Grey stuff mixed in with oil??

[Sir Dodge alot]

Hello everyone, greetings and good day to you.

I've in the recent weeks have been disassembling a 361 to rebuild, and after I have removed the crank, there appears to be some kind of grey fluid that's mixed in the oil.

Removing the crankshaft and main caps & bolts there seems to be more of this mysterious grey fluid.

I thought maybe a sabotaged engine that someone has put in JB weld, instead of oil, but it's not putty like in consistency.

The consistency of it in my fingers feels gritty like it's got metal or sand in it.

All main cap bearings have almost consistent wear, except for main cap #3 thrust bearing. both cap and block side have a smooth touch, it's mostly the bearing surfaces on the block side.

The other pictures of the bearings will be posted below for the qualified eye lookers.

Anyone know what it could be?
Is this grey stuff water that has mixed with the oil??

Appreciate any input on this matter.
Thanks.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

More bearing damage block side of the bearings.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

From top to bottom is main caps 5 to 1.

Upon closer inspection, there also seems to be fuzzy magnetic bits on the forward edge of the thrust bearing on the block side.

Thanks for any insight on what the grey stuff is and the acosiated damage on the bearings.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

So I did a bit of searching around, and it may be moisture with oil hence why it's grey, but the grey color could also be metal, just very fine metal particles.

 

[Boydsdodge]

Lead from the old days fuel.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

Lead from the old days fuel.

Hello sir.

Huh, never would have considered that, thanks.

 

[Big_John]

So I did a bit of searching around, and it may be moisture with oil hence why it's grey, but the grey color could also be metal, just very fine metal particles.

The gray stuff is normal in an old engine. As @Boydsdodge said, lead from the older gas. I think that gives the old oil sludge its gray color.

I don't think I ever tore down a high mile 60's engine that didn't have some. It's worse in cars that didn't get regular oil changes.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

The gray stuff is normal in an old engine. As @Boydsdodge said, lead from the older gas. I think that gives the old oil sludge its gray color.

I don't think I ever tore down a high mile 60's engine that didn't have some. It's worse in cars that didn't get regular oil changes.

Hello sir,

If that's the case, I figure this engine didn't get much oil changes then, the lifter valley has low spots and the low spots are just filled with sludge, like honey consistency, slightly thicker than honey to be honest.

And some of the lifters have a wall of sludge on top of them usually where the pushrod sits in the recess.

I guess another engine that was not looked after back then, even heard the term "oil changes" back then was not something that was practiced by some. And seen as something silly to do.
Don't remember where I heard this, but I vaguely remember that detail.

 

[Big_John]

If that's the case, I figure this engine didn't get much oil changes then, the lifter valley has low spots and the low spots are just filled with sludge, like honey consistency.

I said "It's worse in cars that didn't get regular oil changes.". What I'm seeing is pretty normal.

There's always some blow-by from the piston rings. It gets worse as the engine ages.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

I said "It's worse in cars that didn't get regular oil changes.". What I'm seeing is pretty normal.

There's always some blow-by from the piston rings. It gets worse as the engine ages.

Hello sir,

Hm, this is normal? Crazy to think not a drop of sludge in sight when you remove the valve cover on a modern engine. Different tolerances compounded with changing emissions/oil/fuel formulations & and regular oil changes really does change how dirty an engine gets, maybe less so on older engines even kept in top shape.

 

[Big_John]

Hello sir,

Hm, this is normal? Crazy to think not a drop of sludge in sight when you remove the valve cover on a modern engine. Different tolerances compounded with changing emissions/oil/fuel formulations & and regular oil changes really does change how dirty an engine gets, maybe less so on older engines even kept in top shape.

Yes, quite normal.

Newer cars don't use leaded fuel for one thing. Much better oils is another. Less blow-by is a big factor too.

You're overthinking this part of your build.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

Yes, quite normal.

Newer cars don't use leaded fuel for one thing. Much better oils is another. Less blow-by is a big factor too.

You're overthinking this part of your build.

Hello sir,

I'm just quite intrigued, that's all, especially an engine from an age I wasn't even born in.
Kind of like a historic time capsule.

 

[Boydsdodge]

Hello sir,

I'm just quite intrigued, that's all, especially an engine from an age I wasn't even born in.
Kind of like a historic time capsule.

When I was a kid on one of my early jobs, I worked at an engine rebuilder shop. I had the job of going out to the engine pile in the yard, crane it into the shop, do a tear down and sort the parts for cleaning. All the engines had plenty of lead sludge build up. No safety gear provided, boss was a grumpy old guy. (Now thats me. LOL) He would say "If you think you need it, bring it" The amount of lead that I have been exposed to in my youth from making my own toy cars by melting down old pipes, pumping gas at local gas stations to the engine tear down job, it's no wonder I can feel my brain working. As lead may be great for engine protection, it is not very good for humans. Don't play with it too much.

 

[413]

I have heard it is lead, and just moisture and few oil changes.
Some engines are loaded with this gray sludge.


