The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts WATER behind side cover !!

Removed the valve cover, all is celan and nice , no clogged old oil anywhere.

Happy then and it was yesterday, cleaned all, and were in good mood, new brakeparts is on the way from Alretta, a new u joint also, and som other parts.

Today I removed the side plate and in the rear half of the engine there is a pool of water in the bottom, it started to drip out as I loosened the cover bolts !!

I think I am in for a complete overhaul of the engine.

When I started it up first time it was running fine, also last time. NO blue or white smoke in the exhausts !!!

But still water behind side cover is not good.

Any ideas?

And don't be afraid to say the truth, I can take it.

And I had a V8 also here.... what to do?
Fix the old 261, I really like that engine or be a coward, and just throw in a v8...

CRAP... and I had registration check within 3 weeks, now I am info a swap, or an overhaul...

F**K IT !!
Now I am in a bad mood

There is no coolant water pools behind or under the valve cover...
And the water does not taste coolant.
Condense water ?

Have you loosing coolant in the radiator? Are you able to get a pressure tester that connects to the radiator? If you can, pressure it up a bit, see if it holds pressure and if not look and see were the leak is. Does the motor oil look milky? Good Luck Don

I know very little about the 261, but most inline 6 OHV engines were prone to cracking the block behind the push rods. Here in Texas, it was common to put in antifreeze when we thought we needed it. And occasionally a cold front sneaked up on us, and it didn't take a very hard freeze to crack a block. Pressurize the the radiator and see if water oozes out of the side of the block. However, if you are lucky, the rocker arm area drains into the side. Possibly there was an oil filler left open and it rained in it.

No water is disapearing from the radiator, and it's full of water plus green coolant.

And the water behind the plate is pure water.

I guess it condensed water, since it has been sitting a lot.
I will remove the oilpan, and change oil.
No rings of coolant water under the valve covers.

And the oil looks okay. Will still change it.

I'd just run the motor, get it up to temp. and see how it goes, can't hurt. I'm thinking you guys have such a winter plus humid till the peak of summer that it's probably condensation. Even if you have a small crack, you could put a block sealer in the water to seal any small leak.
Best of luck
Jim

That sounds like you're experiencing a condensation problem, not a coolant leak. Before you start doing any major disassembly, try this: Pour about a quart of alcohol into the crankcase, methanol that's used as shellac thinner, etc., not good beverage alcohol! Run the engine until it gets up to normal operating temperature without driving it- - - - -we don't want to put any load on the bearings with compromised oil. The alcohol will absorb any moisture and flush it out of the engine when the oil is drained. After the condensate is purged, keep it from accumulating again by getting the engine up to full operating temperature about once a week. That will keep water from getting to the point of puddling due to long periods of inactivity.
Jerry

Thanks. Will try that.

First add alcohol, not good whiskey :-) and then warm it up.
Then remove the oil and oilpan. AND CLEAN THE OIL FILTER.

Then I will be fine I guess.

....this is good testament to letting an engine warm up to "normal" each time you drive it. I will not start my engine, back the truck out and then cut it off. If its cold I always let it run until engine temp is up.
Wife only works 3 miles from our house. She makes sure its warmed up before leaving.

The worst thing on an engine and exhaust system is MOISTURE.

Good luck lastchancetowing. I believe hot rod lincoln is right.