I have some questions regarding sleeves/coolant and oil.

I have currently been experiencing some low coolant light problems and have added coolant the first two days the engine was in the car. At first, it was blowing steam out of the tail pipe upon start up. I drove around for about three days and no a peep out of the coolant light. Then after that, the coolant light has been coming on and off at will. Seeing this I wrote it off as a faulty sensor. Well after driving around for a couple of days monitoring things, I noticed a yellow paste inside the oil filler tube but none on the dipstick. What the hell? Finally, today I checked the dipstick after I noticed that my oil pressure was WAY too low. 20psi warm idle <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> I got the car home and checked the oil level.(full) and I found the yellowish stuff on the top of my oil dipstick(by the handle) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> Now I'm worried. Next I drained the oil and I see traces of coolant <img border="0" alt="[bomb]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_bomb.gif" /> So can anyone diagnose this problem for me?

Thanks in advance,

Q

<small>[ March 23, 2003, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: Q ]</small>

 

i'd definitly talk to the person responsible for building the motor and ask for a diagnosis or refund.

mike

 

Well, you definatley have an internal coolant leak, but it may not be a dropped liner I wouldn't drive the car anymore till thats remedied, what head gaskets did you use? That could be the culprit.

Joe.

 

Mike. I will be in contact with the builder tomorrow to see if I can get this damn thing fixed.

Joe, I used the Felpro gaskets and the stock GM head bolts.(new ones of course)

Thanks for the reply guys.

 

Hey Q,

It was nice meeting you this weekend. Man you have a nice looking ride. I hope that you get her running well again. I would see what the builder has to say about it and if he can't figure it out then take it to a reputable shop like MTI that knows a great deal about these LS1 cars. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

Anyway good luck <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

 

Sounds like a blown head gasket. Call the builder and im postive it will be taken care of.


Philip

 

Sounds like a blown head gasket. Call the builder and im postive it will be taken care of.


Philip

 

Why wouldn't you ask your engine builder and let him take a look at it before you start making a bunch of noise on the Internet???

You really don't make any sense.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

 

Easy there Ethan, sometimes folks like to gather some data I don't see Q going off on anyone...

If you know at this point that there is a problem, you should not drive the car anymore, you don't want to hydraulic a cylinder and further damage the motor... It's time to make a phone call, what kind of motor is it? Did you install some heads yourself?

 

Ethan...what is your deal? I am not making any noise what so ever. I am simply asking a question. Where in the above statement did I bash anyone or anything? Is it now wrong to ask questions on the net? Just for your info, I'm meeting the builder tonight. You care to be present <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> Then you can tell me face to face why you think I don't make sense.

Thank you for the replies.

Q

 

Oh sorry,

I forgot to answer your questions John.
It is an aluminum all bore(4.125) motor. I did install the heads myself when the motor was out of the car. I then had everything checked over(externally) before the motor went into the car. I could see how maybe there might have been a head install error but at this point I really don't know. I've had three of my filters cut open also to find metal shavings. I was told at first there may be some present. I've also had oil pump issues. The first Oil pump got clogged with trash(relief spring) and the second pressure is starting to fade. So that's where I am now. I have an appointment with the engine builder at 7:00pm tonight.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Q:
<strong> Ethan...what is your deal? I am not making any noise what so ever. I am simply asking a question. Where in the above statement did I bash anyone or anything? Is it now wrong to ask questions on the net? Just for your info, I'm meeting the builder tonight. You care to be present <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> Then you can tell me face to face why you think I don't make sense.

Thank you for the replies.
Q </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Q,

First of all.... chill out and lose the attitude. I never said you were bashing anybody, so don't put words into my mouth. All I'm saying is that maybe you should have the engine builder take a look at your engine before you start thinking you have a dropped sleeve? I've had 5 LS1's in my car, so I have quite a bit of experience on them.

I've been in the same predicament that you were in.... so I know what you're going through. It could be one of two things... a blown gasket or an exposed water jacket/cracked sleeve. The way those sleeves are installed in the block, it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to drop. I'd have to show you on a block in order for it to make sense.

