This engine issue went on all day. I got very little wind—never more than 5 knots—and couldn’t make over a knot or two without motoring. So off and on I would fire up the engine for a couple of hours, always keeping one eye on the gauges. The second I’d see the temp start to rise I’d shut it down and find the same thing every time.
Maybe three-quarters of a gallon of coolant (straight water now since I’m out of coolant) gone, the same amount of white goo in the rocker, and dipstick oil that is still remarkably clean and level.
So I’m trying to piece this together in my mind. And here’s what it seems like to me. The leak is somewhere that doesn’t allow the coolant/water to get to the oil. The goo in there is residual water/diesel that didn’t escape with previous oil changes.
My uneducated guess at this moment? It is the hot water heater. I haven’t been drinking the water from our taps on this trip because it has smelled a little off. That could be two things. There is growth in it from sitting over the summer, or coolant got into it.
Things happened so quickly when I first got pulled out of the water at the beginning of summer that I didn’t have time to empty the water tanks and instead resorted to dumping a bunch of bleach in to ward off growth. I think it worked because when I went back in the water the other day I turned on the taps and the water smelled fine. I completely drained the tanks before filling them up for this trip. Which isn’t to say that definitely is not the problem with the stinky water, but it’s a little less likely.
This hot water heater is a cheapo. It was new two years ago, but still, it’s not a very expensive unit. Instead it is the one that fit as a direct replacement of the old one.
Of course I could be completely wrong about all of this. The only thing that really gives me pause is the fact that the oil dipstick comes back clean and level every time. If I had leaked three or four gallons worth of coolant/water into the oil that could not possibly be the case.
All right, so right now what I’m going to do is pull off the rocker cover and clean it thoroughly. That will at least start getting the moisture out of there and should help me see later on if it is getting more white goo or not.
And I’m off.
Oh, and at the moment, eight a.m., I am sailing along at four knots in a seven knot breeze on almost calm seas. It’s been this way now for about six hours. Pretty nice. Instead of getting in the engine I’d like to go back to sleep.
Rocker cover is cleaned up of all the mayonnaise-like goo. Amazingly the valves underneath it and the oil that is in there all seem clear of the goo. Like it only attached itself to the rocker cover itself.
Which reminds me of something else. The oil blowback tube—the white one in the picture—has been blowing white smoke out. As in a steady stream of vapor. I call it vapor because that’s what it seems like. It doesn’t smell like exhaust. Though I suppose it could be. Good thing the boat is wide open.
This has all got me a wee bit confused.
21 Comments on “White Goo”
Did you replace the head gasket when the head was reinstalled? The symptoms are those of a leaking head gasket.
Damn Pat! No rest for the weary.
Pat,
>Rocker cover is cleaned up of all the mayonnaise-like goo. Amazingly the >valves underneath it and the oil that it is in there all seem clear of >the goo. Like it only attached itself to the rocker cover itself.
The water will condense on the coolest surface which is the rocker cover.
Any chance you can pull one of the water heater hoses off of the water heater and bypass it? That would eliminate/pinpoint if the water heater was the issue.
Good Luck!
Eric
Please tell us. How did you get the overhead shots? They are awesome!!!
By the way…..I go with the water heater theory. Check to make sure the bleed valve has been tightened. I had the same problem.
Yup the first thing would be to by-pass or valve off/isolate the hot water heater.
Pull the spark plugs and see if one looks like it has been steam cleaned.
The water sounds like it is going through the head gasket into the cylinder and out the exhaust? If you pull the white hose off the rocker and leave it off, blow by with water vapor won’t go back into rocker box. Might try that , wrap a rag around the hose to catch water.
Do you have torque wrench, and maybe re-torque cylinder head?
How long does it take to lose 3 gallons of coolant?
It does sound like a blown head gasket or if your really not lucky a broken ring or two. My engine was the unlucky one this last summer. But as your oil level is fine, its probably the head gasket. Which will cause overheating too.
Been following all along. Yes, bypass the water heater… Bet it does the trick! If not, then head gasket.
You should have hired Omar as crew. 🙂
Good luck and great breeze hopefully all the way down.
Pat, If you are loosing coolant and the oil is not milky, and it is not in the bilge, and the hot fresh water doesn’t have anti freeze in it, it is likely going out the exhaust, either the head gasket or a cracked head or block. If you isolate the heater and you quit loosing coolant, it is probably the heater. Enjoy your site.
Paul Thomas
I go with the water heater for now. Bypass it an see what happens. I certainly hope it is not a cracked block. Had one of those myself a number of years back. NOT fun. LOVE the motor vehicle on the front deck of Bumfuzzle. Haven’t seen one of those since “Miss Toyota” in West Palm Beach 20 years ago, . . . of course that guy had a helicopter on the rear deck with its tail hanging off. The name of the yacht SHOULD have been” “I win”. Keep playing the market, maybe you can accomplish the same. Love your site.
The problem is assuredly a blown head gasket. I see references to the engine being apart so I hope the old head gasket was thrown away and a new one used. They cannot be used twice. The “mayonaise” is a mixture of oil & water. If your really in a tight fix try finding some sheet copper and cutting out your own head gasket. Be sure to torque the head down correctly in 3 steps up to the recommended setting. Start in the middle of the head and work towards the ends.
It is not assuredly a blown gasket!
I cannot imagine the frustration. There’s a lot I can deal with on the boat, but the engine isn’t on the list. Great photos- LOVE the kid car tucked in at the mast!
Pat,
Check the gasket between the exhaust down pipe and the exhaust manifold. All the same symtoms of head gasket failure can result from the failure of this gasket on these Ford Lehmans.
I personnaly experience the exact same thing on our way to PV from Mazatlan. The gasket can be Macgyvered using the aluminum from a beer can.
Good luck.
We replaced that $2 gasket along with all the others.
Also, the “Goo” is oil and water mixture and is attached to the cover because the cover is the coldest part of the engine and the vapor condenses there.
If you didn’t replace your head gasket…then it is most likely the head gasket and your mechanic needs to be fired.
I would suspect either the water heater or the exhaust manifold. If the engine is running well and no coolant shows up in the oil, it is unlikely to be a head gasket, especially if the exhaust fumes are clean, Coolant could possible leak into the cylinders and go out the exhaust without contaminating the oil, but if a new head gasket was installed and the head was torqued down correctly, this is unlikely.
Bypassing the water heater sounds like a good place to start. If coolant got into your Water system (hot) than it will need to be thoroughly flushed, as you probably already know.
Good luck. I enjoy your adventures and have been following you for years
Patrick,
When you had the head off I am assuming that you had the block and head pressure tested for leaks. Did you have the head and block checked for trueness? Heads can warp and just putting a new gasket on will not stop the leaks. Also, the white hose you reference as the oil blowback tube should run from the valve cover to the air intake.
Good luck! I have enjoyed your site for many years.
Regards,
Will Museler
Hey Pat, Bill is saying exhaust manifold is where is vote is. We just replaced ours. It failed going up the outside of the Baja to San Diego. It was not cheap to replace ours. $2,100 plus shipping. Get some rest and rethink it all with a clear mind.
It’s a strong possibility, and one I’m not too thrilled with. 🙂
Sure fire cure in three steps:
1. Remove engine key.
2. Throw key overboard.
3. Mix drink, laugh at yourself for not doing this ages ago.
Engines are the number one reason (by far) we don’t go sailing. Best wishes and plenty of jealousy from friggin’ cold Canada!