Antifreeze in oil

[robbinsshkr]

Your not going to believe this. I am within a week or two of completing my build, or at least I was until discovering antifreeze in my oil. I was rerouting one of the oil cooler lines and not wanting oil to spill on the floor I decided to drain it in a cup. I just about chit when I seen what came out of the cooler line! The thing that has me puzzled is that this engine has only been ran about 5 minutes since it left southern automotive's test stand.
I see no way it could be a head gasket, but i guess anything is possable. Not only did i have antifreeze in it, but my barn is heated as well so the block freezing and busting is not possable. What else is left???
I haven't called Bill Parum yet, but I will first thing monday morn'n. I have one of his 452 ci-super FE's. I doubt there is any bearing damage as it hasn't ran long enough and when it did, it had plenty of oil psi, but i guess it could cause pitting. I'm guessing 1/2 to 1 quart of antifreeze came out of the pan. kinda hard to tell as some came out first when I removed the plug and the rest was mixed in the milky, diluted oil. Any suggestions?
Guess I'll go cry in my beer for a while
Eddie

[Slither]

YIKES!

Sorry to hear that, Eddie. It almost sounds like the water jacket could be leaking. Wasn't that an issue on some of the lifter valleys in the FE engines? Sorry I am not more knowledgeable...

I imagine that the engine guys will be here to consult and help you sort it out shortly.



That is a bummer...

[Naumoff]

Eddie,
Call Bill, Susan, or Lyle @ SA. They will take care of you.
It could be a leaking intake gasket. If Just for chits and giggles try tightening up the intake bolts and see if they don't feel very tight. The FelPro gaskets have a history of warping and leaking @ the water passage.
hope this doesn't delay your build much.

[robbinsshkr]

Thanks guys,
I can't think of it being anything other than an intake gasket. there are other things that could cause the same outcome, but under the circumstances a intake gasket makes the most sense and would certainly be better than having to pull the engine. I am not as familiar with the FE's as some of you guys as I have always built chevy engines with the exception of a 429 I built when I was 15 or 16. It was a ford, but still not the FE. There are a lot of ford [FE] experts on here and I am fortunate to be very close to one of the best, both in distance and friendship. Brent, you awake yet?
I'll check the intake bolts. I guess if i find something loose, I'll filler back up with oil and antifreeze [in different locations ] and see what results I get. I can try pressurizing the cooling system with a tester, but unless the engine is brought up to temperature, the leak may not present its self.
Eddie

[Slither]

Thanks guys,
There are a lot of ford [FE] experts on here and I am fortunate to be very close to one of the best, both in distance and friendship.

Brent, you awake yet?

Eddie

I was wondering why we hadn't heard from him... asleep at the wheel again?!?

You and Tony are right... try to pick off the easy stuff first. But Tony's suggestion about calling SA are right on the money. Let them lead you through it.

I imagine that you and Brent will sort it out in no time flat, with all the experience you two have.

Being the weekend, it may not be until later tonight that folks check the boards... You'll probably get lots of suggestions then.

[ralphscott]

My 2 cents as tempting as it is, call first, then mess with the engine after you have spoken with Bill's crew. It could be intake or head gasket. I presume you checked to see if you had any seepage from the head gasket area on the engine block.

Hope it is nothing serious that requires an engine pull. I helped with one, a 428 out of a Unique Cobra and helped with the reinsertion of a new engine with the body on. Not fun, but, definitely do able.

Ralph