New motor is in, headers installed, EGR block off etc. Starts right up and sounds good. There is a little white smoke/steam (I cant tell), total run time is still less than 30 minutes. Could it be water/moisture in the exhaust system since it was unbuttoned and outside for 5 months that is burning off? There is no puff of smoke on initial start up that I would normally associate with a bad valve seal (they are all new), no color to the smoke/steam either. Cant see it above 1500 RPM, only when she idles/fast idles. My instinct tells me to wait and see but I thought I would stop in for opinions. Thanks all.

 

Is this a motor your rebuilt or one remanufactured? What size engine by the way?

 

Re-manufactured, 5.7 long block. All I can think of is to drive it like usual and wait. Oil pressure and temps are perfect, no odd sounds.

 

Yeah, if it was a short block and you put the heads and head gaskets on then I was going to say check there but with a long block, that's already done.

Let us know if it quits

 

Cleared up after another 30 minutes or so. Must have been lots of water in the muffler (which is coming off soon anyhow). Now I need to go re torque all my header bolts as i hear some leaks.

 

Good job

 

It is pretty normal to have a little smoky looking steam after an engine replacement-old soot etc condensation build up has to burn out of the exhaust system-the longer the vehicle sits the more u will have-I try and do initial start up before the customer arrives for pick up so they don't freak out 0-o -------

 

I am relieved for sure

 

All good on the exhaust front. However I drove it a good 50 miles and found an oil leak, and its coming from where the dipstick tube goes into the block. I looked at the service manual and it does not reference any o ring or grommet here... am I wrong? Maybe the dipstick tube is not fully seated or is messed up somehow? ideas please