the intake valley.

Thanks guys... On the thought of reversion or the head bolt thing shouldent I be seeing an over fill on the stick or if I check the volume of oil during a change? And I ran the motor to warm it up to recreate a high temp crack or gasket failer. presser held. Another thought wont the water and oil seperate back if I keep it in a glass jar and look at it couple days later? Another bit of info ran motor last year 3-4 hrs Idled at least an 1hr. I changed oil begining of this season (with out startig it) oil was not milky greenish then it was black. If I mix oil and water in a bench test it looks more like a lite yellow vanilla shake then it seperates some after a day. And as far as manifols stock merc withn stock 6'' risers. Boat is stored inside nothing froze up. And just for fun I left pressur all night still had 19psi this morning.

I will be going out to needles on thursday to try it out. If I still see moisture the heads are comming off. I am probably the lucky one with the falty head casting and will have to get it welded up. I may as well freshen up the heads too.

Hope i'm lucky though, I want to boat fast, not wrench!!!!

What exhaust & cam do you have? I used to get a lot of moisture in my engine when I had a flat tappet crane cam with 235 duration. I had stock exhaust, oil cooler & valve covers even silent choice exhaust. After I blew up the engine I found out about reversion. I replaced the exhaust with EMI's / long risers, bigger oil cooler, and better breathing valve covers. I also now use Amsoil. I have not had any condensation or moisture since. Good luck with you problem.