Water in oil, 3.0l Volvo

[Cruzan at last]

While winterizing engines I drained the oil in the starboard motor and found it to be coffee coloured. I did a compression test and found that the highest pressure was 162 and the lowest was 147. With that I feel that the block, head gasket and valves are all good. I then took the combination exhaust manifold off and found some water in the bottom of it on the exhaust side. I'm not sure if it's normal to have some water laying in the bottom from condensation? I want to do a pressure test, my thought is to make a plate to go overtop of where the exhaust elbow mounts, put the drain plug in and put some pressure(not sure how much??) in the end where the water comes in. This in my mind would pressure test on both sides, the exhaust and intake sides. Is this the best way??? Any input would be appreciated, Thanks in advance!

 

[Cruzan at last]

Re: Water in oil, 3.0l Volvo

So I did the test as stated above. I put some tape over top of the intake and exhaust ports and also some over top of the carb mount. I put 15lbs pressure in the water jacket and let it sit for 24 hrs. I soap tested any and all possible leak spots and didn't find anything bubbling, I also put a small hole in my tape, one over an exhaust port and one over an intake port and soaped them also. The pressure stayed up for the 24 hrs so I am convinced that the combination manifold is good. I am going to assume that the leak was coming from the riser elbow gasket. I won't know until the spring if this was the problem.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water in oil, 3.0l Volvo

So I did the test as stated above. I put some tape over top of the intake and exhaust ports and also some over top of the carb mount. I put 15lbs pressure in the water jacket and let it sit for 24 hrs. I soap tested any and all possible leak spots and didn't find anything bubbling, I also put a small hole in my tape, one over an exhaust port and one over an intake port and soaped them also. The pressure stayed up for the 24 hrs so I am convinced that the combination manifold is good. I am going to assume that the leak was coming from the riser elbow gasket. I won't know until the spring if this was the problem.

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... That'll explain the water layin' in the exhaust passage,...

But,... It don't explain the water in the oil....

The water would have to be a large amount, 'n it would have to seep past the rings, to get into the oil....

Do a pressure test of the Block's cooling passages, like ya did on the manifold...

 

[Cruzan at last]

Re: Water in oil, 3.0l Volvo

Would the compression test not show if there was a leak into a cylinder? Or do the water jackets go below bottom dead centre, which could explain the good compression test but still having water in the oil? I have had a couple of people that rebuild car motors look at it. They're opinion is that the water could still find it's way into the cylinder when the exhaust valve is open, it would draw the hot moist air from the exhaust manifold into the cylinder and after firing it would be steam and seep down past the rings. Thoughts??? I'm not adverse to pressure testing the cooling passages on the block although it would be quite involved. It's winterized right now with -100* antifreeze :joyous:

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Water in oil, 3.0l Volvo

A crack does not have to open into the combustion chamber or upper cylinder area to allow water into the oil. Remember, there are water passages in the cylinder head. There are also oil drain back passages in the head. A head gasket leak between the water jacket and an oil drain back hole results in water in the oil. The same applies to a cracked head and a compression test would not show that. A pressure test of the cooling system would show the leakage.