As far as telling you face to face what I think.... I'm going to ignore that comment as a threat, since that's what it sounded like. But, if you want me to meet you in person and tell you what I think I have no problems with that. Besides, I'm the one that provided all of the answers to Brent on all of the transmission problems you were having when you messed up your torque converter.

If you want to talk to me, you know how to get a hold of me.

 

Also.... just FYI.... I've seen brand new engines have some metal shavings in them that are VERY fine. They'll show up on either the drain plug or the oil filter (depending on which picks them up first). How frequent are you changing the oil? What kind of oil did you use? Did you break in the motor first? There's lots of variables.

As far as the water in the oil, I already expressed my opinion on that.

 

Also.... just FYI.... I've seen brand new engines have some metal shavings in them that are VERY fine. They'll show up on either the drain plug or the oil filter (depending on which picks them up first). How frequent are you changing the oil? What kind of oil did you use? Did you break in the motor first? There's lots of variables.

As far as the water in the oil, I already expressed my opinion on that.

 

Hey E, This is none of my business but on this board members ask questions if there having engine problems. Guy's on here try to give there formost advise to try and help with there problems. I know Q very well and all I took from this is you getting a bit defensive over him asking questions about something your boy's shop put together...He's probley a bit upset about this problem as you were about yours in the past, however Ethan does have the right idea Q on getting your engine looked at by the source builder and I'm sure like most engine builders they will take care of you and your problems. I'm not on either side but questions are asked and members do answer.....Good luck Q and I hope you get this figured out and running soon... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

<small>[ March 24, 2003, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: BADZ ]</small>

 

Jeff,

I understand how the whole web-board thing works, as you know I've been doing this for awhile. But either way.... as far as getting defensive, I'm not here to stick up for anybody. I know that Brent is a very good engine builder, and due to the design of the block it is in fact impossible to drop the sleeve.

What I'm getting at is this.... I didn't mean to "attack" Q in any way, and if he is overly defensive, then there's nothing that I can do about that. But, what I was saying is that he should probably talk to the engine builder first, and then post a question to get a "second opinion."

E

 

So back to the technical side or this. If the sleeve did not drop how could the 4.125 sleeves be leaking? I'm going to assume it's not a head gasket. He used Fel Pros and did it with a perfectly clean motor on a stand. Hard to mess up really. What are the other possibilities here?

 

Ok. This is the last thing I'll say regarding you Ethan. What I said above was not a threat! I'm not too high on the internet that's why I said we could talk in person. Second of all, I have asked the engine builder about this matter before tonight and he told me he thought it was a head gasket. So technically, you can say I am getting a "second opinion". I saw the engine builder tonight and he said that he'd look into my problems. So therefore, I have no problems. He also explained to me about the sleeves. Anyway, thanks for all of those who gave me some technical advice and those who kept this post on track. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

 

All it takes is for the sleeve to drop .003" and you will get a coolant leak into the cylinders. From what it sounds like and considering that it happened so soon after it went into the car i would not rule it out. I have never used Fel-Pro's LS1 gaskets before. Is it a steel MLS style or composite? Cometic makes a "HP" series of gasket that has an additional .003" thicker ring around the bore to help with possible sleeve shifting if it where to occur. Where the heads decked? Who installed the sleeves?

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Q:
<strong> Ok. This is the last thing I'll say regarding you Ethan. What I said above was not a threat! I'm not too high on the internet that's why I said we could talk in person. Second of all, I have asked the engine builder about this matter before tonight and he told me he thought it was a head gasket. So technically, you can say I am getting a "second opinion". I saw the engine builder tonight and he said that he'd look into my problems. So therefore, I have no problems. He also explained to me about the sleeves. Anyway, thanks for all of those who gave me some technical advice and those who kept this post on track. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No problem Bro.... so you know what I'm talking about then for it being impossible for the sleeves to be the issue. Brent will most likely do whatever it takes to make you happy, so just rest assured it will be taken care of. I know a lot of people are saying, "Yeah, it could be a dropped sleeve, etc, etc." but that isn't the case. It more than likely is a head gasket. The head gaskets are very particular on how they're installed and also on the type of gasket that you use.... there's a thousand variables that could lead into it.

Either way you're in good hands... it'll be taken care of and you'll be hauling *** like many of the other cars that he's done. Take it easy chief and if you need any more help let me know...

Later,

E