Rebuilt 5.7L- Break in Grease in Oil?

[CatawbaRinker]

A little background, I have a 1995 5.7L Mercruiser driving a Bravo III. Last year I discovered a blown head gasket that turned into weeks of digging to find a warped block. Rather than just rebuild everything, I had a local Marine shop sell me a rebuilt engine from Rapido Marine. They installed the motor and I went ahead and had them include new lifters/risers/exhaust flaps. The boat went through the break in period without any issues.

For the rest of summer, the engine ran great however I had one thing that bugged me. After running an hour or so and doing an oil check, almost always found foamy, yellow oil down the dipstick (but never fully mixed, there would be a streak down the side). Based on my head gasket issue earlier in the summer, this certainly was alarming. I would occasionally see it come out the relief valve as well. The confusing part to me and the reason for this thread is because after 12 hours or so, the yellow gunk would thicken up and float to the top and the dipstick would be clean as can be except for near the top. The repair shop is saying that this is break in grease from the rebuilt engine. They changed the oil every 5 hours of use after the rebuild but have not done a complete flush. Now after sitting for the winter, the stuff is still sitting on top and is on the oil cap, however the oil is as clean as can be.

Does anyone have any experience with something like this? The engine is still under warranty from Rapido, should I start there or continue to push the shop?



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[AShipShow]

Definitely looks like water to me...

 

[alldodge]

The repair shop is saying that this is break in grease from the rebuilt engine.

This would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Your mechanic should have "shade Tree" in front of it

Something is leaking water in, probably bad intake gasket or it wasn't installed correctly. Need to drain and then pressurize the block. Plug the hoses going to exhaust and place air hose on thermostat hose coming from seawater pump

 

[Lou C]

Agreed you should never see that after the work done. It’s either from an intake gasket or an elbow gasket. Hopefully not a head gasket!

 

[CatawbaRinker]

AllDodge and Lou C,

Thank you for the valuable feedback. I saw the heads before everything was assembled and I don't have many "hard" hours on the rebuild so I'm hoping I get lucky with the intake. I had a prior issue with my shop on an exhaust manifold gasket so I'm hoping that it's either a bolt not torqued right or the intake gasket.

I just looked up some videos on how to pressurize the block and that is how I'm going to spend my Saturday morning. Is there any telltale sign that it could be the intake manifold or gasket other than just the leaking air? Should I spray soapy water around it? The more research I do, the more I think I just need to go straight to pulling the intakes off.

 

[Bt Doctur]

clean oil and milky valve covers is usually a bad head

 

[RaceCarRich]

Shouldn’t shadetree be spending his Saturday doing this?

Looks like water to me to and should have been obvious when he changed the oil. Hopefully not too bad because I wouldn’t want water compromised oil lubricating my new bearings.

BTW. I’ve never heard assembly lube referred to as ‘break-in grease’ if that’s what he is referring to.

 

[alldodge]

I just looked up some videos on how to pressurize the block and that is how I'm going to spend my Saturday morning. Is there any telltale sign that it could be the intake manifold or gasket other than just the leaking air? Should I spray soapy water around it? The more research I do, the more I think I just need to go straight to pulling the intakes off.

Pressurize to 15 psi and use a gauge and regulator. Once pressurized the air can be closed off and it should hold pressure (ball valve). If its leaking air and your unable to see/hear where its coming from, the motor comes apart. If its the intake there will be signs when removed, if not then its probably the head.

Before head is removed, need to contact Rapido

 

[RaceCarRich]

I have seen clean oil and milky valve covers this time of year on race engines that didn’t get oil up to operating temperature. This seems like it’s been constant and have to believe the oil has gotten hot.

 

[Bondo]

I have seen clean oil and milky valve covers this time of year on race engines that didn’t get oil up to operating temperature. This seems like it’s been constant and have to believe the oil has gotten hot.

Ayuh,...... Take it out, 'n Run it for an hour, 'n check it,....... probably clean oil, all over,......

I see condensation, like Rich,.....

 

[achris]

.... The repair shop is saying that this is break in grease from the rebuilt engine. ...​

Load of BS! The repair shop is sending you away until the warranty expires, and will then hit YOU up for the cost of the repair. Get that engine back to them and DEMAND it be fixed properly, and at THEIR expense...

Then when you need work done again, find another shop.

Chris.......

 

[CatawbaRinker]

Well first thing I did was pull the plugs and they are clean. Hooked up everything for a pressure test and as expected, it failed. Current hold 15 psi for more than 10 minutes. A half an hour later is was down to 4. Couldn't hear any leaking and took some soapy water and sprayed around but didn't come up with anything. Pulled the dipstick and didn't have any additional pressure loss.

At this point, messing around with the engine I have discovered a number of other things that I'm just fed up with. Additional ground wires that are disconnected, hoses that were not put back in the correct way. In talking with the shop I get the normal "Just bring it back and we will look at it and see what we can find!" with the assurance that they will make it right.

I've made the decision to bite the bullet and take it elsewhere with the direction that if it needs to go down farther than the intake manifolds to stop so I can take it back to the original shop that has the warranty on the rebuilt engine. At this point a piece of mind is better than prolonging this and continuing to get a song and dance. I also want the new shop to just go over all wires, connections etc. and make sure everything is in order. Hopefully this doesn't hold me up too long, although the weather here in northern Ohio hasn't been ideal and my dock is about 4" under water with the spring Northeasterners of Lake Erie.

Thank you everyone for the help.

 

[Lou C]

Do you have any warranty from Rapido? If so would they work with the shop who did the installation? If so this issue should be worked out between them!

 

[Searay205]

you either have a leaking intake manifold, not the manifold but how the manifold seals to the head, head gasket (unlikely) or exhaust manifold/riser. Period. its getting water. your mechanic is idiot, break-in lube, wtf....