Water in oil???

I am getting water in my oil and first thought it was front cover. So I replaced the front cover with new and all the gaskets and still getting water. The build is a 521 (4.3 stroke 4.39 bore) with doves, I did use felpro headgaskets and arp head studs. Being this is the first time I had ever used studs is there possibly something I have done wrong there? The build is couple years old but virtually no miles, it has been running for well over a year but made its first passes down the track last weekend. Just looking for something I am missing before I rip it outta the truck and tear into it. Really impressed with my first stroker motor, pushed my 4000lb 77 f-150 to 11.9's last weekend and would like to fix it quick so can still make another trip or two to the track before it closes for the season. Thanks Richie

Do you have any blow back in the rad. with the cap off like it is trying to push the water back out if it does sound like a head gaskit didn't seal if its not doing that or it could be intake gaskit leaking and push water out on the bottom of 1 of the water ports when the engine starts to come up to temp. and check your plugs and make sure water not getting in on the pistons if its getting water on the pistons it going to more than likely be a head gaskit or a cracked head. me first I would check for water on a piston if none then I would pull the intake and check and see if it was leaking

I checked plugs and doesnt pressure up radiator, that is why I was convinced it was the front cover. Guess I will pull intake off tomorrow night and see if any obvious signs of intake leaking, wish there was solid way of figuring out if was intake or front cover. I didnt put anything on the head studs when I installed them and I am little concerned if they are leaking somehow, I just dont understand how they would leak if a headbolt doesnt.

All the head bolt/stud holes are blind - they aren't opened to the water jackets. Like has been said you are likely leaking at the manifold gaskets.

Bill

billandlori wrote:All the head bolt/stud holes are blind - they aren't opened to the water jackets. Like has been said you are likely leaking at the manifold gaskets.

Bill

That's the first place I'd look.

I too am thinking it's coming from the intake gaskets... I always put a small bead of Right Stuff silicone around each water port on the heads and intake side of the gaskets after I caught one leaking a few years back... Never had another problem... Good luck, hope it's an easy fix...











Doug...

Headed out to the shop to pull intake now, I think you guys are right. I put good felpros, I think 1231 gaskets. And small amount of silicone around water jackets. I am happy to hear it cant be the head studs.

have you found the leak yet

X2...? I was wondering the same thing...










Doug...

got intake pulled last night, didnt see and obvious problems but did find only put silicone on one side of my gaskets. Had new set of 1231's and new tube of gunk was gonna try tonight but my lightning broke down and ended up working on it. It looks like I may be rained out of work again tomorrow and plan on putting intake back on and pressure testing the cooling system.

I had an issue with the timing cover gasket seaping water in around the bolts holding the pump on. A little rtv around the bolts then a re-install and all was good.

Ever find your leak

no it is still sitting in the shop with intake off, had death in family and havent been able to get back in the shop. hope to this weekend, thanks for the intrest guys and I will post my results as soon as I have them

Take your time man... Family first... Sorry for your loss...











Doug...

1bad521 wrote:Take your time man... Family first... Sorry for your loss...










Doug...

x2

billandlori wrote:All the head bolt/stud holes are blind - they aren't opened to the water jackets. Like has been said you are likely leaking at the manifold gaskets.

Bill

--------------- bb ford need no sealer on head bolts x2

I got a few minutes in the shop tonight and got intake and heads cleaned up, gonna get new tube of black rtv tomorrow and hopefully put intake on tomorrow evening so I can pressure test it soon.... Thanks again guys

I had the same problem and it turned out to be the intake manifold leaking near the rear of the head. I hope thats it for you, saves tearing the engine down further.
John F.

Sealed intake up tonight, hope to find out if she leaks tomorrow!!

Well guys poured in water in tonight and drained the oil, pressured up the cooling system and water ran out of the oil pan at a very drastic rate.....So looks like motor will come out soon, probably for the better was little scared of what the bearings looked like and this will give me the chance to look at them. Lets hope for headgasket issues and not cracked stuff!

Sorry to hear it was not the intake maybe it just a head gaskit, I now you said you changed the timing cover gaskit,are you running a stock water pump or the stock type if so is the steel plate on it I know the new one I bought didn't have it on it had to buy a new one ,the plate cost more than my pump.If the plate ant on it the water could be coming behind the water pump.

no I am running a csr pump and its got new gaskets everywhere on the front

Just got motor out and on stand, hope to pull apart and diagnoise tomorrow. But first have to put heater core in ol lady's mustang or she said she gonna start driving my lightning!

did you ever find your water leak

No I havent, do have engine sitting on stand. Work has picked back up in our biz and been swamped worked over 80 hrs last week gotta take it while its available so can afford to fix it! I did put heater core in ol ladys stang, next time I will go trade it off before I do that again.