I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

I have suspected this since I built this engine (about 1000 miles) but found more evidence today. Since building my engine seems to steam more than it should (I dont know...it's my first flathead). I recently removed the breather because it was so rusty inside due to this condensation. For now I have just covered the hold with a rag while I wait for a new breather.

I started having fuel pump issues so today I removed the fuel pump stand and pump. Inside the stand is what looks like vaseline. This is maybe after 150 miles since I had the engine out and cleaned up some other things.

Since the beginning I was afraid I had an internal leak but now I am starting to believe it. That said, there has never been water in my oil (never milky) but I do have to put more coolant in every now and then but I always attributed this to me just overfilling it and not letting it find its level.

Anyway, if I have water under my intake manifold, where would it be leaking from? Could it be my head gaskets (I would hope)? Multiple times I have run a PRESSURE TEST and pressurized my system with a harbor freight pressure radiator tester. My system will hold pressure for days (though it does slooooooowly lose a little pressure but I am not sure if this is from a crack or from the test being imperfect).

Any thoughts? The ONLY signs of water anywhere are under my intake manifold and in the fuel pump stand. Photo coming of the "vaseline" like stuff in the fuel pump stand.

And no, I did not pressure test this block before I built it. This is my first build of anything that uses water (ive built plenty of air cooled engines). Lesson learned (an expensive one)!

Attachment 561524

Here is a thread where I had an issue with water in the cylinders when building the engine. Im not sure it's related though....
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2275337

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Don't know but is the breather vent at the front of your oil pan clear to let the motor breath and are you driving the car long enough to get motor hot enough to get the condensation out of the motor ?

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Yes to driving enough to get hot and front breather on oil pan is clean.

Well F$3k. I just took the intake off and there is definitely water sitting in the low spots under oil. Once I swirled it around with my finger I could see the dreaded green coolant.

Hopefully I can at least use some of the parts on my next build…..

But I guess before I give up completely on this engine I should do some more digging.

I recently bought the speedway block pressure tester so I could text my next block. I assume I can pressure tester my current block with it in the car as a long block?

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

It may be tough to pressure test it while in the car. The water pumps need to come off to use that pressure tester. If you willing to do all that, may be easier to pull it with a cherry picker.

Don't freak out yet, but water in the valve valley could certainly be an indication there is crack somewhere.

Good news, there are number of block sealant products out there that could work. One of the most common is silicon silicate (liquid glass). There are other products as well that others have used.

Before you pull the motor, I would try some type of block sealant before you pull it. At this point, you have nothing to lose.

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Good point Tim. Are these block sealers the type that you pour into the radiator and let them do their thing?

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Yes. There is one called Blue Devil which is supposedly highly rated and used in heavy construction quite often.

Something else to check. Did you use new head gaskets when you assembled the motor? May want to check that you don't have a bad one on either bank.

https://www.amazon.com/BlueDevil-Pro...00N3XVNXE?th=1

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Yes I had to go through several sets of head gaskets to get it to not leak into my cylinder. Maybe this is related but that was water in the cylinders (see thread linked at bottom of my first post). This is water in the lifter valley. I’m having a hard time envisioning how water even gets in that area….

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

More info. I haven’t driven the car in two weeks. I was just out poking around and took the radiator cap off. It made a sound like it was holding pressure and then released pressure (or I’m hearing things) when I took the cap off. I have an aftermarket champion radiator. If the system is holding pressure for 2 weeks, how can I have an internal leak?

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

It only leaks when it's hot. Cast iron expands when heated and does some funny things. There was a thread on the H.A.M.B. just a couple of weeks ago about a guy who had this same problem with an SBC cylinder head.

The proper application of some quality block sealer should help. Make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions to a "T".

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Thanks Tubman. I definitely wondered if heat expansion could be why it still holds pressure. I’ll put it back together and try the sealer recommendation from above and go from there.

This makes me think…if it only leaks when hot, would a block pressure test before I built it had even mattered?

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

I'm thinking that's why the common practice is to magnaflux AND pressure check. I have used KW Block sealer on a 59ab with a cylinder that had been sleeved and stitched and still leaked when hot, but not cold. The engine has been sitting in my run stand for 5 years and has been run quite a bit but not in a vehicle since this repair. Tubman has it right about following directions. Since it has had antifreeze in it it is imperitive to clean it out very well. I did the recommended cleaning procedure twice to be sure. Many swear by a similar water glass product by Moroso. Worth a try!

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Yes, a pressure test would have more than likely caught it. A crack is a crack and it doesn't take much pressure to push air through it. While cold, it may not be blowing through, but the tell tale soapy bubbles means it's coming through the other side.

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

are you using a pressurized radiator cap? what temp are your stats?

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

You don't have to run a pressured system on your car , orig it didn't have one. I have an alum rad on mine and just turn the cap to the first click, no pressure on the system, put some blue devil in it and run cap loose and see if the problem goes away.
good luck
kurt

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

It's just me AND I have been wrong more than once.....BUT I remember the OP's original post, which he has linked here......AND not once through-out that post NOR in this post had the OP said IF he has sealed the head studs and if so with what? I know he says his leak NOW is in the valley of the motor, or suspects such.....BUT I went back and re-read his first post on his leak issue AND he states "originally" he put his head studs in "finger tight" and at one point of having the heads back off the motor, states that he put them in to 5ft Lbs of torque and still NO mention of any sealer on the head studs. SO I am still stuck there, myself!!!! AND that is second only to what has already been harped on...NO pressure test of the block!!!!! SO "perhaps" at some point in your process of elimination....IF you have not sealed the head stud to the block, you might do so and eliminate that possible leak potential as well as ad an insurance policy to your work!!!! JMO/observation.



Just as an aside for Busmania....there are several good stud sealers IF you haven't used any....I like the one I use and the method of how I install it as you can see at the base of all my studs, the sealing bead of the stud.

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

Good point Robert.

Moving forward, If mine, I would do the following:
1) If using antifreeze, flush it all out before proceeding.
2) Pull all the studs/bolts and the heads.
3) Make sure head gaskets aren't compromised or leaking.
4) If gaskets are good, before installing, spray both sides three times with a light layers of cheap silver spray paint right before installing.
5) Before re-installing head bolts, coat them with a quality thread sealer. Torque bolts or nuts to recommended spec for the head type
6) Once together, run Blue Devil in the system.

If it still leaks after all that, there is a major crack in the block that needs to be repaired or the block replaced.

I think if you follow the above steps and the its a minor crack, you'll effectively "fix" or address it.

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

At this point in Busmania's game, Tim Ayers above post X2

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

I used permatex aviation sealant on my head studs when I built it. Thanks yall.

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

OK, good news. If possible, I would pull the heads still to double check you don't have a bad head gasket.

Re: I think I have an internal water leak :(
 

I'd flush the heck out of the system with pure water . . . the run it on pure water and flush some more. Then I'd get some Moroso Ceramic Seal and follow the instructions to the letter. I have used it and it works really well. You might even consider doing the Moroso process twice - just to be sure.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/35500/10002/-1