The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Ok guys I drained the oil from my T/A and wow....at first it pissed water??? then a grey gunk and a lot of it...W.T.F. ow has this happened and what does it mean??

RedRaven wrote:Ok guys I drained the oil from my T/A and wow....at first it pissed water??? then a grey gunk and a lot of it...W.T.F. ow has this happened and what does it mean??

I'd say you have a blown head gasket somewhere.
Water is heavier than oil, so if water got mixed with the oil, you get the water first when you drain the pan, then a mixed layer of water & oil, then the oil.

I kinda thought somebody would say that...so blown head gasket..big deal or not??

It might be bad maybe not! How much coolant is missing from the radiator? Too bad you dont live closer Wayne I would give you a pair I just had in my hand,(Fel-Pro's), since I'm using .030 Cometics! Wayne have your friend bring over his radiator pump tester and possibly a compression gauge, it will show which cylinder is leaking. At least you possibly caught it before major damage ensued but rest assured it MUST be repaired. Opps I saw it was your T/A and not the R/T. No I dont have any 'Tin Indian' or 'FireChicken' parts sorry Wayne. The same repair diagnostic procedures apply however. Good Luck (The parts should be less expensive and more readily available than the Challenger parts, so relax there)

Thanks Eddie, I checked the rad and its full so perhaps its not a coolant problem?

Hey I just thought of something...would the open ram air system allow water into the engine via the carb because it has been sitting out in the rain for 3 years?

I just logged in and saw this. This is bad news Wayne.

I would say the best thing would be to totally strip the engine and check the bearings. If the car has been used in the past with a blown gasket and the water just topped up as it kept vanishing into the oil them chances are the bearings and maybe the crank got damaged.

If the water has got in from the rain or gasket while it has been standing then the cylinder walls could be badly rusted.

You will need to take the heads off at least. If everything looks perfect when you do that and you want to sell the car on to some mug then don't worry about it. Just replace the head gaskets and get shot of it.

If you find the cylinder walls damaged then see how deep the corrosion goes and if a re-bore will clear it. If not your best bet will be to find a new engine.

Stop buying junk cars wayne. This is three cars you have now that need a lot of work and money.

I think if water got into the ram air you would have had a hydraulic lock which would result is a bent rod or two. (Don't ask me how I know. )Sorry I haven't followed your posts more closely Wayne, is this car a Challenger T/A w/340?

It's a 445 Firebird Jon.

Now that more info has come into the picture Dave is right. Standing water over time or burning water over time is bad Wayne. You might get lucky with a Leak down test. If it comes back as leaking more than 10%-15% you in deep doo doo!

deep doo doo! ick!, bummer that doesn not look good,