All possible ways water can get into oil??? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

NiteRaven · 12-13-2005, 02:08 AM

I'm having a lot of trouble with my SR20DET. We were really close to getting everything working but one night there was a rain storm, the tarp got blown off the top of engine bay, the valve cover was off, and I got about an inch of rain down into the oil area. Since then the oil has been milky white and I can't seem to get rid of it no matter how many times I change the oil.... 3 and counting. I made sure to drain it real good before I replaced the oil the first time and started the car.

We replaced the head gasket just to make sure nothing had happened with that. We have a brand new head gasket and we did a really good job replacing it but we are still getting milky oil. The car is running great but I can't seem to get this damn oil right.

So my question you is, what is every possible conceivable way water can get into the oil? This is what I know so far.

* Water dumped into engine (duh, obvious but included for completeness)
* Bad head gasket (replaced it)
* Cracked Head (rare but possible)

Please list any other possibilities you can think of. Perhaps I have a line mixed up somewhere on the turbo or anything? Or is it possible I just need to flush the oil like 10 times... I really need some help. I have 10 grand invested in this project and I want to get it running perfectly so bad. I'm really close!!! (or really screwed)

THANKS!

NiteRaven · 12-13-2005, 02:19 AM

I found something in the FSM called an oil cooler... it seems oil and coolant flow through that.. so if it was cracked.. that could be one possiblity? I don't even know where that is?

By the way I have a S13 Redtop.

NiteRaven · 12-13-2005, 02:39 AM

One other thing, is it possible for small air bubbles to mix in with the oil to give the same appearance? If so, how would this happen...

andrewmp6 · 12-13-2005, 03:52 AM

headgasket cracked head or block or like you did dumped in to it try flushing the whole oiling system then fill it back up

NiteRaven · 12-13-2005, 05:23 AM

Ok, so I spent the last few hours looking at the diagram from the FSM. It looks like all the oil and coolant lines from the turbo are hooked up correctly. One interesting thing I discovered is the S13 pulls the coolant from one of the heater hoses in the back, unlike the S14 (i'm using the S14 FSM) which pulls the coolant from the block. It appears there's a hole for it on the S13 but is plugged off. So anyhow, all the coolant and oil lines check out just fine on the turbo.

andrew: I made sure to dump out everything completely before I even started the engine so it wouldn't mix. When I drained the oil, all the water came out first then all the oil came out. I thought that would have at least removed like 95% of it.

It just doesn't make sense to me, after flushing out the oil 3 times it'd start to clear up unless just a tiny amount of water can turn ALL of it milky? I'm really starting to get concerned something major is wrong...

NiteRaven · 12-13-2005, 05:32 AM

One other thing... I don't have the PCV valve hose hooked up right now so it's drawing air from the atmosphere. I've read that can allow moisture to collect, but that seems like something that would happen after driving around for a while... not just running the car for 2 minutes?

**mrmephistopheles** · 12-13-2005, 05:58 AM

it's probably from the whole 'rained-on engine'.
Best bet - drop your oil pan during next oil change, clean and replace (gives you an opportunity to clean your pickup and check for shavings too).
Then, just keep changing oil religiously.
Water doesn't mix with oil (duh) so it's going to take a long time to get it out of your system.

NiteRaven · 12-13-2005, 06:00 AM

Two more possiblities:

* Warped Head
* Rust or corrosion has created a leak path between the cooling passages and the crankcase.

andrewmp6 · 12-13-2005, 07:04 AM

mikly might be cheap or wrong kinda oil compression test each clyinder if they all are even or really close then your head and headgasket is fine its probably something really stupid doing it

NiteRaven · 12-13-2005, 07:17 PM

I have some good news! My buddy came over today and we ran the car for about 10 minutes... flushed it out and BAM the oil was coming out nice and clear.. maybe a little dark but that's because I put some motor oil flush in there.. all that nasty build up is coming out. NO MORE MILKY OIL!!!

SWEET right? Well yeah that problem is fixed but I discovered a flaw in the design of the Unorthodox Racing crank pulley that is allowing oil to leak out the crankshaft area... I'm going to post more on this later when I have some definitive information to back up my assumptions.

