Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) white residue on valve cover

[j-miller]

the last few times i was under the hood of my truck,i've been seeing a white residue on the front side, front valve cover of the engine. looks like something is splashing up there, and i have never noticed it before the whole time i owned my truck. i recently put on the chrome valve covers and the gaskets and i 've been seeing this crap noticably more. any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[illflem]

The white gunk indicates water in the oil. More than likely it's being caused by high humidity or lots rain. If you are concerned it might be a coolant leak send in an oil analysis and pay attention for antifreeze.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I think he means the outside of the valve cover, Bill. If so, the heater elbow hose or the bypass hose is leaking just a little, sending antifreeze/water onto the valve cover by the "wind" from the fan.

 

[Reddog1]

Joseph Donnelly - I sure hope you are right for j-miller's sake.



I too had the white residue on the front side, front valve cover. It turned out to be the head-gasket. I will be correcting it next month.



If it is the bypass (formed) hose, I think it cost 24 to 26 dollars. I used 6 1/2 inches of straight hose. With 7 inches, hose bends would pinch off, 6 inches too short.



Bye the bye, I taped shop towels on the hoses and various other places, isolating them, trying to find the source.



A light behind the thermostat told the real story.



Lots of luck,



Wayne

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I should have added that you have to clean the area and seek out the source of the problem by watching frequently over a few days.



NAPA etc can order 3/8" water hose if they don't stock it. you could use a loop of it instead of the expensive formed hose. I seem to remember it is 3/8 but it could be smaller.

 

[j-miller]

joseph's right ,it's the front valve cover,front side facing the fan blade,on the outside not inside. it don't look wet around the 3/8 hose but it may be evaporating pretty good for me to get a fix on the location. it does look like it is blowing from down towards the water pump or the 3/8 hose, i'll check it out to see and find the weep hole in the pump... ... if it has any. I hope it isn't the head gasket yet,it only has 155,000 some odd miles on it, but knock on wood. thanks guys for the info,hope to hear some more possibilities if anybody experienced the same thing.

 

[illflem]

Find the weep hole here-

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/cooling-sys/weep_hole.htm

 

[j-miller]

THANKS ILLFLEM FOR THAT LINK,I PRINTED IT OUT FOR FUTURE USE,WAS OUT RUNNING IT HARD TODAY AND STILL CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I WONDER WHAT THE CHANCES ARE THAT IT IS ROAD DUST MIXING WITH RAIN OR WHEN THE TRUCK GETS WASHED AND THE FAN SPLASHES IT? WELL I CLEANED IT OFF AND TRY IT AGAIN. YESTERDAY I WASHED THE TRUCK AND IT WAS NOT BAD AS A FEW DAYS AGO,SO I 'LL JUST KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON IT. THANKS AGAIN

 

[Reddog1]

j-miller - I am still rooting for you, but I changed the water pump. It did in fact have a problem, but it was not the culprit spraying the valve cover.



There is a difference in water pumps. Prices range from $60 to $160. I have seen two different water pumps. Some use a quad ring and some use an "O" ring for sealing the pump. I prefer the quad ring. The first two pumps I received did not have the impeller pressed on far enough. The clearance is very close. After installing (before coolant) turn the pump pulley by hand. If you feel the slightest resistance or rough spot, return the pump.



I also had a pin hole in the bypass (formed) hose. Thats why I replaced it.



You might try taping one or more shop towels to block spray from various directions. I chased my leak for over six months and several thousand miles. I had about 140000 miles at discovery.



Bye the bye, posting with the cap is like shouting. LOL.



lots of luck



Wayne

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Mine gets that way whenever I tow... . Bad head gasket arround the T-stat housing... ... Chrome makes the leak look worse The good news: it is (on mine and probably yours)an external leak . No coolant in oil. Bad news: it won't get better or fix itself

 

[j-miller]

Exactly what i'm finding out pumperdude! After i was done running it hard with the loaded trailer ,at my first delivery i opened the hood to do a quick find and the front valve cover is messed up like always. BUT, I did find out it is starting to spread the white junk around a bit more,like on the heater pipes up front ,(above the oil filer) also. Then I seen that there was a bit of wetness behind the alternator,the anti freeze is red (i use the shell rotella t antifreeze) in the area of the thermostat housing,so that is were i'm going to point my finger for the time. Going to do some reading up on taking this stuff apart ,just to make sure on were it is coming from.

 

[Reddog1]

j-miller - Interesting. I thought the head gasket was mentioned earlier?





Wayne

 

[j-miller]

YEA,ONCE I TEAR THINGS APART TO SEE,I LIKE TO GET A BETTER LOOK TO MAKE SURE IT AIN'T THE HEAD GASKET. HOPE IT IS JUST SOMTHING MINOR. I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED ON WHAT I FIND.

 

[j-miller]

Well yesterday I made a start, I replaced the thermostat housing seals and i'll see what happens,hoping that took care of my leak. I hope it does not go any further like a head gasket . Knock on wood... ... ... . John