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Milky oil?

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TR4

TR4

Jedi Knight
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Pulled my TR4 valve cover off today and there is a slight coating of milky oil at one end of the cover and a little bit on top of the head. Seems to be a blown head gasket, right? Would it hurt to run the motor for a while to tune in the carbs or shut er down and pull the head?
 
Not so fast there. Is the dipstick oil "milky"? Combustion gas contains lots of water vapor, and the gas that blows by the rings and slips past the valve stems exits out the valve cover, right? It could just be that a little condensation in the valve cover mixed with some oil. This would be prone to happen if you don't drive alot of miles when you take the car out since it may not get hot enough long enough to re-evaporate any condensation. If ALL the oil is milky, then you have a problem.
 
Is that the only symptom; no other indications? I would do what ever you took the rocker cover off for. Is it skipping or running hot? If it is not running hot, I think you could run it as long as needed.
 
I have only run the car for 5 mile laps throught the winter when the roads were clean. I went ahead and fired it up and went through tuning of the carbs, then checked the oil again and it seems fine. Must have been condensation like you suspected. I run 30 weight oil and since spring is near, I'll change it out again. I do change just before winter too. Thanks guys!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif
 
It's not uncommon to fine some contamination in the valve train area from condensation and engine breathing etc. I have found this in my other older cars without any problems. If you don't have this same issue in your sump or radiator you are probably ok.
 
I don't know if you're rebuilt your engine or not, but it is possible to have a bad bearing where you'll find a minute about of grey babbit in the oil as the new bearings wear in. I had this problem, which went about after a few miles. The real place you need to be conserned with, like prb51 said are the oil sump and radiator. Any milky white stuff on the dipstick or black in the radiator and you're got yourself a problem.
 
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