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Sludge from catch can

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Old 01-18-2021, 09:09 AM
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Speedy007
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Default Sludge from catch can

So the other day after changing a water pump that was old prob the original based on the looks of it ...the car had ran fine after until I shut it off filled up with my usual e85 at the same pump I’ve used for the last few years ...right after car went into reduced power mode and throwing a p1120 code ...figuring something got wet in the process I left heat in my garage all night on to dry it out car started up fine the next morning ran fine . Got it home started it again after same thing popped up... so I took off the throttle body noticed some oil / and a whiteish slug on the back throttle plate and the intake was filled with oil but not so much of the sludge just around the vaccumm port front side ....drained the catch can and holy **** looked like a thick chocolate milk shake coming out and it’s some thick stuff ....car runs fine no noises just had the oil changed the day I replaced the water pump and the oil on the dip stick looks fine and full ...coolant level doesn’t indicate a loss so ....I’m wondering what this sludge is and how it got up into the intake cause it to throw a code heres a picture of the nasty catch can drain ....I can say the 1st time I drained it it never looked this horrid ....


Old 01-18-2021, 09:14 AM
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Speedy007
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Maybe the catch can was full and I’m just over thinking it’s a head gasket...looking down in the head on the push rods from above there’s no signs of sludge or problems they appear to just have oil in them as normal so I’m wondering what’s up scratching my head as I’ve never seen such oil .....


One thought I had is ...possible the e85 is mixing with oil somehow over fueling ? And it’s literally cleaning out the crank case and oil pan thus the reason all the sludge ? ...oil cap was clean oil filler also clean I’ll get more pictures up of where I’m at in a bit ....help please ....sorry for the long write up..
Old 01-18-2021, 09:36 AM
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4XLR8N
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I've never done a water pump on an LS-1, is there any chance that you are getting coolant in the oil? That's what it looks like to me...
Old 01-18-2021, 11:19 AM
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helga203
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What could of happen was the **** in the catch can was getting sucked back in. Maybe u should change more often. Maybe not getting full because it was going back in through intake.
don't know how those work. Never had one.

Last edited by helga203; 01-18-2021 at 11:20 AM.
Old 01-18-2021, 12:32 PM
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mykream
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Welcome to catch can dumping on E85... Get used to it,
Old 01-18-2021, 12:42 PM
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Speedy007
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Originally Posted by mykream
Welcome to catch can dumping on E85... Get used to it,

so this is normal with e85 and the thick paste like stuff ...? ( meaning the sugars from the corn fuel thicken stuff up like adding corn starch to a gravy ....that’s what it reminds me of .....a thick gravy maybe a over thick gravy ?
Old 01-18-2021, 12:50 PM
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grinder11
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Originally Posted by helga203
What could of happen was the **** in the catch can was getting sucked back in. Maybe u should change more often. Maybe not getting full because it was going back in through intake.
don't know how those work. Never had one.
Yes, I agree. Speedy's looks just like mine. I bought a cheapo from Jegs years ago, and you can only let mine get maybe 1/4 full, and then must drain it. I found out the hard way why it never got over 1/4 full-at 1/4 full, the crap just starts gets sucked into the intake. My intake had a lot of oil in it, just like Speedys. The reason it looks like there's water in it is because there is. Looks like a chocolate shake that's low on chocolate. Just normal combustion byproduct. No worries. Just have to empty it more often........
Old 01-18-2021, 01:04 PM
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Speedy007
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Well damm ....I’ll slap it back together today ...I was honestly one from call away from just picking a new 6.2 525 hp ls3 ....lucky u guys are here

Last edited by Speedy007; 01-18-2021 at 09:22 PM.
Old 01-18-2021, 09:24 PM
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Speedy007
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Got it all back together and sure enough no more codes runs fine ....I’ll be sure to keep up drawing yet can and doing a good clean out prob every time that gets drained as well as it was sucking up a crap load of junk ....


Overall I guess it’s the price to pay for being boosted with a can but at least whatever that concoction is won’t be circulating in my motor .....

Last edited by Speedy007; 01-18-2021 at 09:32 PM.

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