This all started with a water leak from the rear side of the engine block as it enters the timing chain cover/ water pump housing. It had leaked very slightly and inconsistently for almost a month with a small puddle of antifreeze on the floor now and then. No indications other than the frame of the car of wetness. Previously, for a few months now, I had just been loosing water over a period of time, not knowing were it was going.
As it leaked out of the engine through the deteriorated cover gasket, the gasket also slightly failed to the next bolt hole that opened a path right into the engine. I have no idea how long water and antifreeze had been entering the engine block, but I suspect it could have been as much as 6 months. It was only last week that the gasket failed enough to find were the water was coming from as it now was a steam of water running off the engine.
I suspect this sludge had plenty of time to form in those months, but there were no indications at oil change times. Nothing unusual on the oil cap or in the valve cover that could be seen, everything seemed fine; but of course it wasn't. Even when I drained the oil to replace the gasket last week, all looked normal. (the engine was hot)
With the failed gasket last week, lots of water was now being lost, about 1 gallon every 15 minuets. It was probably this huge loss that changed the oil to a thick sustance for what was to follow.
Now here is the real tragedy. As the timing cover job was finished and everything put back together with antifreeze and oil, the engine started right up but the oil light didn't go off. A little rev took it off but it cam right back on. Then I heard the engine start to get tight and it was shut down.
I had planed on getting info on how to clean this internal mess up from this forum, but of course this happened before any cleaning could have been done with an additive.
I dumped the oil and it came out lumpy, then pulled the filter and it was completely plugged chuck full of this thick goo.
I didn't want to start it again fearing that the oil galleys were plugged also, and a new oil filter was empty of any oil since the engine hadn't been run to fill it. It would take precious time to get the pressure up with an empty filter. Time without oil that I knew the bearings couldn't withstand.
I took out the oil pressure sensor and made some piping connections to a pressurized tank, put some diesel oil fuel in the tank and injected it into the now empty engine. Then added more oil. My intent was to push some very light lubricant through any blockage into the bearings that previously sounded as if they might have been badly hurt from the lack of oil pressure. Also to fill the new oil filter so the time it took to get back up to pressure at the start of the engine would be minimized.
sounds simple enough but it took most of the day.
With every thing back together, I tried a quick tap of the starter. The engine spun freely then I tried to start it and it jumped right to life and the oil pressure light extinguished within a second.
I've since flushed it twice and each filter is without any goo or clumps, but still dark on the first flush but getting lighter after the second. The oil is thin with the addition of the cleaner. Marvel mystery oil, then sea foam.
This third time, I'm going to drive it a little, checking the oil often, then dump it after a few miles and a hotter engine.
I feel blessed to have gotten lubrication back in the right spots without any further damage. I guess time will tell what has really happened. But I see no sings of anything different at this point minus the water puddle under the car.
This must seem very unusual and go against any instruction, but it was either get it working or give it up for junk. I didn't feel it was worth the time nor the effort and expense to put a lot back in this old and much used car.
The compression still tests good, it runs and idles smoothly and sounds just as it did before any of this took place.
Wish me the best. and thanks for everyone's input.
Rex