I took my oil fill cap to look and noticed there was some white build-up around the inside of it. It was a bad feeling in my stomach to say the least. So I proceded taking both my valve covers off and my intake off. Under the valves covers were milky....just a little, not a white milky but like a dark yellow. Same with under the intake. The head service and the lifter valley were clean. I drained the oil and it was clean also, no signs of water or anything. I was a not overheating, car was running fine. I am thinking I just cought it at the begining either that or the head gasket has a slight weep to it. The car has 156K miles and I am more than sure they are stock gaskets. I think I might change them to be safe, but I just wanted to make sure I wasnt forgeting to check in other places before going after the head gaskets. I was planing on doing a valve spring swap anyways, now I can do it when it is easy to

 

dude i have the same exact problem..........did u have white smoke coming out ur exhaust bc the easiest way 2 see if its a head gasket is it hold ur hand behine the exhaust tip and see if it smells like coolant. Also did u have to drop ur motor or could u get all that intake and stuff off fine?

 

If you do end up pulling the heads, I would have them resurfaced. Alluminum warps real easy after all those heat cycles. If you're going that deep..........it's new cam time!!!

 

How often do you drive your car? In some cars I've seen the top end get milky just from condesation. If you live in a humid area you have that chance. Just trying to give you a better option.
Also you can check your coolant by draining it in a clean bucket and see if you have oil in it. I would try that and an oil change before jumping to the head gasket.

 

Yup, this CAN be normal if water gets in the oil from other things than a leaking headgasket, like what I burn rice too said, and also from making short trips for a while without getting the car hot enough to evaporate the moisture.

 

When my head gasket blew, I had no water in the oil, so this doesn't always happen. I could smell coolant and see smoke coming out the exhaust as well as a rough idle when mine decided to go out though. I agree with having the head resurfaced and while your at it get a 3 angle valve job and the machine shop will also most likely put the springs on for free.

 

Well to answer some questions, Yes the intake was easy to get off and all the bolts are accessable.

The car is driven every day, to and from work, to and from friends houses. I have never noticed this before. I dont think I want to risk it, I dont want to ruin the bearings b/c of water, and also a oil change is like $35 I dont want to waste that either. I was planing on doing the springs, and if the heads come off, the stock manifolds will not go back on, so its a good time to get some headers to. And I would put a cam in it, but I am worried about spining the cam bearings......it would be nice though...........

 

I seriously wouldnt worry about spinning a cam bearing.

 

He does have 156k miles on the car. I have 80k on mine and I'm still worried about spinning a bearing with my new setup down the road from all the horror stories I've heard.

With that many miles, I'd leave it alone. If he wants to rev it up the chances of breaking something are increased dramatcially.

 

it's not cam bearing that you have to worry about about. It is the rod bearings.

 

i'd say you're ok because my car did the same thing around 110k miles, some white buildup on the oil cap. cleaned it off and changed the coolant and oil, couldnt find a thing wrong. its ran strong for another 15k miles since.

 

Speaking of headers, don't forget there is a set sitting in my garage.

 

I also agree with the theory it may be normal buildup of condensation over all the miles and years. I wouldnt freak out about it. Just wipe it out and monitor it.

 

I guess I could do that, But I think I might put some cheap oil in and drive it for like a week, just so I dont go ruin 5 good quarts of Mobil 1

 

dang mobile 1 that ***** expensive lol
seriously though if your gonna swap out the springs anyway whats another what 30 bolts lol
id do a little DIY head porting while i was in there too
and if ya need any little LT1 pieces just gimme a ring man i gots a whole spare sitting in the garage