Head gasket looks fine, what's up?

[nameisnana]

Details:
2003 Mountaineer Premier 4.6
Coolant in the oil
Mayo under the filler cap and right valve cover
Combustion gases in the coolant
No white smoke
Car runs fine, no knocking or misfiring, usually. Tried to die on me a couple of times at idle (stoplight) but that's about it.
Did not do a leakdown test before I tore it apart (my bad)
Cam and rockers under right valve cover coated with black tarry oil
Cam and rockers under left valve cover have copper oily hue (look good)

Got both heads off and both gaskets look good. No breaks or wearing that I can see. Don't seem to be crushed in an area.

The only thing I can see is the left MLS HG is intact whereas the right MLS HG seems to be separating between the layers in a couple of areas. I also saw some grime/dirt between the layers of the right HG where it was separating. Don't know if this happened as I was taking the HG off though.

Could there have been a leak because of the layers separating? Would this indicate warpage? Haven't taken the head to a shop for trueness yet.

Opinions? Questions? I'm sort of at a loss. Don't wanna put it back together with new gaskets without knowing they were the problem.

 

[shadowless127]

has this had a previous HG job?

Sounds like a warped head to me, especially if there's separation.

 

[nameisnana]

has this had a previous HG job?

Sounds like a warped head to me, especially if there's separation.

No previous work. There was no external leakage either, all internal.

You might be right. Still need to have the head checked.

 

[EasyRhino]

Given your symptoms, you could very well have a very slow, small leak that does not show up on a head gasket like a blown-torn HG that results in blowing out a smokescreen of white smoke (I got that ticket punched for sure - but not on the Ex).

 

[chitown1211]

Google " white goo under oil cap". This is a very common occurance in the winter months and usually means nothing.

Basically the engine heat causes condensation which forms into the white goo under the cap and possibly valve covers. When its cold outside and the engine doesnt run long enough it wont get hot enough to burn off that condensation.

Do the google, tons of info online about this. Hopefully this is your problem.

 

[nameisnana]

Google " white goo under oil cap". This is a very common occurance in the winter months and usually means nothing.

Basically the engine heat causes condensation which forms into the white goo under the cap and possibly valve covers. When its cold outside and the engine doesnt run long enough it wont get hot enough to burn off that condensation.

Do the google, tons of info online about this. Hopefully this is your problem.

There is coolant in the oil and combustion gases in the coolant. Not weather related.

 

[boominXplorer]

Could always be a cracked head even though its not too common with aluminum heads. Clean them off good and get in some good light and start looking or have the machine shop pressure test it.

 

[victorv613]

How did the lower intake gasket look

 

[04 EDGE]

There is no lower intake on the 4.6. The manifold is one piece and there is no way coolant and oil can mix.

 

[victorv613]

Sorry brain fart. So used to saying upper and lower. I meant how was the intake gasket. Coolant still runs through and if bad will leak down into oil. If not i would say head and or gaskets or warped or cracked block.