Coolant in lifter valley.

[FarOffSuns]

I was doing the valve stem seals on my 89 Bronco II. When I noticed on the front most pushrod on cylinder 1 fresh coolant in the lifter valley.

You can see it in the photo here. I pumped some of it out and it is as if I came straight out of the coolant reservoir. Did not see any coolant anywhere else. I am wondering what my options might be here. I had no running issues or signs of a head gasket leak before. I used one of the chemical testers. Oil and coolant is still clean.

Anyone experienced something similar? Could it be the lower intake manifold or safe to say the head gasket is done?
Considering putting the valve covers back on driving for a week or two then checking the same spot again.

 

[gaz]

@FarOffSuns
If that is coolant, I would let it sit over night, a full day if possible. Next, carefully and slowly unscrew the oil pan plug, maintaining pressure on it...just enough for a little fluid to be released (If you have coolant in the valley, it's in the oil pan too). Watch carefully, if coolant (oil floats on water) it will be very clear not looking like oil.

Or pull the lower intake manifold and inspect. I have experienced a lower intake manifold failure on a 2.9l and I know at least one more person who has.

 

[FarOffSuns]

@FarOffSuns
If that is coolant, I would let it sit over night, a full day if possible. Next, carefully and slowly unscrew the oil pan plug, maintaining pressure on it...just enough for a little fluid to be released (If you have coolant in the valley, it's in the oil pan too). Watch carefully, if coolant (oil floats on water) it will be very clear not looking like oil.

Or pull the lower intake manifold and inspect. I have experienced a lower intake manifold failure on a 2.9l and I know at least one more person who has.

Car had been sitting for a for a couple days so I went just now and unscrewed the oil drain plug slowly until it started dripping green. Sure is coolant in the oil pan. Hoping if it is the lower intake manifold that its a recent enough failure that it hasn't damaged anything else. Not gonna drive it anymore until I get it done.

 

[Kenobi77]

Car had been sitting for a for a couple days so I went just now and unscrewed the oil drain plug slowly until it started dripping green. Sure is coolant in the oil pan. Hoping if it is the lower intake manifold that its a recent enough failure that it hasn't damaged anything else. Not gonna drive it anymore until I get it done.

If you haven’t replaced it already, I would avoid Fel-Pro gaskets at all costs for the manifold. Their intake gasket for the 2.9 is poorly designed and reviews mentioning issues and/or failures are common.

Mahle/Victor Reinz was the OEM for at least the intake manifold and head gaskets (they’re a German company and NOS Ford boxes say “Made in West Germany”; head gaskets were also printed “VICTOR REINZ”).

Although you mentioned it, I’d check the coolant over again in daylight for any slight shine of a sheen (I’ve had contamination be extremely subtle). After that, pull the spark plugs and use a borescope to examine what the pistons look like. If they look steam cleaned, your head gasket is toast and you are burning coolant.

I may be telling you things you already know, but I’d rather cover all bases than leave anything, potentially catastrophic, unmentioned.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Very common issue with the OEM gaskets at ~ 80kmi+, radiator goes bad, then the head gasket. Go with the OEM gaskets exactly like Kenobi states. You also need to check for warped heads, & the radiator. Don't forget the valve cover gaskets too!

 

[Kenobi77]

Very common issue with the OEM gaskets at ~ 80kmi+, radiator goes bad, then the head gasket. Go with the OEM gaskets exactly like Kenobi states. You also need to check for warped heads, & the radiator. Don't forget the valve cover gaskets too!

Agreed—check all of those. My radiator and gaskets were still good at 176k miles but that seems to be an exception.

I DO really like Fel-Pro’s PermaDryPlus valve covers gaskets. They’re $50 but well worth it.