Water In Cylinders

350 Chevy El Camino. Engine over heated. Blew the water pump gaskets. Changed thermostat and water pump gaskets (water pump is fine). When I cranked the engine it wouldn’t start pulled the spark plugs, water poured out of 2 of the middle cylinders on the right side. Took off the heads, no cracks. Took off the head gasket, don’t see any damage (as far as I know other than cracks or breaks not sure what to look for) Examined the block don’t see any cracks. So where is the water coming from? I don’t know what else it could be. I’m afraid to put it back together again with new gaskets without knowing what’s wrong. What else could it be?

When you check it for cracks did you take it a shop? A machine shop can check it & fix it for little to nothing. Its hard to tell by just looking at it with your eye. I know i have had the same problem before.

Agreed that the heads should be "pressure tested". When fully assembled, it's difficult to accurately magneflux them. Our machine "seals up" all the water passages then "charges" the water jacket with high pressure air (40-60 PSI). It then "dunks" the head, not unlike checking a tire for leaks. You cannot rely on a "visual inspection" when this happens. Small block heads are notorious for cracking in the middle cylinders, around the exhaust valve seat. We charge $75 to test the pair. Prices vary from one part of the country to another.

If they show no cracks, they WILL still require resurface. The "minimum" is recommended to make them "flat" again. No need to mill off "extra".

It is also possible there's a vertical crack in one of the offending cylinders (or even both...). The piston must be "all the way down" to look for this. A flashlight and crawling into the engine compartment are called for to do this.

Replace the head bolts! Though it isn't "required" (as with many modern engines), they are no less than 30 years old, and who knows how many times they've been removed and installed. New ones are relatively cheap (about $35 for the whole engine). No need for aftermarket performance bolts. Stock "replacement" are good.

Don't "scrimp" on gaskets, either. Felpro or Victor/Reinz are what we use here.

Jim

if your going to replace head or head gasket take it to the shop and let them do a dye test on it for cracks or you may see it rite away when you get it off. i bet thats missing like a mother f.....

350 Chevy El Camino. Engine over heated. Blew the water pump gaskets. Changed thermostat and water pump gaskets (water pump is fine). When I cranked the engine it wouldn’t start pulled the spark plugs, water poured out of 2 of the middle cylinders on the right side. Took off the heads, no cracks. Took off the head gasket, don’t see any damage (as far as I know other than cracks or breaks not sure what to look for) Examined the block don’t see any cracks. So where is the water coming from? I don’t know what else it could be. I’m afraid to put it back together again with new gaskets without knowing what’s wrong. What else could it be?

when the engine overheats the heads can be damaged by getting distorted. you have to send these out for testing.

very possible to shave heads if not too bad .. then you must use a head gasket to compensate for the trimming if it is done..

when you re install all of this do not add any water. then do the compression test. then you will know if you have a problem..no compression problem !

with water getting into the cylinders after overheating this is most always a head gasket / head defect..

an engine with water and no antifreeze in freezing temps this would be a cracked block ..this is common with boaters not properly draining the engine and placing antifreeze into the engine for winter storage ! this also gives the same result.

using old bolts on a head change after overheating is not good !