1993 5.0 180k

this is a friends truck. What do you guys think?

 

This is from the dip stick.

 

If this truck is equipped with an external oil cooler, mounted between the block and oil filter, it has engine coolant running through it to cool the oil. It's possible that it may have some sort of breach internally, allowing the oil and coolant to mix. Does the motor run fine otherwise?

 

Everything runs great. No smoke that I see.

No oil cooler that I see.

 

Rent a coolant system pressure test kit, Autozoone, Advance, etc... will have one of these. Pressurize the coolant system to 15psi, or what ever the kit recommends, and see if the pressure holds.

 

How's the radiator cap look? I checked out a truck with a trans cooler breach and the ATF had swelled the seal on the rad cap so much that you could barely get it back on. I'd expect engine oil to do something similar. Any pudding on the underside of the oil fill cap?

 

I'll have to check under there.
Shoot.

We thinking Head Gasket?

 

Fluid mixing does generally suggest head gasket failure, which is why I'd check the easy stuff for that first. That said, the headgasket on a pushrod motor doesn't hold back oil pressure, so if that had gone I'd expect coolant in the oil, not oil in the coolant. That leaves a leak between the pressurized oiling system and a coolant passage (oil pressure's higher than coolant pressure), which would mean a breached cooler (if equipped) or a cracked block.

My only other thought is that somebody went to top up the oil and put it in the wrong place, though the oil in the pan looks too dark to be fresh, and also I'm guessing your friend's smarter than that.

 

this is buddy's truck just replaced his cooler they are talking about his was cracked but didnt spray it oozed after warmed up

thats oil you see on his on radiator hose

 

If you do determine it to be a failed head gasket, it's an opportune time for a head/cam upgrade.

 

How would I know if it is a head gasket?

 

rent compression tester from Autozone, Advanced, pull plugs start with worse looking plug and do that cylinder first, checking compression, and do leak down test also

 

Check with AutoZone and see if they have the type of tester than senses combustion gases in the coolant. Can't remember where I rented one last but it is the absolute last word on if your head gaskets are compromised. Ends all the guesswork.

 

With oil in the coolant, it can still test positive for hydrocarbons. It's a tough situation when you have oil coolers as a potential source of intrusion. Certainly could be used as a tool for diagnostics, but is not the end all be all like it would be if he were just losing coolant, or had an overpressurized system because of compression only leaking into the coolant system.