Water in valve cover but not in pan

[WYRD]

So one of my work Trucks has evidence of water in the valve cover when I open the fill cap. But nothing on the dipstick . Would a head gasket or cracked head do that?

 

[HALLETT BOY]

Water / coolant will condense on underside of valve covers , a tiny amount is normal , the PCV will dispense of it . A lot , start checking things . Is coolant expansion tank level going down ?

 

[monkeyswrench]

If it's a truck that sits a lot, it's pretty common. I have run into that with later model Toyota pickups and SUVs as well. It may be the way their evap system or something works, just some weird condensation.

 

[boatdoc55]

If it gets driven short trips all the time the condensation has no time to burn off or get sucked out. We had a vehicle that did that but damned if I remember which one it was.

 

[RiverDave]

Condensation

 

[WYRD]

Water / coolant will condense on underside of valve covers , a tiny amount is normal , the PCV will dispense of it . A lot , start checking things . Is coolant expansion tank level going down ?

Not that i can tell

 

[WYRD]

If it's a truck that sits a lot, it's pretty common. I have run into that with later model Toyota pickups and SUVs as well. It may be the way their evap system or something works, just some weird condensation.

Would that happen even in a warm climate?

 

[Kbach]

What truck? 99-06ish 5.3L GMs with Castech heads had problems...loss of coolant, sludge/coolant in the valve cover area.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Would that happen even in a warm climate?

Yes, on the Yotas I've run into it was during summer months. Actually when everyone was doing their summer stimulus spending. But, we're still a bit cooler up here, 10-15 degrees cooler on average than Phoenix.

What truck? 99-06ish 5.3L GMs with Castech heads had problems...loss of coolant, sludge/coolant in the valve cover area.

Were those the motors that would get the "revised" valve cover?

 

[WYRD]

What truck? 99-06ish 5.3L GMs with Castech heads had problems...loss of coolant, sludge/coolant in the valve cover area.

2012 F250 6.7 gas

 

[HALLETT BOY]

2012 F250 6.7 gas

6.7 gas ?

 

[WYRD]

6.7 gas ?

6.2 sorry typo. Here are some pictures from short drive to operating temp this morning

 

[WYRD]

6.2 sorry typo. Here are some pictures from short drive to operating temp this morning

View attachment 984313 View attachment 984314 View attachment 984315 View attachment 984316

No check engine light, no white smoke from the tailpipe, and inside the valve cover looks somewhat clean.

Could this be normal condensation like you guys were talking about?

 

[jet496]

Maybe from gas with water in it for some reason. Try getting gas from a different source like Mobile or Shell.

 

[Carlson-jet]

If it has a PCV valve check it. If you are just doing short drives during a humid or cool part of the day and the oil is not coming up to temp it is very common.

 

[monkeyswrench]

6.2 sorry typo. Here are some pictures from short drive to operating temp this morning

View attachment 984313 View attachment 984314 View attachment 984315 View attachment 984316

That looks just like the ones I ran into. Kind of freaked me out, but was told by a couple "actual mechanics" that it is fairly common on some of the newer stuff. I couldn't say for sure, but I can say the vehicles I have seen it with are still running with no issues.

 

[dnewps]

Oil temp is low. Cooler doing to good of a job. Or short trips. Run it!

 

[WYRD]

Thanks guys seems like the general consensus is nothing to be concerned about I'll put it back in service and keep an eye on it

 

[Gelcoater]

Oil temp is low. Cooler doing to good of a job. Or short trips. Run it!

This was my thought also.
Does it see a lot of short hops?
Need to make it work!

 

[HOOTER SLED-]

God dammit....it's a Ford beeeeyotch....drive it into a wall.....

 

[WYRD]

Update, been driving it daily and no more sign of water in the oil and haven't lost an coolant