Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > Technical > Do It Yourself, Boating on a Budget
Its a mystery to me.. just condensation? >

Its a mystery to me.. just condensation?

Notices

Its a mystery to me.. just condensation?

Thread Tools
 
Old 07-27-2014 | 06:49 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,946
Likes: 6,418
From: Chicago
Question Its a mystery to me.. just condensation?

Maybe not to others but I`m trying to figure out what going on with both my motors:

Dip sticks:






This is the only corner where the milk is forming in the valve cover.. right below the cold water lines












Cold water above, hot ring of spring oiler below.. this 'milk' seems to be coming from the top of the valve cover



The rest of the valve cover is ..no milk anywhere:







Oil from bottom of the pan 3 hours later, no seperation, oil looks ok.





The lake on the Wisconsin side is COLD but I`ve never seen this before, first year with spring oilers too thou.


Any ideas?

Last edited by ICDEDPPL; 07-27-2014 at 06:54 PM.
ICDEDPPL is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 06:54 PM
  #2  
Biggus's Avatar
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 36
From: Naples, Maine
Default

Are you running an oil thermostat?
Biggus is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 06:55 PM
  #3  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 39
From: lockport ny
Default

Whats your oil temp getting up to? It has to get hot enough to burn the moisture out of it. Might wanna think about some oil thermostats
88bullet is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 06:57 PM
  #4  
Thread Starter
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,946
Likes: 6,418
From: Chicago
Default

No water thermostats.. but yes oil stats that open @ 180*

Last edited by ICDEDPPL; 07-27-2014 at 07:02 PM.
ICDEDPPL is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 06:58 PM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,946
Likes: 6,418
From: Chicago
Default

Oil temp about 180*
Water temp has never gone above 100* but its always been that cold.
You guys thinking condensation?
I was hoping it wasn`t head gaskets. I spent some time trying to decide weather to use rtv around the water ports or not but in the end went dry.

Last edited by ICDEDPPL; 07-27-2014 at 07:01 PM.
ICDEDPPL is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 07:10 PM
  #6  
SB
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,068
Likes: 3,668
From: On A Dirt Floor
Default

Where your valve covers changed too ? If so, they might be causing more condensation than the old one's.

I have seen some peoplee run into this (N/A though - don't know how to do on your blower and carb set up) that installed auto type pcv system and eliminated it.

Remember, water vapor (steam) rises to top. Also, valve cover , especially if aluminum, will cool down before oil does. Add some humidity and wallah, condensation.
SB is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 07:31 PM
  #7  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 39
From: lockport ny
Default

i ran into that problem on a few motors up north here. water temps are cold and without thermostats the motor will never get to a desirable operating temp. i switched from circulation pumps and no thermostats to water crossovers and 140 stats and it reduced the "camel cum" tremendously. having 150-180 water temps aren't bad. the higher temp will also let your block grow in relation to your piston growth. kinda like letting a 2 stroke warm up and grow before beating the hell out of it so you dont stick a piston.
88bullet is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 07:33 PM
  #8  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 39
From: lockport ny
Default

and extended idling and short trips will cause it too. go out and run her hard and get her all warmed up and i bet it goes away
88bullet is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 07:50 PM
  #9  
Rookie's Avatar
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,017
Likes: 1,519
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Default

I have the same issues on Lake Mi. I use to quadruple check the dipsticks to see if I was gaining any oil. I realized I never gained nor loss oil. I pulled valve covers every week. I now just chalk it up to what sb stated, steam/moisture rises. I also have a long idle time in a channel.

Edit... I never see it on my dipsticks.

Last edited by Rookie; 07-27-2014 at 07:52 PM.
Rookie is offline  
Reply
Old 07-27-2014 | 10:10 PM
  #10  
253
Gold Member
20 Year Member
Gold Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 702
Likes: 26
From: Southern, IL.
Default

Originally Posted by 88bullet
i ran into that problem on a few motors up north here. water temps are cold and without thermostats the motor will never get to a desirable operating temp. i switched from circulation pumps and no thermostats to water crossovers and 140 stats and it reduced the "camel cum" tremendously. having 150-180 water temps aren't bad. the higher temp will also let your block grow in relation to your piston growth. kinda like letting a 2 stroke warm up and grow before beating the hell out of it so you dont stick a piston.
I agree, used to have same problem when I ran restrictor plates and no thermostats, I went to 140 degree thermostats and no more problem,
253 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.