what is this white gunk?
 

In the pic, at center left you can see some white gunk plastered over the rocker shaft hole.
Why would they do this? Is this normal - I've not come across it before.
I was a bit concerned about some of it floating around the engine.
I can only presume they are trying to seal the shaft, or stop it moving?
Alan http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1194488252.jpg

Looks like they tried to stop some leaks, at least its not in the oil system, but it still should not be there.

Thats a huge disaster just waiting to happen,.............

Once that while sealant starts sluffing away, it will wind up in oiling holes in the spray bars, crankshaft, squirters, etc and that will cost plenty to resolve.

Its a big job to fix this, but far cheaper to do this proactively, rather than reactively.

How will it do that? It's not "in" the engine.



Ps. I'm not questioning you knowledge and expertise, just wanting to know. :)

I wonder if that's 5200 Marine sealant?

Yeah, it looks to me like its on the non-oily side of the rocker housing, so I would have thought it would be pretty hard for it for it to find it's way down the oil return tubes, although I stand to be corrected of course.

Is the engine still in the car, or is it out/coming out? If the engine is out I think you should definantly fix it, and perhaps try those little oil seals that fit in the groove at either end of the rocker shafts - I believe those help prevent oil leaks but aren't there as standard. If the engine is still in the car I'm not sure whether you can change the rocker shaft with out removing it (someone might correct me here) inwhich case I'd suggeest maybe see what Steve Weiner comes back with regarding the possibility of that sealant stuff finding it's way into the engine, and then take his advice.

1) Get it out asap. It was a hack to get it there in the first place...
2) Good luck with #1 because if it is on both sides it is surely covering the rocker screw and cap to where you cant get a wrench on it or clean out the sockets! a pain for sure...

As for seeping into the oiling system... how are we sure it was not applied to the whole rocker shaft (see pic below)? Or it is not making its way in... I'm not sure and the only way to find out is to take the shafts out and clean it all up. Sux, but like Steve said, better PRO-active than re-active... and a hell of a lot cheaper too! When you do this make sure to keep rocker and shaft together and re-install on same cam lobe etc. etc.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1194543249.gif

Best regards,

Michael

Thanks guys, I will go back and have a look at the bit on the rocker. You will also see in the RH of my pic, more on #2 rocker. It is on a 930 that I am going over before giving it a hard time. I had not planned on pulling the engine just yet - apparently it has just been put back in 500 k ago. I am trying to deduce what the issues are with the motor in advance - the workmanship in general looks like crap the more I look. There is red RTV everywhere, and oil leaks. I was really just checking the head studs/torques and valve clearances. There are certainly better ways to seal an engine that gunk, red or white.
Regards
Alan

I checked the bit in the red box in Michaels post. It is a reflection. There is none in the internal bits. I dont know what it is, Marine maybe. Never seen it before. It is quite firm, but somewhat soft. Harder than RTV compound at a guess. Am trying hard not to pull the engine just at this point - would like a few good reasons to do so - like broken stud and oil leaks etc.
I purchased it believing it had just had a strip down and run in. Thats what you get via some auctions I guess - can't look at it up close and personal, let alone start it up and drive it. At this point I think I'll run it as is for a few months, unless I find more issues in the inspection.
Thanks
Alan

Could be Dow 730? One good check is to cut open the oil filter and see whats in it. That will tell you a lot.

There's probably oil everywhere as red high temp silicon(the red stuff you see) doesn't work weel at all in an aluminum air cooled motor where things expand and contract quite a bit in comparison to other motor types. Most of those Silicone bonds probably separated and now leak.

Although a complete hack job and a ***** to remove and fix, whatever that sealant on the outside of the rocker shafts is it's not detrimental to the motor as it's outside the oil system as most have said.

What worries me???...................It appears that that very same sealant was used on the oil return tubes as well(look at the bottom of that picture). If that's the case that IS inside the oil system and just makes me wonder where else it was used where it should not have been :(


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...1194488252.jpg

It's chewing gum. Some people have no shame.

Sad thing is with the crap the put in that stuff today, it would probably work well.

WARNING: Frightening pics inside!
 

Oh man... don't get me started on RTV!!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1194619630.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1194619701.jpg


Engine ran great... till it blew up :( Little bits of RTV were every where... And yes... its a total pain in the you know where to clean!

I truly hope your engine looks better than mine did.

Best regards,

Michael