Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines 250 Water leak

250 Chevy engine, been rebuilt, head reworked & milled. Water keeps getting into my oil. Engine runs smooth, no smoke etc. friends have suggested trying new headbolts due to the fact the head was milled. Any Suggestions I am just breaking into this whole restoring hobby lots of fun but frustrating.

walt,
approx pint of water after 20-30 miles. bolts were torqued to 95, engine was not bored, just re-ringed pistons. had set for approx 8 years without being started. Old oil was clean no water, old antifreeze was bright green. head was checked for cracks, none found. I was getting water in the oil and oil in the water kind of a back and forth thing. Put in some sealer in the radiator that seemed to stop the oil from getting in the water problem, but still have the other. Is there a way to check a cracked block without pulling the engine. i.e. pressure test or something

You can have the rad. checked at any Rad. shop Or even some parts stores can check to see if your getting gasses in the water. But is sounds more like you have other issues if your mixing water in the oil.
Like said cracked block or Head, Gasket, Or a warped head Or block deck no lonnger true.

DID you use any sealer On the Head Bolts??? If not this to can be your porblem.The water will go up the head bolt Into the valve cover area and then down into the oil pan.

When I broke the corner off my block, it would only leak coolant to the outside when hot. The crack didn't cause any oil problem. Joe

I think they just magnafluxed the head. Installed new valves and guides. The head had approx. .009 warpage I think, and they milled it. I didnt put any thread sealer on the bolts. btw what does that front corner bolt toque to. In the Chiltons manual I have it says all torqued to 95 in three step increments 33 then 66 then 95

One other thing That goes right to the water jacket is The rocker studs. I have only ever seen one Leak and this was many Moons ago meaning a REALLY long time.(cracked boss) BUT if you have screw in studs and the don't have sealer on them They to can leak water into the head.

I once chased a similar problem on a Ford. I did not reinstall the alignment pins in the deck, and the head was just a bit off.

thanks for all the suggestions, I will give them a try and let you know the outcome.