Head gasket cleanup

I had a blown head gasket and water got in the oil. Gasket issue is repaired. Oil tank drained. The dry sump has no drain plug and I can’t get the pipe out of the pan with the engine installed. I used an extraction thingy and sucked out all I could through the tube. I took the valve cover off and wiped out the head as best I could. I got some cheap oReilly oil knowing it was only to clean things out and drain again. Warmed it up and the oil is pretty milky still. How many oil changes do you think it’s going to take to clean it out?

A small amount of water in the oil will make it milky. You’ll probably have to do 2-3 oil changes before it will be all gone. Using the cheap oil is a good idea. Just keep changing it, and the filter. You’ll know when the moisture is all gone from the oil.

And of course, run the engine for a few minutes between each change to circulate it and get as much of the contaminated oil out of the oil circuit as possible.

You didn’t mention which engine, but I would agree with 2 or 3 oil changes and warm up after each. No real need to have absolutely perfectly clear oil. After you see mostly clear oil a refill with your normal race oil and a short track session with average heat will cause the remaining water in the oil literally boil out. Not saying you should run a race but a test session or two should do the trick.

Best
Tom

You could also add some alcohol to the oil. It will emulsify the water and remove it faster.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rick Kirchner

You could also add some alcohol to the oil. It will emulsify the water and remove it faster.

---

Like rubbing alcohol?

perhaps a dumb suggestion.........you're starting the car with the dirty oil in it to circulate and then drain.......only at an idle RPM but perhaps on the second or third batch of oil you're going drain and pitch.......why not let the engine get hot while the oil filler cap is off......hot enough to boil off the last bit of water ??

A few minutes ago I was up at the Auto Parts Store and talked with the older fellow that's been there for years (so I guess he knows a little) about after the 3rd oil dump letting it run at idle, get hot, boil off some water....he thought it sounded good.

That way I won't be solely to blame !!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EYERACE

A few minutes ago I was up at the Auto Parts Store and talked with the older fellow that's been there for years (so I guess he knows a little) about after the 3rd oil dump letting it run at idle, get hot, boil off some water....he thought it sounded good.

That way I won't be solely to blame !!

---

Because taking automotive advice from a parts counter guy is a good idea?

lol !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lastminuteracin

Like rubbing alcohol?

---

IIRC, some rubbing alcohol contains water. It would have to be 100% pure alcohol to work.

Yes it does. Lots of it

It contains between 68% and 72% alcohol by volume, and the rest contains water, color additives, oils, and denaturants.Mar 28, 2022

Never knew that.

I had an event where my Lola’s xmsn vent line was quite deep in the catch bottle. The usual water level normalization occurred, and after the session, there was a siphoning effect of water back into the gearbox.

I called a very close and personal friend in Craig Taylor (when he still owned TRE), and he reported to change oil, run a session, change oil again. Done deal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rick Kirchner

You could also add some alcohol to the oil. It will emulsify the water and remove it faster.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steve Demeter

Yes it does. Lots of it

It contains between 68% and 72% alcohol by volume, and the rest contains water, color additives, oils, and denaturants.Mar 28, 2022

---

Take a cup of water and a cup of 100% alcohol and mix them together. You don't end up with two cups of liquid.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EYERACE

A few minutes ago I was up at the Auto Parts Store and talked with the older fellow that's been there for years (so I guess he knows a little) about after the 3rd oil dump letting it run at idle, get hot, boil off some water....he thought it sounded good.

That way I won't be solely to blame !!

---

LOL, I’m a 40 year Nissan parts guy.

So not only the head gasket was cooked, the car has (had now) an inline water to oil heat exchanger. When I pressure checked the cooling system I removed one of the oil lines. Guess what? It started pushing the milky oil out. Now it’s an all out change. Out with the exchanger, in with a setrab cooler. Almost 2 years into building this Anson. It’s always 3 steps forward, 2 steps back.