1990 CRX HF with B18a1 swap. I just got it all together and running but I couldn't get the ignition timing set right. I had the distributor maxed out and I wasn't on the timing mark so I assumed that I had the t belt one tooth off. I idled it for maybe 10 minutes trying to set the timing and that is all I ran it. I popped the valve cover off the check the timing and I found the whole top was covered in a milky substance. I don't see any on the dip stick but it is caked on the VC. I had the valve cover off before putting the engine on so it happened within the ten minutes of running. I compression tested the car and it had 180psi across the board. No smoke while running either. Is it possible it is anything other than a bad head gasket? Could I have routed something incorrectly during the swap allowing coolant into the engine. Pic attached of the VC top

 

pic of vc

 

could be a cracked block, pressure test the coolant and listen for air in the crank case

 

Before I pull everything apart is there a line I could have mixed up somewhere that would let coolant into the oil?

 

nope

 

There definitely is, as I did that when I put my LS/VTEC together. I don't remember what line was wrong but you can definitely mix them up to the point of dumping coolant into the crankcase.

 

You could put a coolant line onto the PVC system vacuum line and poor coolant into the head/crankcase.

 

maybe the cylinder head is warped

 

Checked the line from the PCV and it was going to the top of the intake manifold so I think I'm good there. I ended up taking the head off hoping I would see a flaw in the gasket but it looked fine. I checked the surface of the block and head with a piece of glass and a feeler gauge (not the best method I know) and it looked good. If I had a crack in the block where would I look? Probably going to just throw it back together and hope for the best.

 

I am assuming your intake manifold was dry (no coolant)?

With the milky oil, I really would not put it back together and hope for the best.

I would quadruple check all your lines. Verify you have vacuum and coolant properly routed.

 

If the block is cracked it would be a coolant or oil channel, near the top. Although it happens, it's less likely to have a cracked block.
Definitely clean the engine and flush out that dirty oil before putting back together.

 

Checked my lines and they looked good. When I pulled it apart I checked for warped head and block. Didn't look bad so I put on a new gasket and put it back together. Haven't run it long but so far so good.