Oil in coolant?
12-31-2007, 12:34 PM
#1
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Location: Portland, OR
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Oil in coolant?
I finally got around to replacing my leaking radiator today. When I cut the lower hose off, a large clump of oil and reddish deposits fell out of the hose along with some drops of oil. I am thinking the head gasket is probably bad. What is the best way to test this? Also, could it be something else causing it that I could check for? Thanks much!!
12-31-2007, 01:09 PM
#3
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RE: Oil in coolant?
If your head gasket is bad you will find a white creamy substance on the dipstick plus the car would have some overheating issues. Leak down test or pressurize the cylinder while looking at filler neck on the radiator. If you see bubbles in the coolant head gasket is bad.
12-31-2007, 01:12 PM
#4
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RE: Oil in coolant?
No overheating at all, and the dipstick is always normal. I have never seen coolant in the oil, just oil in the coolant.
When I get the new radiator in I will check for bubbles.
When I get the new radiator in I will check for bubbles.
12-31-2007, 01:56 PM
#5
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RE: Oil in coolant?
Are you sure it's oil? When I replaced the originalradiator (from 1988)in my trucka couple yearsback it had a ton of brown sludge in it, but it wasn't oil. I may be just buildup over time but I don't know how old your radiator is.Mine was bad though, no wonder the thing kept overheating whenever I went above 60 
.
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12-31-2007, 02:06 PM
#6
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RE: Oil in coolant?
Pretty sure it is. I dont have any overheating issues.
More good news, my new (used) radiator is to big, so now I have to use the old one if the shop can repair it.
More good news, my new (used) radiator is to big, so now I have to use the old one if the shop can repair it.
01-01-2008, 02:30 PM
#9
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RE: Oil in coolant?
Also, the PO may have used "Stop Leak",,,, this leaves nasty stuff in the cooling system.
As mentioned, it is pretty hard to get oil in the coolant unless you are running an "oil to water" oil cooler, and I doubt that you are running one. I don't recall seeing these on any car except for 3rd genCamaros and Firebirds...
In order for the oil to get into the water there usually needs to be a path wherepressurizedoil can be passed directly into the coolant. Short of an oil gallery opening intoa water jacket, (never heard of this, but might be possible?) I can't think of any other place on a SBF where this could possibly happen, especially since your oil is clean.
As mentioned, it is pretty hard to get oil in the coolant unless you are running an "oil to water" oil cooler, and I doubt that you are running one. I don't recall seeing these on any car except for 3rd genCamaros and Firebirds...
In order for the oil to get into the water there usually needs to be a path wherepressurizedoil can be passed directly into the coolant. Short of an oil gallery opening intoa water jacket, (never heard of this, but might be possible?) I can't think of any other place on a SBF where this could possibly happen, especially since your oil is clean.
01-01-2008, 02:54 PM
#10
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 761
RE: Oil in coolant?
ORIGINAL: JMD
Also, the PO may have used "Stop Leak",,,, this leaves nasty stuff in the cooling system.
As mentioned, it is pretty hard to get oil in the coolant unless you are running an "oil to water" oil cooler, and I doubt that you are running one. I don't recall seeing these on any car except for 3rd genCamaros and Firebirds...
In order for the oil to get into the water there usually needs to be a path wherepressurizedoil can be passed directly into the coolant. Short of an oil gallery opening intoa water jacket, (never heard of this, but might be possible?) I can't think of any other place on a SBF where this could possibly happen, especially since your oil is clean.
Also, the PO may have used "Stop Leak",,,, this leaves nasty stuff in the cooling system.
As mentioned, it is pretty hard to get oil in the coolant unless you are running an "oil to water" oil cooler, and I doubt that you are running one. I don't recall seeing these on any car except for 3rd genCamaros and Firebirds...
In order for the oil to get into the water there usually needs to be a path wherepressurizedoil can be passed directly into the coolant. Short of an oil gallery opening intoa water jacket, (never heard of this, but might be possible?) I can't think of any other place on a SBF where this could possibly happen, especially since your oil is clean.
The SSPMustangs and SVTCobras also ran oil-to-water oil coolers. I know mine has one.