Back in the 60's and 70's oil did not have much detergent, and many folks use non detergent oil. Todays oil has high detergent levels. Amd as stated EFI manages fuel so,the oil stays much cleaner.

I bought an old car once and the owner was nice and telling me everything, he said he changed oil every 1,000 miles. Well when I took it apart is was spotlessly clean inside like a modern car.

 

[CBODY67]

When I was a kid on one of my early jobs, I worked at an engine rebuilder shop. I had the job of going out to the engine pile in the yard, crane it into the shop, do a tear down and sort the parts for cleaning. All the engines had plenty of lead sludge build up. No safety gear provided, boss was a grumpy old guy. (Now thats me. LOL) He would say "If you think you need it, bring it" The amount of lead that I have been exposed to in my youth from making my own toy cars by melting down old pipes, pumping gas at local gas stations to the engine tear down job, it's no wonder I can feel my brain working. As lead may be great for engine protection, it is not very good for humans. Don't play with it too much.

An older body shop owner noted one time, from his younger days as a shop owner/operator, when lead was used for body filler, that when he'd get a new-hire in that was learning ro work the lead, that after a while, they'd get to feeling sick and want to go home (from the lead dust). Instead, he said he'd tell them to go to the neighborhood store and get a bottle of "sweet milk" and a sleeve of saltine crackers, then come back to the shop and consume them. He said that after about 30 minutes later, they were feeling good again (and back to work). "Home Remedies" that worked?

CBODY67

 

[Big_John]

When I was a kid on one of my early jobs, I worked at an engine rebuilder shop. I had the job of going out to the engine pile in the yard, crane it into the shop, do a tear down and sort the parts for cleaning. All the engines had plenty of lead sludge build up. No safety gear provided, boss was a grumpy old guy. (Now thats me. LOL) He would say "If you think you need it, bring it" The amount of lead that I have been exposed to in my youth from making my own toy cars by melting down old pipes, pumping gas at local gas stations to the engine tear down job, it's no wonder I can feel my brain working. As lead may be great for engine protection, it is not very good for humans. Don't play with it too much.

An older body shop owner noted one time, from his younger days as a shop owner/operator, when lead was used for body filler, that when he'd get a new-hire in that was learning ro work the lead, that after a while, they'd get to feeling sick and want to go home (from the lead dust). Instead, he said he'd tell them to go to the neighborhood store and get a bottle of "sweet milk" and a sleeve of saltine crackers, then come back to the shop and consume them. He said that after about 30 minutes later, they were feeling good again (and back to work). "Home Remedies" that worked?

CBODY67

Every time I hear about lead being in your system, I think of Bill Hines. Smoked cigars and the lead content in his system was spoken of with reverence. Lived to 94.
https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/a1846306/remembering-bill-hines/

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

When I was a kid on one of my early jobs, I worked at an engine rebuilder shop. I had the job of going out to the engine pile in the yard, crane it into the shop, do a tear down and sort the parts for cleaning. All the engines had plenty of lead sludge build up. No safety gear provided, boss was a grumpy old guy. (Now thats me. LOL) He would say "If you think you need it, bring it" The amount of lead that I have been exposed to in my youth from making my own toy cars by melting down old pipes, pumping gas at local gas stations to the engine tear down job, it's no wonder I can feel my brain working. As lead may be great for engine protection, it is not very good for humans. Don't play with it too much.

Hello sir,

Appreciate the memory lane trip throwback, and the warning. Never would have thought I was potentially coming into contact with lead, not a first proud accomplishment but, a first non the less coming into contact with lead lol.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

An older body shop owner noted one time, from his younger days as a shop owner/operator, when lead was used for body filler, that when he'd get a new-hire in that was learning ro work the lead, that after a while, they'd get to feeling sick and want to go home (from the lead dust). Instead, he said he'd tell them to go to the neighborhood store and get a bottle of "sweet milk" and a sleeve of saltine crackers, then come back to the shop and consume them. He said that after about 30 minutes later, they were feeling good again (and back to work). "Home Remedies" that worked?

CBODY67

Hello sir,

Well when & if I didn't put on any gloves for a length of time and I start feeling sick, I'll try that home remedy, see if it works decades later.

 

[James Romano]

I have plenty of that crap in my 383. When I took off the oil pan to repaint it, it had about 1/8" thick layer at the bottom of the pan. It was everywhere in my engine. In the top/back of the heads, in the oil pump, The valley...etc.

I think next year I'm going to pull the motor and have it freshened up, cleaned and new bearings installed. It probably needs it at this point.

 

[Sir Dodge alot]

I have plenty of that crap in my 383. When I took off the oil pan to repaint it, it had about 1/8" thick layer at the bottom of the pan. It was everywhere in my engine. In the top/back of the heads, in the oil pump, The valley...etc.

I think next year I'm going to pull the motor and have it freshened up, cleaned and new bearings installed. It probably needs it at this point.

Hello sir,

I'll be waiting if you do intend to post a thread on your 383, exciting stuff!