Sleeved cylinder

Had a crack in #7. Had it sleeved. Hasn’t run much, maybe 10 passes. Saw oil was milky Took apart this is what I found. Anyone ever see this? Don’t think the sleeve is cracked I’m leaning towards it not being sealed at the bottom of the sleeve. But how did it start rusting upwards? Piston pulling water up maybe .

 

Only thing I can think of is the sleeve to block is leaking (from cylinder chamber pressure).

Rust "trail" would be from leaking under coolant pressure after shutdown and once a path is created, coolant will continue that path and rust from sitting.

 

Are you sure it not coming through the sleeve down.......I don't think water can flow up hill.


The only way I know to be able to test this is to be able seal all the water ins and out and put pressure in the system.......you might be able to use air pressure and spray it with soapy water.....but don't use over cooling system.pressure

 

I was thinking water getting behind Sleeve from crack in original cylinder wall and then leaking out at bottom of sleeve. You can see the gap in the pictures. Not sure what to do about it.

 

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I haven’t taken it apart enough yet to check for a new crack I’d be surprised if the sleeve had a hole in it though.

 

Capillary action and/or wicking.

 

A little more tear down and I’m thinking head gasket leak although they looked ok when I tore it apart. Am I off in thinking if water gets between the old cylinder wall and the sleeve it could cause problems? I know water doesn’t run uphill and I don’t store my race car upside down. Lol. There’s an obvious gap between bottom of sleeve and block.

 

Yes. That was what I was referring to in my first reply.

That last image is classic coolant setting on top of piston and leaking past rings into the pan.
It could be a blown head gasket, or the sleeve is not bonded to the cylinder and the coolant from the crack is working past the sleeve (and coolant can be drawn into the chamber as well as down into the crankcase).

 

I meant to add...

I sure hope it is a simple/low cost fix.

 

Actually as Trunkmonkey stated, water will travel uphill due to capillary action.

 

Before you get too excited, are you sure water didn't get down the carb?

 

I’m sure. I wish that’s all it was.

 

It would be hard for a sleeve to leak. My first step would be pressure testing that cylinder head and a thorough exam of the head gasket and deck surface.

 

I can't see anything that looks like sleeve installed to step cut in original bore. I looked at a block today with rust at bottom similar to what I'm seeing here All four bores were sleeved but the rust was only at certain positions. The piston came up hard on head and left part number on deck of head then rod bent. About a month ago I checked big Chevy that was clean in bottom of block except the rust stain coming where sleeve met original bore.Your block looked clean.But the stains from water tell the story.