Vortec Distributor Cap Corrosion

One other thing to look at is the bottom plate of the distributor.

Vortec distributor cap corrosion.

Presently has 235 000 miles runs great until the cap develops corrosion on the inner terminals. 1 the air gap between the rotor and cap electrodes is greater on the 5 7 vortec engine causing the rotor to prematurely burn. Look and see there should be one or two vent holes that have a metal screen on them. I clean with contacts with a dremel brush and the green corrosion comes right off.

The a c hose above the cap deposits water on the cap as well on models with the hose routed over the cap. But looking more closely i ve seen a dark brown material coating like this before appearing like a very fine powder. I find the contacts in my distributor cap getting corroded fairly rapidly. It recommends taking out the wire screens located somewhere on the base of the distributor.

I have considered using a higher dwell module and high performance coil but i m not completely sure this. Gm parts cost a little more but they last 3 or 4 times longer. Vents are plugged easily and cause white brown cap dust and green black rotor issues moisture gases corrosion all directly related to poor running and the p0300 because the distributor cant vent correctly. At first glance i thought the dark area on the cap was grease.

998 chevy vortec 4 3 has developed an appetite for distributor caps. Make sure they are not stopped up. I have tried brass and aluminum contact caps i ve replaced the wires with low resistance models and use bosch double platinum plugs. Most often i see this on the inside of hei distributors but it can be common on any distributor this material is iron oxide and is the result of misfires inside the cap from errant sparks inside.

2 could their be a defect in the distributor itself that wont allow the moisture to leave causing the corrosion. The engine starts and runs nicely with the. I only get 1 2 years before the distributor cap gets so gunked up it misfires and has to be replaced. When stopped up the inside of the cap will not breathe and it tends to suck up moisture.