hi all,
I have been away for a while, finally pulled the head off my 65 'cuda /6 due to milky oil. No obvious problem with the head gasket, head pressure test today was good. cylinders and pistons look reasonably the same. Any other suggestions? much appreciated........

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Stante
1965 Cuda /Six

What kind of driving do you do? Was there an obvious coolant leak?

just local trips around town. less than 100 miles in last year. Dad gave me the car couple years ago. I suspected very small coolanrt leak since inside of valve cover had milky deposits but oil was clean. PCV Valve was rusted shut so I replaced it after getting help through this forum. another 30 miles or so and oil is milky in the crankcase.

removed head, no obvious leaks between water passages and cylinders. water would come out of exhaust pipe. no oil in radiator. pressure check of head at machine shop turned out OK yesterday.

How long does it normally sit for, between starts? When you drive it, do you normally run for more than say 30 minutes? How humid is where you store you car?

It sounds to me like it's just not driven enough. After replacing the PCV valve, and getting that system working, I wonder if the milky crud was just loosened up enough to make its way into the crankcase, after your short drive. It may just need to be run longer, so that the oil gets up to temp--and stays up to temp--so as to boil out the moisture that normally accumulates in the oil.

Another question: what temperature does the engine normally run at? If the engine doesn't get hot enough, moisture can't be boiled out.

Could reinstall head, and then try to pressurize the engine. Shouldn't need to have coolant in it, but I'm not familiar enough with the procedure to give good advice on how to do it. I just know it should hold 10psi or so for a long time (if it doesn't, then there's a leak, someplace).

My Volare does this sometimes when the weather is really cold. I drive this car everyday, but I don't have a very long commute. It doesn't do it at all during the summer.

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"Ja, Ich fahre ein altes auto."
'78 Volare 225
'67 Charger 318

Yup…with that little use, the most likely cause of mayonnaise goop is simply condensation.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

My '73 Duster did this because the thermostat would not close completely.

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Joshua

Bad thermostat & PCV valve, humid conditions, and short runs can = salad dressing.

You have to drive that thing more, for longer periods, I also suspect fuel system is also getting gunked up as well from old fuel. Drive it enough to use one full tank of gas a year minimum, and add fuel stabilizing treatment.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

I'm with Dan. I've had rarely driven motors, or in dead of winter, have a lot of water condense into/on the oil and then foam up a little. 100 mi/yr is nothing.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Thanks everyone! Excellent info from excellent sources......

Car is the east coast of South Florida - Humidity central!! Will put her back together with a new 160 degree thermostat (that is what came out) and put more miles on her.

Any suggestions for good sources of hydraulic lifters, push rods and a gasket set?

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Stante
1965 Cuda /Six

That could be your problem right there! Put a new 180* stat in, I bet it will help. 160* is too low.

Actually, if it were me, I would use a 195 stat.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Charrlie_S:
I run a 195* thermostat as well. Works fine.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Why do you need hydraulic lifters and pushrods for a 1965 slant six?

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I'm new at this. maybe I have the wrong name. the valve lifter I am describing is in the block with one end on the cam and one end on the push rod. Was going to replace them since they are easy to get at and the rods are showing some orange surface discoloration.

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Stante
1965 Cuda /Six