Blown headgasket/oil contamination timeline question
08-28-2018 | 04:35 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Blown headgasket/oil contamination timeline question
Let's say you discovered milkshake oil then drained the oil and removed the pan then cleaned it thoroughly then refilled it with oil. Then ran the car for over an hour. Let's say for sake of argument the gasket is leaking. How long would a running engine up to temperature take to turn the oil into brown milk? I know this is asking the impossible but just maybe some of you know from experience. What happened to me is last winter I bought a car from a guy in Chicago. The oil seemed fine but I ran the car at idle to warm it up on very cold days. Well when I drained after a month or so (starting the car ever other day or so) the oil was milky. So I removed the pan cleaned it out then removed a couple of bearing caps (the crank and caps were fine) everything looked okay. Well now it's back together and running and I have ran it for over two hours up to full temp. I drained off a little oil and there was no contamination. The big question, do you think I'm out of the woods????? Or will it take longer to tell if it was the head gasket or just condensation?
08-28-2018 | 06:11 PM
#2
Rennlist Member
Stop guessing and pull the plugs, and the clean ones are where the gasket is leaking.
08-28-2018 | 07:49 PM
#3
Former Vendor
Let's say you discovered milkshake oil then drained the oil and removed the pan then cleaned it thoroughly then refilled it with oil. Then ran the car for over an hour. Let's say for sake of argument the gasket is leaking. How long would a running engine up to temperature take to turn the oil into brown milk? I know this is asking the impossible but just maybe some of you know from experience. What happened to me is last winter I bought a car from a guy in Chicago. The oil seemed fine but I ran the car at idle to warm it up on very cold days. Well when I drained after a month or so (starting the car ever other day or so) the oil was milky. So I removed the pan cleaned it out then removed a couple of bearing caps (the crank and caps were fine) everything looked okay. Well now it's back together and running and I have ran it for over two hours up to full temp. I drained off a little oil and there was no contamination. The big question, do you think I'm out of the woods????? Or will it take longer to tell if it was the head gasket or just condensation?
08-28-2018 | 07:51 PM
#4
Former Vendor
Let's say you discovered milkshake oil then drained the oil and removed the pan then cleaned it thoroughly then refilled it with oil. Then ran the car for over an hour. Let's say for sake of argument the gasket is leaking. How long would a running engine up to temperature take to turn the oil into brown milk? I know this is asking the impossible but just maybe some of you know from experience. What happened to me is last winter I bought a car from a guy in Chicago. The oil seemed fine but I ran the car at idle to warm it up on very cold days. Well when I drained after a month or so (starting the car ever other day or so) the oil was milky. So I removed the pan cleaned it out then removed a couple of bearing caps (the crank and caps were fine) everything looked okay. Well now it's back together and running and I have ran it for over two hours up to full temp. I drained off a little oil and there was no contamination. The big question, do you think I'm out of the woods????? Or will it take longer to tell if it was the head gasket or just condensation?
08-28-2018 | 10:08 PM
#5
My experience on head gasket leaks, somewhat limited.
When a gasket is in the early stages of failure, small leaking will go from higher pressure to lower.
While the engine is running, the oil pressure is higher that the water pressure. When you shut down, the oil pressure drops immediately but coolant pressure remains until cool. That’s when coolant migrates into the oil. Multiple cycles will tell, but I haven’t seen “milkshake” oil from condensation either.
Is there any sign of oil in the coolant?
When a gasket is in the early stages of failure, small leaking will go from higher pressure to lower.
While the engine is running, the oil pressure is higher that the water pressure. When you shut down, the oil pressure drops immediately but coolant pressure remains until cool. That’s when coolant migrates into the oil. Multiple cycles will tell, but I haven’t seen “milkshake” oil from condensation either.
Is there any sign of oil in the coolant?
08-28-2018 | 10:52 PM
#6
Team Owner
it could also be a leaking oil cooler
Check the plugs if all are dirty then the cooler leak is more probable
Check the plugs if all are dirty then the cooler leak is more probable
08-29-2018 | 10:16 AM
#7
Thread Starter
Racer
My experience on head gasket leaks, somewhat limited.
When a gasket is in the early stages of failure, small leaking will go from higher pressure to lower.
While the engine is running, the oil pressure is higher that the water pressure. When you shut down, the oil pressure drops immediately but coolant pressure remains until cool. That’s when coolant migrates into the oil. Multiple cycles will tell, but I haven’t seen “milkshake” oil from condensation either.
Is there any sign of oil in the coolant?
When a gasket is in the early stages of failure, small leaking will go from higher pressure to lower.
While the engine is running, the oil pressure is higher that the water pressure. When you shut down, the oil pressure drops immediately but coolant pressure remains until cool. That’s when coolant migrates into the oil. Multiple cycles will tell, but I haven’t seen “milkshake” oil from condensation either.
Is there any sign of oil in the coolant?
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08-29-2018 | 10:25 AM
#8
Rennlist Member
Pressure test the Rad,does it hold, and what are the cyl compression readings?
Also they make various testers for HC in the coolant.
Have you done any actual testing, else this is all speculation.. also never seen condensate do the milkshake thing.
When a Hot engine is shut down, the coolant temp and pressure will rise then cool, that is why fans are set to run after shutdown if really hot.
Also they make various testers for HC in the coolant.
Have you done any actual testing, else this is all speculation.. also never seen condensate do the milkshake thing.
When a Hot engine is shut down, the coolant temp and pressure will rise then cool, that is why fans are set to run after shutdown if really hot.