Doesn't look too bad...pretty classic head gasket failure:

 

A couple more photos...

 

Question: So how does crankcase oil get contaminated with water? Is it just water passing by the piston rings? Seems like a lot of contamination in the oil and very little steam-cleaning of the piston in my case. Thoughts?

 

In your very first and second photos 2 posts back you can see that the head gasket is ripped up right around the front water passage. It will get sucked into that adjacent cylinder and make it's way past the rings into the crankcase.

 

That's what I've always thought DiscoJag and I'm sure the hydraulic action of the piston in the bore really sucks it in there also. I don't know how much water it would take to make the oil look 'milky' perhaps not a lot. I know when I first looked at this vehicle and checked the oil it was normal. After putting water into the cooling system (freeze plug had popped) is when I found the leak and the oil started getting milky.

 

Dropped the heads off at the machine shop. They are going to disassemble, clean, inspect, install new valve seals (which I will provide) and deck the heads for $195. I think that's a good deal but hard to swallow after spending just $300 for the whole vehicle! Now I need to get the HG kit on its way and talk to Paul about a PS pump.

 

I can't tell you how happy I AM.......!!!!!! You have a blown HEAD GASKET!!!! WooHOOO!!!!

Sorry, just had to do a little victory jig to get all this pent up anxiety out of my system.

That's quite a blow-out if I've ever seen one though.....I wonder if it was compromised by the ice and then when you started the truck it became worse. That's how I see it.

 

$195 is a wee bit OUCH! I had a shop turn and burn my heads (shave). Dropped off by noon and done by noon the next day and it cost me $75 which was $10 more than normal because of the quick turn. Meh, it's Whitefish, I forgot.........BUT it is a crappy job to plunk the springs/keepers/seals off all 16 valves.

 

You have a lovely engine bay, I just thought I'd tell you.........no I'm not ashamed.

....for a 94 it's in great condition.....seriously. The firewall seam is usually rusted badly enough to make the paint peel and mother earth blush. Even the engine looks to be in great condition for the miles and age. Do you have an air grinder/die grinder? They are not too expensive if not...but a wire brush on one will knock the carbon off those pistons like it's nothing and puts a shiny smile on em to boot. Bring the piston to TDC, grease the gap between the piston and the wall and go to town, then lower piston a little and you have a carbon grease ring that's easy to clean off. Carb cleaner (or diesel) will flush the rest from the gap along with compressed air.......YMMV.

AND BTW.....your engine is now my new desktop pic.

 

Why IH, thank you for noticing you sweet-talker! ;-) Desktop...wow, I'm flattered. Oh, and yes 've noticed how much meaner your helicopter looks than mine! As it is impossible to find an intimidating shot of 'Tupper-Wolf' I may have to resort to finding a Blackhawk photo for my avatar. That's what I flew in the Army before switching over.

Yes, quite the impressive blowout don't you think? I do have an angle grinder. What sort of abrasive pad though? I don't want to damage the soft alumminum.

Re my machine work...couldn't you have just lied to me and said what a great deal I was getting?!?! I could have had them decked and cleaned (without disassembly) for about half what I was quoted but since I was getting the new valve guides with the HG kit and they are cleaning the rocker assemblies also it seemed like a good deal. Maybe I can get them to clean my valve covers too for that price. I'll ask when I drop off the seals.

BTW I put a straight-edge on the areas I could easily measure (areas absent carbon and/or gunk) and could see just a tiny bit of light. Shop thinks they may be about .005 in that case and very normal.

Yes, happy day indeed. Now the real fun starts though...putting it all back together!