Headgasket?

[szewczyd]

I know a sure characteristic of a blown headgasket is a milky substance caused by oil and coolant mixed. I went to drain my catch can and noticed it was coming out rather milky like. I checked my oil on my dipstick and it was fine, and I checked my overfill bottle and it looked normal color. I then drained a little coolant from the bottom of my radiator and it also looked good. My car doesn't over heat and runs really well. It is cold out so yes there is white smoke. When I get on it when warmed up I don't seem to notice any large white clouds. Coolant doesn't boil out of my overfill bootle either as far as I know.

-What do you guys think?

 

[girlieracr4g63]

Just wondering why your asking this question...Is there a problem with how the car is running?

 

[szewczyd]

Just wondering why your asking this question...Is there a problem with how the car is running?

Maybe your right I should just drive the car until its not driveable and I do cause major problems, I think that would be the smart idea, why didn't I think of that?

For everyone else, yes the cars drives and runs just fine but I as far as I know there shouldn't be that milky substance in the catch can? Anybody have ideas other than to just drive the car, and see what developes if anything? It just seems strange.

 

[huafist]

Have you ran a compression test?

 

[szewczyd]

I started doing one and then my battery got low. The compression built up good in the two cylinders I got done and then it would bleed off before I hit the release button, if that means anything.
Thanks
Doug

 

[girlieracr4g63]

Maybe your right I should just drive the car until its not driveable and I do cause major problems, I think that would be the smart idea, why didn't I think of that?

For everyone else, yes the cars drives and runs just fine but I as far as I know there shouldn't be that milky substance in the catch can? Anybody have ideas other than to just drive the car, and see what developes if anything? It just seems strange.

Funny thing is the first time I read your post. I could have sworn the you didnt have the part about (it coming out milky like from the catch can), but oh well. Still didnt give you a reason to be such an ass.. Also, what dumbass would tell you to keep driving the car until something happens? If your going to quote me atleast do it correct....Now charge your battery, and do a compression test on all cylinders. While the car is good, and warm, and report back the results.. Got that junior?


Wendy

 

[Mitchel63]

I have this EXACT same thing going on! I haven't done a compression test either because my battery is dead! Upon jump starting now I am getting some smoke from the engine....I'm definately thinking headgasket at this point.

 

[szewczyd]

/\ /\
catch can has the milky stuff and nothing else does?
What color are your plugs, meaning the electrode, mine are very white in color, could that be from buring coolant?

 

[moliver]

I had a milky substance in my catch can and it turned out to be a bad valve seal

 

[szewczyd]

I had a milky substance in my catch can and it turned out to be a bad valve seal

Hmmm. what to do? I had got to get that compression checked out. Last time I did it, it built up good and then dropped off before I released it, went down to like 60 or so and then settled. I am wondering if that was the tool leaking.

 

[Mitchel63]

/\ /\
catch can has the milky stuff and nothing else does?
What color are your plugs, meaning the electrode, mine are very white in color, could that be from buring coolant?

Yep....milky stuff in the catch can and thats it. I haven't even looked at the plugs yet....I broke my leg and can't drive the car anyway so I'm not too worried about it! Last time it was started though I had a bit of smoke that appeared to be coming from the middle of the engine......aka between the head and the block......but we'll see.

 

[johnk]

Could be condensation, I get buildup on my oil cap. Drained the oil its fine. Changed the oil shows up again. Compression test comes out good. Coolant not dissappearing. When I run the car till it heats up and runs for a while it doesn't appear, but I also have the oil still where it can circulate not a catch can.

It's a cold weather thing I don't know how winter is where you are.

 

[szewczyd]

Or winters are very cold and then the next day is warmer so yes there could be condensation. As far as a compression test goes, I started to do one and in the fourth cyclinder the pressure built up good and when my buddy stopped turning over the car it went down to about 60 and stopped. Is that a faulty tester or is my car that bad?

Also how could bad valves seals get coolant in my catchcan, also wouldn't my car smoke from oil if my vavle seals where bad.

 

[VerbalKint]

As far as the compression tester falling back to 60 or so after a test, I would have to say that it's a faulty tester.

Does it do that on ALL of the cylinders? If so, then it is definatly faulty.

Even after disconnecting the tester from my cylinders, any reading should stay there until you release it with the button.

Go to autozone, pep boys, etc and get a new tester. They are not that expensive, and it's well worth the cost to have one laying around when you need it.