help identifying fluid in center valley
03-29-2007, 11:26 PM
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help identifying fluid in center valley
I am having work done on my 89 s4 928. Basically having the top end of the engine redone, minus the head gaskets. I asked to have pictures of the process taken. They found I had a cracked cam cover, which I posted in another thread. Then they sent me a picture of the engine. I noticed some fluid in the center valley. Im wondering where it came from. Is it just fluid that spilled from the work being done, ie disconnecting hoses? I know I had a minor leak from the water manifold, could it be from there? My worst fear....the head gaskets!? My car showed no symptoms of that. I emailed the supervisor, and am waiting for a response.......thanks!!
03-29-2007, 11:33 PM
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oil breather ?? oh I have to do my homework on oil breathers. I asked them to replace all associated hoses and seals, and gaskets, etc....hopefully an oil breather hose is one of them. thank you!
03-29-2007, 11:36 PM
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THe oil breather hose usually falls apart after several years. Pretty rare to see a car nowadays with original rubber that doesn't leak. No biggie.
03-29-2007, 11:49 PM
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i am at the mercy of the mechanics at porsche. they are taking pics for me as a favor. this is the best I have to offer. sorry....would help to have a nicer pic, thats true
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03-30-2007, 05:10 AM
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i am at the mercy of the mechanics at porsche.
03-30-2007, 12:08 PM
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When I had the '85 opened up, I had some oil from the old breather line and some of the hood insulation. You can get coolant in there if you don't drain the block when removing the intake. I know a bolt near the passenger firewall goes into the water jacket and maybe one at the driver front. Not knowing than can cause major distress to the DIYer. A home defibrillator comes in handy. 
03-30-2007, 12:14 PM
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The oil filler neck gasket is also a likely source. That is a definite WYAIT job.
It looks like water and oil (Oops! - That's Andew's picture, but that is what it usually looks like in the valley.). You say you know you had a waterbridge (seal) leak. That will spill into the valley as well. Don't worry about head gaskets unless you have some other evidence. If I understand you correctly, you have enough to worry about being that a Porsche dealer is doing the work! It's a very rare dealer mechanic that knows anything about these cars.
Why did they diassemble the intake manifold? Are they having the upper section refinished?
Anyway, they should clean out the oily mixture in the valley, replace the oil filler neck gasket, and the waterbridge seal. Also, the knock sensors are another important WYAIT replacement. The oily mess wreaks havoc on the electrical insulation and breather hoses.
It looks like water and oil (Oops! - That's Andew's picture, but that is what it usually looks like in the valley.). You say you know you had a waterbridge (seal) leak. That will spill into the valley as well. Don't worry about head gaskets unless you have some other evidence. If I understand you correctly, you have enough to worry about being that a Porsche dealer is doing the work! It's a very rare dealer mechanic that knows anything about these cars.
Why did they diassemble the intake manifold? Are they having the upper section refinished?
Anyway, they should clean out the oily mixture in the valley, replace the oil filler neck gasket, and the waterbridge seal. Also, the knock sensors are another important WYAIT replacement. The oily mess wreaks havoc on the electrical insulation and breather hoses.
03-30-2007, 12:49 PM
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When the intake comes off , ALL the hoses need to be changed , the idle stabilizer ,the knock sensors, the oil filler to block gasket, the thermostat to head seals and the thermostat housing to block o-ring ,flappy valve vacume motor.... anything less just means you will be going back in there sooner or later. Which of course is just FINE with the technician doing the work on a hourly basis... Hours is hours... So it does not matter much WHAT the liquid IS fix everything that MIGHT be leaking short of a head gasket which is very unlikely to be a problem.
03-30-2007, 04:30 PM
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Crumbled breather hose from oil separator to valve cover will (as already pointed out) leave a lot of brackish water in the valley. I see the heater valve connector at the back of the engine was removed and set aside around the fuel pressure regulator - and often allows coolant into the valley. Simply loosening the bolt on the port side coolant passage cover plate, which must be done to get the intake off, will also allow a small stream of coolant into the valley. I'll bet heads are fine and you are looking at normal gunk.