I'm tearing down my car for restoration. I had given it to my father years ago and he had the engine rebuilt. It never ran correctly afterwards; the number 4 cylinder constantly fouled. Now, after removal of the intake manifold, I find what looks like wheel bearing grease in the water jacket near the #4 cylinder. Question is: How the @#% could grease get there? Is it grease?

Ideas?

 

Are you getting oil in the coolant or vice versa? Sounds like maybe the head gasket is weepy or a cracked head or block- which would also explain your #4 fouling out. Figure out why #4 is fouling and you've probably found the explanation for the nasty coolant passage as well.

I;m not saying that oil is necessarily getting directly into the collant (almost impossible) but with a weepy head gasket combustion contaminants of all kinds can get forced into the cooling system and create sludge over time.

 

The car was only run for a few months on weekends after it was rebuilt before being placed upon jacks for a few years. The grease seems so clean and only around that water jacket that am tempted to believe it was put/left there. Accident? Intentional? Chemical reaction with oil that formed green grease? Perhaps I'll learn more when I tear it down.

 

What on earth? I'm at a loss here. #4 isn't near the front/rear coolant passages so i'd be inclined to think they aren't necessarily related.
I'm just tagging on to learn, that's a real head scratcher.

 

my guess is that whoever rebuilt the motor used it to keep the gasket in place. are you sure it isn't a black sealant?

 

does it taste like wheel bearing grease? Actually you probably don't wanna do that, I would.. but why do I even know the taste or wheel bearing grease?

 

That is the jacket near the cylinder closest to the driver. I thought that was number 4.

It is quite a bit of grease. I'd say more than 1/8 inch all around that jacket. It looks clean smooth and green. I'm inclined to beleive it is some type of mechanical voodoo.

As for the taste? Like chicken with a bad twang. Sticks to the roof of your mouth like peanut butter.

I'll have it out and tear it down within two weeks. Will update everyone when I find out what it is for sure.