Water coming from valve covers?

cjnecessary · Aug 29, 2007

Just finished my 6 month h/c/i start up and what do I see? Water coming from valve covers, thats a first for me. Anyone have any advice or pointers on how to fix the problem. Outside of the water thing it sounds great and seems to run well. I might need to adjust the r/r's a little, oh and then there's that pesky water being where it isnt supposed to be. Thanks for any help I might get.

91 HATCH · Aug 29, 2007

That water is a sign that you messed it up

cjnecessary · Aug 29, 2007

lol thats kinda what I was thinking.

cjnecessary · Aug 29, 2007

I got a milkshake.

91 HATCH · Aug 30, 2007

do not start it that will kill your bearings.you probably have a intake gasket or head gasket leak

1991vert · Aug 30, 2007

sounds like you didnt use thread sealer on the upper head bolts

bill302 · Aug 30, 2007

you dont need thread sealer on the upper head bolts...just the lower. i would start at the lower intake remove it and see if you have signs of water leaking into the block there at the water ports if it is you should see green coolant under the lower intake where it can leak into the block..lower intake gasket can be leaking or could have shifted bad enough during install to leak.

cjnecessary · Aug 30, 2007

I was kinda thinking head studs or intake gasket, I was leaning to the studs though. Guess I will find out sunday. Thats the only time I can seem to get anything done working two jobs does'nt leave much time for my baby. I may try tonight when I get home I guess I'll see how I feel. This has really taken all the wind out of my sails. It's been a long wait just for start up and I have a major problem, I guess this is why we all love our cars so much. . . . the drama that goes w/ owning a MUSTANG!!!!!

fastford91 · Aug 30, 2007

you need to put thread sealer on the head bolts thats more than likely your problem! do you remember if you di or not ?

302RollinHard · Aug 30, 2007

bill302 hit it right on the head.

86bluecobra · Aug 30, 2007

cjnecessary said:
I was kinda thinking head studs or intake gasket, I was leaning to the studs though. Guess I will find out sunday. Thats the only time I can seem to get anything done working two jobs does'nt leave much time for my baby. I may try tonight when I get home I guess I'll see how I feel. This has really taken all the wind out of my sails. It's been a long wait just for start up and I have a major problem, I guess this is why we all love our cars so much. . . . the drama that goes w/ owning a MUSTANG!!!!!

Funny if Ford would have given us all the 400+ ponies we all seem to want right from the factory there would be less drama with these cars.....but since we have to do it ourselves there seems to be a steep learning curve. Thank goodness for forums like this one to help us out. Hope you get it fixed quickly and get back on the road. BTW don't forget to change the oil when you solve the leak.

93GTosu · Aug 30, 2007

I had a similar problem in May. Spent all winter working on my H/I and finally got it done after working on it bit by bit when I had time off from classes. Started it up and BAM it overheats and has a yoohoo in the oil pan.

Looks like it was my lower intake in my case. I used studs made from a few (1/2"?) threaded rods i cut in half to lower the intake down as level as i possibly could.

good luck

BlownFiveLiter · Aug 30, 2007

If it does turn out to be from your head studs, don't remove them all at one time, or you need to replace head gaskets. You can take them out one at a time, seal them, and put them back in. Make sure you torque them to spec before removing the next, so you can avoid redoing head gaskets, since you can only compress them once.

EMW150 · Aug 31, 2007

Head studs usually though are an external leak. Never had one make a "yoohoo" in the pan. (like that term 93GTosu). I'm betting intake leak or head gasket.

ninety15.0 · Aug 31, 2007

I agree with EMW...there would most likely be an external leak if it were the lower head bolts. I would think that it would be difficult for coolant to get higher up to get into the cylinders? Most likely the lower intake gasket...make sure you just use RTV on the valley ends next time. Also make sure you use some home made studs to slide the lower down into the valley...this will ensure its nice and level and you dont mess up your bead of RTV. Good luck man

5spd GT · Aug 31, 2007

I think the intake install may have been botched up...causing a leak at the coolant ports. Did you adjust the intake while the gasket was on? Did you lift it up and reinstall it again?

As stated, only the LOWER head bolts/studs need to have thread sealer on the threads. And they should only cause a leak at the head bolt, externally. Usually the headgasket will stop it from getting into the combustion chamber.

Are you seeing a puff of white smoke when you hit the gas out of the tailpipes?

Aryan15 · Aug 31, 2007

I call the mixture baby *****.

cjnecessary · Aug 31, 2007

Well it was the intake gasket right by the water ports, I think did'nt have enough time to get it all the way back together. But the 1250 was soaked in the water port area. When I changed the oil the rear sump drain plug striped out when I pulled it out so all in all I LOVE MY CAR!!!!! Anyway I'll give you an update tom. to see if I got everything worked out.

302RollinHard · Aug 31, 2007

-1,000,000 stangnet points for stripping the oil drain plug.........
Good luck.

cjnecessary · Aug 31, 2007

lol thats funny

Water coming from valve covers?

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