Elmos hers

Does anyone know what the liquid is that beads up on the cam caps when they are removed? It acts like water, but that seems unlikely.

ridethecliche

iTrader: (2)

You mean the water doesn't look like water?

nitrodann

Yeah mate its condensation.

Dann

Elmos hers

Why is it only inside the bolted joint? It comes from inside the capscrew holes and is present when the mating surfaces in the cap to head joint are separated. It appears to be built into the factory assembly.

Onyxyth

iTrader: (2)

That's condensation, my dude.

Elmos hers

Must have been raining in Hiroshima that day in ‘05.

nitrodann

Its from the breathing mate. The gases the PCV vents. Theyre humid. Think about what comes out the tailpipe.

Dann

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Breathe deeply and consider that there is moisture in the air in Iowa.

Elmos hers

Yeah, I know how condensation works.
It’s not from any recent event in my garage and I have found this on two separate engines years apart and only in the cam caps.

sshamrockk

Have you tried tasting it?

ryansmoneypit

iTrader: (6)

It was probably hanging around the edge, then when you moved the part, the water ran over to the fresh flat oily surface.

Elmos hers

Did not try tasting it and it evaporated shortly, so I can’t now.
Was not hanging around. It’s been pretty dry in my garage and I’ve had the same experience on two separate MSM engines a few years apart.
“Trust me...”
—Mike

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Have you smelled it? I bet it smells like bullshit. Lol.

I wonder what would bead up on an oily surface like water? Water perhaps? If the engine block is cooler than the surrounding air then moisture present in the air can condense on the metal anywhere the air might be able to reach. Is the area where you found this mystery substance excluded from contact with the air? I assumed when I saw the picture that there was air between the camera and the surface of the engine. You didn't happen to have this in a hermetically-sealed case, did you?

huesmann

iTrader: (1)

You are aware that water is a byproduct of combustion, aren't you?

rleete

iTrader: (21)

It's cam jizz.

miata2fast

iTrader: (2)

I am so glad we have a place where we get such quality technical questions. A+ thread.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

You knew it was cam jizz all along, didn't you?

But wait, I'm not sure it would be. That motor is stock. I thought you could only get cam jizz if you stroked a motor.

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

I can see where hes at with this, the water came out upon bolt removal. Thats likely becomes a sealed chamber when the fastener is torqued. My only guess is that someone had the top end apart before and washed it with a garden hose like I often do, but reassembled it with water still in the holes.

Elmos hers

Thanks for your help, folks.

ridethecliche

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for being a good sport!