I final get the exhaust on the car. I go get the keys, crank it up.... its fires up, sounds like it needs some warming up but thats not the case. The engine sounds like there are a few cylinders not firing(!!maybe!!), and there is a sound coming for it. Its not a "Knock" or a "Tick" sound, but close to sounding like a quick shoot of high pressure air. I looked at the motor and there were no leaking fluid. I check the plug wires they are attacted firmly. So then I pull the Head covers off. The Fat rockers, springs, and push rods look fine, nothing is cracked or broken. No metal shavings or chunks, and the oil remaining looked normal and black. Then I drain the oil from the oil pan. I'm looking at the oil while its draining, and notice that the oil looks "milky", kinda like water might be in it. Well I put my finger in the oil to get a better look and smell....It kinda smells like gas, and there is no evidence of metal shavings or chunks.

And thats as far as I have gotten in this troubleshooting stage. I think that there still might be a problem on the lower end of the motor and this "milky" oil in the pan has got me confused( cause I have never seen it before), especially since the oil I saw in the heads looked normal.

Anyones insight would be great. What can I do from this point? What else should I look at? And more importantly is the Motor saveable?

My car Info:

'91 Camaro(I removed the 305 TBI eng)
355 small Block(from a '86 GMC truck)
Road Demon Carb.
high rise intake
BeCool Rad/fan Kit
LT4 hot cam Kit
World Sportsman II heads
Flattop pistons
Forged rods
McLeod Flywheel
RAM Heavy Duty Clutch Kit
5speed Borg/Warner Trans

 

General engine troubleshooting should be discussed in a gen spacific forum for your year car.

Transfering to 3rd Gen Tech.
Thanks.

 

start crying, as far as i know if you have coolant leaking into your engine will make your oil look like a chocolate milk shake. You probably have a blown head gasket.

 

Yup it's Blowen head gasket..........
wait wai no no.

Is this a TPI engine??

My 87 z-28 did that and it was the intake gasket's Not thw head gasket's much much cheaper.......

But If it's TBI or carbed it's prolly head gasket's......

 

nope its not a TPI, its a carburator. Please refer to the "my Car Info" part at the end of my post.

Sorry Kmook, i didn't know if this would be the right spot for it. But isn't this 3rd Gen? I'm talking about my 1991 camaro to... hmm i'm all confused now =P

 

91 is a third gen......

yeah it's a head gasket check your coolant level......

 

The high pressure air sound you're hearing could be related to a slightly loose spark plug. Check all the plugs first. If this engine has been sitting awhile it probably had condensation forming inside the valve covers. If you're using tall valve covers it makes condensation a little worse. Also double check you're spark plug wire firing order since you said it sounds like it's dropping some cylinders although a loose plug will also make it miss since it can't fire the fuel completely (explaining why you smell fuel in the oil). The valve covers are the last thing to heat up on the engine, cool air and high humidity form inside the covers. When you mix the condesation with hot engine oil you create a milky solution that can often be found on the inside of valve covers. If you run the engine for a good 15-20 minutes the condensation would dissapate. Suggestion would be to verify your plugs are tight/clean, firing order is correct, carb is set up properly, and then let it idle at 1500 rpm's for 15 minutes until engine reaches operating temperature then change the oil again. Are you losing any coolant? If so, then you can put some dye in the engine coolant and run the engine and using a black light, scan for the source of the leak. The milky substance is pretty common among boat owners who run their engine for the first time in the spring, usually two oil changes in a row after running the engine for awhile cures the problem. If after checking all of the above and you still have a milky solution then you will have to determine whether you have a intake or head gasket leak.

 

Yea that is very true I forgoit about that......
but I'm still thinking head gaskey's or intake gasket's.....

 

Hmm cool, I'll go back and check the plugs, fluid level, wire order. The Carb. is still factory set other than the idle, but i can put that back to where it will sit at 1500.

Thx
i'll be back to report

 

Ok good stuff guy foryour sake i hope's it;s just some loose plug's.......head&intake gasket's cost money.........it seems every thing dose now........

 

Well, i just looked and the plugs are tight. I'm going to get a new set of wires. And change the oil. The radiator was half full =(

 

Not looking good guy........

 

can a head or intake gasket go away after only 20 or 30 mins of run time?

 

it might but not real perabable

 

cause, thats about how long i've run this engine so far