I think I have an internal water leak :(

[busmania]

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)!

IMG_1841.jpg

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