Milky valve cover and dipstick..

[72Stinger]

Have a 270t I/O Volvo Penta, recently changed water propeller, bought from someone that hasn't changed oil for a long time, changed oil, and was relatively black, although when running for awhile the dipstick turns brown, no smoke coming from anywhere except cold starts, runs really well, no knocks/pings. Exchanger has no goop. Plugs look natural, but need changed. Anyway I have heard anything from oil change to cracked head. Can someone tell me if these symptoms have happened before and what should I do? Thanks.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Hi 72stinger,<br /><br />270T refers to the outdrive, what motor have you got? Is the brown oil "milk chocolate" brown or dark brown?<br /><br />Aldo

 

[72Stinger]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

The motor is volvo penta 130, the manual is not with me right now but that is what I believe it is, the oil out of the pan is black-to- dark brown, the valve cover taken off it's milky white.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

A little bit of milky white (couple of tea spoons) is normal condensation. A lot of milky white is trouble - anything from head gasket to cracked block. Those old pushrod engines are a volvo B-20B car engine from the seventies. If it is the block, you can go hunting around the wrecking yards.<br /><br />Maybe try another oil change just in case its severe condensation build up - good luck.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[72Stinger]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Thanks, I did a compression check and all cylinders are 120 or better, little water droplets coming out of cyl. #2 tho, I think it is the headgasket(hopefully), someone told me it would also be the exhaust manifold -- it is a AQ130 Volvo Penta. The milky white is only on dipstick and rods, do you think oil pump or something of that nature?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Unless you live in a freezing climate I'm thinking the same as 'someone' - head gasket.<br /><br />Pulling the head is also a good time to have a good look at your ex. manifold. I think your model had a half closed FWC, I don't think the manifold gave any problems but it won't hurt to check.<br /><br />The oil pump has nothing to do with water in oil, just give the crankcase a good cleanout when you've fixed the problem to get rid of the milk.<br /><br />From what you've described, everything else sound o/k.<br /><br />Good luck and keep us posted.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[72Stinger]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Actually I live in a warm, hot climate---Arizona-- wonder if it also has something to do with the water jackets/ports or whatever people call them, but of course the gasket will take care of that --- will fix in a couple weeks keep you posted.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Freezing winters can crack your block but that won't be a problem in sunny Arizona <br /><br />Aldo

 

[72Stinger]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Found some other information by just reading these forums, do you think it would be the exhaust manifold or riser. It has a heat exchanger that looks like a small starter and I drain that and water is clear. I guess the ultimate is take the manifold off and work my way down to the gasket.

 

[Trent]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Most of the time IT IS NOT THE HEAD GASKET! 90 percent of the time water in the oil is caused by bad (#1)Riser (#2)Manifold. Remove and have pressure tested before removing head. Dont pull that head, Without pressure testing!

 

[72Stinger]

Re: Milky valve cover and dipstick..

Thanks for all who replied, Last weekend I took off the exhaust and head, and sure enough it was the headgasket, the water was pouring into cyl #2 from the water jacket and in turn seeping into cyl #3 from the other jacket, put new gasket on the exhaust and head and put together. Took it on the lake and no more milky oil! Being this old it really needed TLC.