The Ford Barn

Great Lakes Greg · 04-01-2012, 06:33 PM

I had a head gasket issue, and now have it sealed up with a new gasket (Brattons new style, pretty cool!). I am doing the usual warm up-cool down head re-torque routine, and change the oil after every session (third and last is tommorow). The oil is getting more clear, and now looks more like caramel syrup. I know, I should have just dropped the pan and also cleaned out the valve chamber to begin with. Anyway, I think my next oil change will be the last, and wanted any opinions as to wether you think the remaning water will eventually evaporate out with some driving. A mechanic buddy of mine once said that nobody ever ruined an engine by changing the oil too much, but I gotta stop eventually.

Milton · 04-01-2012, 08:12 PM

You can stop now!

I had a 39 Chev 216 with a cracked head and drove it for years until I sold it. In the time it took to watch a double feature at the drive-in enough water would accumulate in that cylinder that it would take 3-4 seconds just to squeeze the water out when cranking it.

Unlike the Chev your car will cook the remaining water out with steady driving. If possible run it daily and long enough for it to heat up adequately and the oil should clear up in no time.

'lilredcoupe · 04-01-2012, 08:54 PM

Sounds like good advice to me. Make sure it gets and stays up to operating temp for a good twenty minutes before shutting her down. Which means, as I've stated in another thread, you need to take the scenic route on the shorter trips.

Tinker · 04-01-2012, 09:11 PM

I'll step out on the ledge. Sometimes they fix them selves. Stuck valve, some times not. What did you turque your head too? Was it plained? Just curious... Need to run them, sometimes hard

Great Lakes Greg · 04-02-2012, 06:38 AM

Hi Tinker, I torqued the head to 55 pounds. I had the head surfaced just enough to clean it up.

Mike/Nebraska · 04-03-2012, 01:33 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Been there Greg.... and mine was because I didn't retorque the head right..........

Russ/40 · 04-03-2012, 04:47 PM

I'm not as comfortable with what's happening. Seems to me with all those oil changes and driving, the water should have been long ago burned off. Time will tell. I hope your OK.

Great Lakes Greg · 04-03-2012, 05:05 PM

Actually, I have not been driving the car between oil changes. I run it 20 minutes at a high idle so the engine and radiator are good and warm, then shut it off for a 24 hour cool down before re-torqueing. I drain the oil right after I shut it off, so the water stays mixed in and hopefully comes out. I can't believe there would be much more than a few ounces of water left at this point. It gets better with each change, so I am pretty confident with the new gasket.

04-01-2012, 06:33 PM	#1
Great Lakes Greg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,369	My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. I had a head gasket issue, and now have it sealed up with a new gasket (Brattons new style, pretty cool!). I am doing the usual warm up-cool down head re-torque routine, and change the oil after every session (third and last is tommorow). The oil is getting more clear, and now looks more like caramel syrup. I know, I should have just dropped the pan and also cleaned out the valve chamber to begin with. Anyway, I think my next oil change will be the last, and wanted any opinions as to wether you think the remaning water will eventually evaporate out with some driving. A mechanic buddy of mine once said that nobody ever ruined an engine by changing the oil too much, but I gotta stop eventually.

04-01-2012, 08:12 PM	#2
Milton Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 837	Re: My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. You can stop now! I had a 39 Chev 216 with a cracked head and drove it for years until I sold it. In the time it took to watch a double feature at the drive-in enough water would accumulate in that cylinder that it would take 3-4 seconds just to squeeze the water out when cranking it. Unlike the Chev your car will cook the remaining water out with steady driving. If possible run it daily and long enough for it to heat up adequately and the oil should clear up in no time.

04-01-2012, 08:54 PM	#3
'lilredcoupe Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cazenovia, NY Posts: 56	Re: My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. Sounds like good advice to me. Make sure it gets and stays up to operating temp for a good twenty minutes before shutting her down. Which means, as I've stated in another thread, you need to take the scenic route on the shorter trips. __________________ Rob Kellogg Cazenovia, NY

04-01-2012, 09:11 PM	#4
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. I'll step out on the ledge. Sometimes they fix them selves. Stuck valve, some times not. What did you turque your head too? Was it plained? Just curious... Need to run them, sometimes hard

04-02-2012, 06:38 AM	#5
Great Lakes Greg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,369	Re: My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. Hi Tinker, I torqued the head to 55 pounds. I had the head surfaced just enough to clean it up.

04-03-2012, 01:33 PM	#6
Mike/Nebraska Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern, Nebraska Posts: 354	Re: My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Been there Greg.... and mine was because I didn't retorque the head right..........

04-03-2012, 04:47 PM	#7
Russ/40 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santee, California Posts: 3,505	Re: My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. I'm not as comfortable with what's happening. Seems to me with all those oil changes and driving, the water should have been long ago burned off. Time will tell. I hope your OK.

04-03-2012, 05:05 PM	#8
Great Lakes Greg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,369	Re: My milk shake oil is s-l-o-w-l-y going away. Actually, I have not been driving the car between oil changes. I run it 20 minutes at a high idle so the engine and radiator are good and warm, then shut it off for a 24 hour cool down before re-torqueing. I drain the oil right after I shut it off, so the water stays mixed in and hopefully comes out. I can't believe there would be much more than a few ounces of water left at this point. It gets better with each change, so I am pretty confident with the new gasket.