Anyhow, thanks for your suggestions all. I can rest easier.

wootwoot · 12-13-2005, 10:04 PM

Are you sure this isnt a flaw in the pulley but possible installation error damaging the front main seal?

andrewmp6 · 12-13-2005, 11:17 PM

put your stock pulley back on see if still leaks if it does its your front main seal if it dont its the pulley

12-13-2005, 02:08 AM	#1
NiteRaven Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	All possible ways water can get into oil??? I'm having a lot of trouble with my SR20DET. We were really close to getting everything working but one night there was a rain storm, the tarp got blown off the top of engine bay, the valve cover was off, and I got about an inch of rain down into the oil area. Since then the oil has been milky white and I can't seem to get rid of it no matter how many times I change the oil.... 3 and counting. I made sure to drain it real good before I replaced the oil the first time and started the car. We replaced the head gasket just to make sure nothing had happened with that. We have a brand new head gasket and we did a really good job replacing it but we are still getting milky oil. The car is running great but I can't seem to get this damn oil right. So my question you is, what is every possible conceivable way water can get into the oil? This is what I know so far. * Water dumped into engine (duh, obvious but included for completeness) * Bad head gasket (replaced it) * Cracked Head (rare but possible) Please list any other possibilities you can think of. Perhaps I have a line mixed up somewhere on the turbo or anything? Or is it possible I just need to flush the oil like 10 times... I really need some help. I have 10 grand invested in this project and I want to get it running perfectly so bad. I'm really close!!! (or really screwed) THANKS!

12-13-2005, 10:04 PM	#11
wootwoot Post Whore! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: sarasota florida biatch Age: 39 Posts: 3,850 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Are you sure this isnt a flaw in the pulley but possible installation error damaging the front main seal? __________________ I'm from Florida so I'm probably a bit more strange than you

12-13-2005, 02:19 AM	#2
NiteRaven Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I found something in the FSM called an oil cooler... it seems oil and coolant flow through that.. so if it was cracked.. that could be one possiblity? I don't even know where that is? By the way I have a S13 Redtop.

12-13-2005, 02:39 AM	#3
NiteRaven Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	One other thing, is it possible for small air bubbles to mix in with the oil to give the same appearance? If so, how would this happen...

12-13-2005, 03:52 AM	#4
andrewmp6 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 376 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	headgasket cracked head or block or like you did dumped in to it try flushing the whole oiling system then fill it back up

12-13-2005, 05:23 AM	#5
NiteRaven Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ok, so I spent the last few hours looking at the diagram from the FSM. It looks like all the oil and coolant lines from the turbo are hooked up correctly. One interesting thing I discovered is the S13 pulls the coolant from one of the heater hoses in the back, unlike the S14 (i'm using the S14 FSM) which pulls the coolant from the block. It appears there's a hole for it on the S13 but is plugged off. So anyhow, all the coolant and oil lines check out just fine on the turbo. andrew: I made sure to dump out everything completely before I even started the engine so it wouldn't mix. When I drained the oil, all the water came out first then all the oil came out. I thought that would have at least removed like 95% of it. It just doesn't make sense to me, after flushing out the oil 3 times it'd start to clear up unless just a tiny amount of water can turn ALL of it milky? I'm really starting to get concerned something major is wrong...

12-13-2005, 05:32 AM	#6
NiteRaven Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	One other thing... I don't have the PCV valve hose hooked up right now so it's drawing air from the atmosphere. I've read that can allow moisture to collect, but that seems like something that would happen after driving around for a while... not just running the car for 2 minutes?

12-13-2005, 06:00 AM	#8
NiteRaven Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Two more possiblities: * Warped Head * Rust or corrosion has created a leak path between the cooling passages and the crankcase.

12-13-2005, 07:04 AM	#9
andrewmp6 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 376 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	mikly might be cheap or wrong kinda oil compression test each clyinder if they all are even or really close then your head and headgasket is fine its probably something really stupid doing it

12-13-2005, 07:17 PM	#10
NiteRaven Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 22 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have some good news! My buddy came over today and we ran the car for about 10 minutes... flushed it out and BAM the oil was coming out nice and clear.. maybe a little dark but that's because I put some motor oil flush in there.. all that nasty build up is coming out. NO MORE MILKY OIL!!! SWEET right? Well yeah that problem is fixed but I discovered a flaw in the design of the Unorthodox Racing crank pulley that is allowing oil to leak out the crankshaft area... I'm going to post more on this later when I have some definitive information to back up my assumptions. Anyhow, thanks for your suggestions all. I can rest easier.

12-13-2005, 11:17 PM	#12
andrewmp6 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: kentucky Posts: 376 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	put your stock pulley back on see if still leaks if it does its your front main seal if it dont its the pulley