Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

[gjcombs]

All,

My 1981 OMC 260/800 sterndrive has steamy oil. After about having the boat out a month last summer, I noticed steam and coagulated oil inside of the valve covers and the vent tubes that go to the carb.

The thing is that it runs really well. However, I am taking on water somehow. It was a sludgy mess to remove at the end of the season. If I gain water at a slow enough rate, could I just monitor and replace?

Do I have a cracked block? How to check?

Do I have a blown head gasket? How to check?

I had a compression test done before winterization and the compression was not out of the ordinary.

TIA

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Not much good here but I know how to test the head gasket in a car with a radiator but not sure about a good way in a boat.

 

[danond]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Cooling system pressure test is easy to do. Plug the hose(s) that go to the exhaust manifolds (or connect them to eachother). Remove the water inlet/intake hose from the engine and pressurize the engine with air where the hose was attached, then see if you lose air pressure. I bought a couple pieces of hose and some plumbing fittings and made a thing I can hook a bike pump to.

You might hear it leaking from the exhaust, carb, valve cover, etc if you have a cracked block.

Your compression test will show 2 side-by-side cylinders with low compression if you have a bad head gasket, most likely.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

I agree with the cooling system pressure test being your first step.
Is the engine running cold? Wrong thermostat maybe? Heat gets the moisture out to some degree. But "sludgy mess" sounds like a failing riser joint or manifold or internal crack. pressure test will verify or eliminate the latter.

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

I had the same issues. Ended up being alot of condensation. I pressure tested my entire system with 0 pressure loss. After running for 30 minutes witha good load all the steam basically disappeared.

 

[soaked]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

I get the same thing, and am currently testing for some possible cooling system leaks (bad gasket or cracked head?!? Can't quite tell)...

The weird thing is that mine runs just fine and has done the steam thing the whole time I have owned it... I can pull a PCV at warm-up and it emits steam... I rev up the motor to 2000 rpms, and it stops...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Not much good here but I know how to test the head gasket in a car with a radiator but not sure about a good way in a boat.

Ayuh,.... Same Thing,.. Pretty much the same way,... Just more work to get there....
1st,.. You've gotta isolate the various components by clamping off hoses,+ such....
After it's been drained dry of course,....

I had the same issues. Ended up being alot of condensation.

Ayuh,... If the oil is Clean after a hard run of an hour or so,...
It's Condensation....
If the base is Full of Snot,... You've got a Leak.....

 

[gjcombs]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Guys,

Thanks for the helpful advice that I will be following.

At the end of the season, there was definitely snot. It took a very long time to suction it out. I ran a motor flush at the end of the season and changed the oil three times. The dipstick is still showing good oil. I will be very vigilant.

Jason

 

[gjcombs]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Bubba,

My engine runs very cool. I was out last weekend and it didn't get over 100. Which seems odd. Don't laugh at me . I am only reporting what the gauge said.

Specs:

1981 Viking 190 SI
350 GM / OMC 260
800 Sterndrive
Rochester 4 barrel Carb.

 

[gjcombs]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Excellent information here, Bubba!

Is the thermostat the screw-in device that is toward the front of the engine? I have something with a wire coming off it. Kind of toward starboard side.

If this is it, what gasket would I need? Do you mean pipe dope or something?

Can I use an automobile thermostat?

 

[gjcombs]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Okay. Now I get the need for a gasket. I think this is it in the attached image.

I wonder what the thing is I was talking about? I'll check the manuals when I get home.

 

[gjcombs]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Bubba, this is awesome! We are getting somewhere with videos and pictures.

I hope what you are saying is true. Turns out, I had that housing off there last weekend and there was NO thermostat installed. It did not occur to me until now.

This may make a bunch of sense! Per my carb post, http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2146860#post2146860, I have steam and snotty oil in the valve covers, my 4 barrel has trouble when trying to open up, and have a low idle problem.

What do you think? I'll try this evening and report back.

 

[gjcombs]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Bubba,

I went and bought a thermostat and gasket. When I got home, I noticed that there is a thermostat, but it is tucked up in the housing held by an o-ring. However, it still could be faulty as it looks original and crusty. There was a pocket of room that I could mount the car one in with the marine one that was in the housing.

I started up and it warmed up well. The temp was at about 160 which makes sense. However, I have ordered the correct thermostat to do it right.

I will continue to be vigilant, but the oil did not look snotty or steamy when warmed up.

Now on to the slow-idle issue here
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=322363&highlight=gjcombs

Jason

 

[erivera]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

i have the same problem its a brand new engine and a new aluminum intake manifold, i think the problem im having is water coming thru the gasket that joins the head with the intake manifold, because the oil is not showing signs of water in the pan but only that white sludge inside the valve covers, how the water is gonna get from the raisers to where the lifters are? hmmmm? any thoughts let me know.
thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

i have the same problem its a brand new engine and a new aluminum intake manifold, i think the problem im having is water coming thru the gasket that joins the head with the intake manifold, because the oil is not showing signs of water in the pan but only that white sludge inside the valve covers, how the water is gonna get from the raisers to where the lifters are? hmmmm? any thoughts let me know.
thanks

Ayuh,... This is an Old thread,...
Start a New 1 about Your boat,+ Your problems...

Although, I think my previous responce is going to be the answer to Your Question...
"Ayuh,... If the oil is Clean after a hard run of an hour or so,...
It's Condensation....
If the base is Full of Snot,... You've got a Leak..... "

 

[gjcombs]

Re: Steamy, wet oil inside of Valve Covers

Update:

I replaced the thermostat and do not have snotty oil anymore.

Jason