"Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

[bbgun24]

Hello all,

I have a 1990 4.3L OMC I/O, ran it on the hose the last couple of days to make sure it was good to go after a carb rebuild over the winter and it ran great both times. Checked oil after each run and looked fine. Took it out today, started cruising around 25-30mph and a pretty loud clicking noise started coming from the engine. Opened it up and there was "milkshake" spitting out from the valve cover vents. Got it back to the trailor and checked the oil level. It is about 1/2" above the full line but it is not milky at all, would it be milky if the block was cracked???. I was thinking that if it was a head gasket or cracked block then the oil resevoir would be milky as well?? I will be doing some troubleshooting tomorrow but just looking for some suggestions. Thanks in advance for everybody's help.

Brett

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

Compression test on all cylinders will tell you alot.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

read this...http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=369864

 

[bbgun24]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

ok, I will do a compression check tonight and see what happens. In the first paragraph of that "oil in water thread" it says that there is milky oil on the dip stick, I do not have that. Oil still looks pretty clear on the dipstick. Does that rule out the block and head from being cracked then???

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

no water in oil says it's probably just condensation. sounds like an exhaust valve issue- guide came loose or bent valve - could be a lot of exhaust coming into the crankcase putting a lot of combustion moisture into the valve cover.
focus on the loud ticking. compression test a good start as Scott mentioned

 

[Don S]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

"Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

Your compression test will turn out fine, you aren't getting water in the cylinders, and even if you did, it wouldn't get to the oil while the engine was running.
When running on muffs, you do not get the volume and pressure from your garden hose you will from being in the water, under load at higher rpms.
The reason for the noise is the crankcase is full, the oil is full of water and air, and the lifters are rattling.

You have a cracked block, and need a new one. It's as simple as that. Little minor head gasket leaks will not push milky oil out of the valve cover.
Pull the intake, clean out the muck, and look at the cracks above the lifters

 

[bbgun24]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

Don, I dont doubt that you are right about the cracked block. Im just lost on why the oil on the dipstick is not milky at all. That part doesnt make sense to me. So your saying I shouldnt even waste my time with a compression check?? Im going to work on it tonight and if that is the case then I will just start by taking the intake off and cleaning it up. Thanks.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

Don, I dont doubt that you are right about the cracked block. Im just lost on why the oil on the dipstick is not milky at all. That part doesnt make sense to me. So your saying I shouldnt even waste my time with a compression check?? Im going to work on it tonight and if that is the case then I will just start by taking the intake off and cleaning it up. Thanks.

I would pressure test the block before ya yank to much off of it.. The hiss is where the crack is.. Or better yet.. Don't waste any of your time.. remove the engine and repower

 

[Don S]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

Im just lost on why the oil on the dipstick is not milky at all.

The stuff is just to thick to "flow" up the dipstick tube with the dipstick plugging the hole in the tube.

Leave the dipstick out, the tube will fill up.

 

[bbgun24]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

Ok, I removed the intake and started cleaning up the mess. I did not see anything wrong with the intake or gasket. I need to finish cleaning up the lifter valley and then I will inspect for cracks on the block. I did pull a couple spark plugs and there was some water on them. Can I still pressure test the block with the intake removed???

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

Can I still pressure test the block with the intake removed???

no.
You want to pressure test before disassembling anything.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

no.
You want to pressure test before disassembling anything.

He could take the exhaust manifolds off if he wants.Valve covers will help find leaks.
Didn't I post if you want do a pressure test, do it before you yank to much stuff off?:facepalm:

It's cracked internally.. Finding the problem would be fun but is hopeless.. Cant be fixed..

 

[bbgun24]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

6" crack once I pulled the lifter cover off. I wish you guys would have told me that Thanks for everybody's help!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

so explain how you have no water in the oil again?

 

[bbgun24]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

I never said there wasnt water in the oil. I just always thought that if the block was cracked you would be able to tell from the dipstick. I couldnt believe it till I saw it with my own eyes. Not really sure how it happened. It sat. in my heated garage all winter and I am 100% it did not freeze.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

it is not milky at all

I never said there wasnt water in the oil.

??

it froze alright

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

It froze....
That's why ya drain it.. Takes no time at all.. Not tough to do...
Engine replacement... Tough.. Expensive.. A true bummer right at the beginning of the season..

The day the water gets too cold to go swimming.. I start mothballing the boat.. I live in southeast Texas.. I still drain the water..

Anyhow.. No reason to lecture you at this point.. Time to hunt down a good long block and some manifolds... Pull that cracked pile of cast out.. Strip the tins off..

$1450 shipped to your door. http://www.rapidomarine.com/default.aspx?p=/engines/default.aspx
All new guts.. Warranty..

 

[bbgun24]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

The crack is about 5" long and is behind the push rods. My question is, why cant I just weld up the crack in the block??? I know its the "hillbilly" way but I only paid $1000 for the boat and not really sure I want to spend the money for a new block. I would rather sell the boat, take the loss and get a larger boat if Im going to start to put that kind of money into it.

 

[Raystownboater]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

For $1500 and a weekend, you could have a reman engine and be out on the water with NO worries. What kind of boat is this, anyway?

 

[bbgun24]

Re: "Milkshake" oil/water coming up through valve cover vents

It says "Euroline" on the side. Very little info out there on the boat but from what I have found it was made by Sierra or bought out by Sierra one of those and they only made them for a couple years.