Orange gunk in oil cap - is there something wrong with my engine??

[Stringer]

You might make a point to change it quite often for the next few thousand miles as the oil washes the crap / gunk out of the used engine you as-yet know little about.

Consider getting valve cover gaskets as well, if yours are leaking. Access to the covers is a bit easier once the other stuff's been peeled-back.

good point, thank you. valve covers look great right now.

im trying to find out what's the best gasket set to use, any ideas? or what is vest sealant to use? i have the fel pro bolts in my cart now, should i get anything else?

i do hear a high pitched whine when the engine is running. i thought this was the fuel pump, is there a chance it's something else that may be involved in this?

 

[df2x4]

If you want to know for sure if there's anything in your oil that shouldn't be, you can get an analysis done by someone like Blackstone Labs. You collect a small oil sample next time you change it, and mail it in to them with payment (IIRC $20-30). They'll email you a detailed report about the condition of your oil with comments from a person on staff, in plain easy to read english.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Personally I think I'd want this info before I started spending any money on parts, especially if you don't have any other evidence of a gasket failure yet.

 

[1998_K1500_Sub]

im trying to find out what's the best gasket set to use, any ideas? or what is vest sealant to use? i have the fel pro bolts in my cart now, should i get anything else?

i do hear a high pitched whine when the engine is running. i thought this was the fuel pump, is there a chance it's something else that may be involved in this?

I used FEL-PRO MS98000T, which is appropriate for the 5.7L L31. That kit's got upper, lower, valve cover and some other relevant gaskets.

If the high-pitched whine appears when you first turn on the key, remains for perhaps 5s, and then goes away (engine off the whole time), it's likely the fuel pump IMHO.

 

[454cid]

Are you running Dexcool? That looks red to me.

Do you run the engine at long intervals, when you run it? Usually coolant in the oil will make a "milkshake", but if the engine is run hard, it can boil the water off, concentrating the coolant and it turns the oil sludgy and redish.

 

[Pinger]

If you want to know for sure if there's anything in your oil that shouldn't be, you can get an analysis done by someone like Blackstone Labs. You collect a small oil sample next time you change it, and mail it in to them with payment (IIRC $20-30). They'll email you a detailed report about the condition of your oil with comments from a person on staff, in plain easy to read english.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Personally I think I'd want this info before I started spending any money on parts, especially if you don't have any other evidence of a gasket failure yet.

I had external leaks (and losing coolant) but it was chemicals from the anti-freeze/corrosion inhibitor identified by oil analysis that confirmed that my inlet manifold gaskets were shot (99 5.7l). I was also losing oil internally. Replaced gaskets and both fluid levels rock solid now.

Ad hoc test for water in oil - a drop placed on a very hot hot plate (or exhaust manifold?) If it crackles and spits there's water there.

 

[Dariusz Salomon]

good point, thank you. valve covers look great right now.

im trying to find out what's the best gasket set to use, any ideas? or what is vest sealant to use? i have the fel pro bolts in my cart now, should i get anything else?

i do hear a high pitched whine when the engine is running. i thought this was the fuel pump, is there a chance it's something else that may be involved in this?

Get a set of felpro like 98-k1500-sub said-they are redesigned so it should do the trick and not go wrong again. If you wanna check for gasket failure squeeze your coolant hoses-one of tell signs is they become impossible to squeeze as the fumes get in the cooling system.
Another thing to do is to use the fluid thingy you attach to the radiator cap and it changes color when detects I think co2 in coolant-any decent garage should have one.
As to a water from tailpipe mine is doing the same which got me worried in the first place but it's nothing to worry about-it goes away after short drive tho sometimes it lasted longer-hence I checked if it wasn't headgasket. And it wasn't.

 

[1998_K1500_Sub]

I have the fel pro bolts in my cart now, should i get anything else?

I’ve forgotten the torque spec for those bolts, but it might be such that it’s best to use an inch-lb torque wrench. I think AutoZone (or maybe O’Reilly) has inch-lb wrenches in their loan-a-tool program, if necessary.

 

[Lou Merrell]

Get a set of felpro like 98-k1500-sub said-they are redesigned so it should do the trick and not go wrong again. If you wanna check for gasket failure squeeze your coolant hoses-one of tell signs is they become impossible to squeeze as the fumes get in the cooling system.
Another thing to do is to use the fluid thingy you attach to the radiator cap and it changes color when detects I think co2 in coolant-any decent garage should have one.
As to a water from tailpipe mine is doing the same which got me worried in the first place but it's nothing to worry about-it goes away after short drive tho sometimes it lasted longer-hence I checked if it wasn't headgasket. And it wasn't.

I think horror fright has what your talking about:

Combustion Leak Detector

Amazing deals on this Combustion Leak Detector at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Also, Oriellys carries them.

 

[Dariusz Salomon]

There are great videos on you tube showing the procedure and I think they mention torque-one us long with a guy sitting in the engine bay working on it. Try to find it.

 

[AuroraGirl]

ive seen the same happen from stop leak added but not glossy more matte looking