I have a 69 f-100 with a 390 daily driver. I get alot of condensation in the valve covers in the winter months here in seattle. Any body have any ideas how to stop it?

 

Aside from a leaking head gasket or some other "mechanical" malady the first thing I'd check is your PCV system. If your PCV system isn't working properly it will allow condensation to build up. If you're not allowing your engine to warm up completely ie short trips down to the corner store etc. that will also cause condensation. Frequent oil changes will remedy that. Other than that, I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.

 

i used to live up there for 5 years and i dont miss it one bit the way it mists and drizzles outside. it used to happen to my truck once in awhile too. mostly the breather cap is what would have coffee-ish residue on it. compression and leakage tests passed, plus antifreeze was always bright green, so i think it just happens sometimes from the moisture. but it hasnt happened since i lived up there. a certain amount of moisture builds up in the crankcase of any vehicle no matter the age, make, or model of it. and there are probably 5 different websites i have read and can point out that explain this is why if a vehicle is in storage, running it for 10 minutes once a month and then putting it away again is not beneficial and can actually increase condensation. i used to change my oil every thousand miles up there and people thought i was nuts.

 

Run the hottest thermostat you can get in it. The oil temp needs to get at least 180 for an extended period to outgas the moisture. That moisture is not just in the rocker covers.

 

Thanks everybody. I should have it back on the road this weekend. Thanks again.

 

Vortilon's suggestion is right on. My truck has a 195 degree thermostat and performs great even in the Georgia summertime.

 

i believe the oil should be around 250 degrees to properly clean itself

 

Does the radiator ever need water? Mine used about a quart every couple of months. When I pulled the motor to rebuild it, I found I had a cracked block in the lifter valley. Had to replace the block. My machinist said he has found several 352 (360, 390)type blocks with this problem.

 

Never needs water in the radiator. It's not a mechanical problem. I cleaned up, installed hotter thermostat and new pcv. So far so good. Thanks again everybody.

 

I did a oil change today, fe352 block, since this is a fairly new buy for me I am checking things out and found it had a broken valve cover bolt, leaking oil everywhere and they tried to silicon the bolt hole.

I tapped the bolt and straightened out the edlebrock VC's and used rubber gasket. I noticed condensation too. I thought about it and feel that the PVC was never hooked up to the air cleaner and a high moisture situation developed because of poor cuirculation. I live in dry bone california...

I have a edelbrock air cleaner now with a port to pull air from one Valve cover, the other one is vented. I will let you know if this will fix it and what I find at the next oil change.