Looks like I have oil in one side of my cooant bottle. I don't see evidence of water in my oil. I have heard of water in the oil as sogn of a head leak but I haven't heard of oil in the coolant?...Anyone know?

 

I once had a cracked head on an old VW Rabbitt and oil in the coolant was the first thing I noticed. Sorry, man, I hope its not that serious.

 

well , I would think this is serious!
Have you notice excessive usage of oil by means of watching the dipstick?
the 5.4 has oil return galley's that pass through the head gasket area !
Has this engine ever been overheated?
start looking for water/ antifreeze in the oil.
you could have a coolant pressure test done on it!

Rich

02 F250 4x4 SC 5.4v8 6spd 3.73ls Trueblue/Silver and Chrome Nerfs

"All Levers"

 

I don't know if it has ever been oveheated.
Bought it used (2000 with 50K) a couple of months ago.
Seeemed to be in pretty good shape and it runs very well.
I do keep a close eye on the dipstick it does use some oil but not what I think of as excessive. I have never seen signs of water in the oil. I have done two things recently.
1. I added a bottle of Prestone rust preventative to the coolant.
2. I started using Motorcraft 5w-20 oil.

It could be the stuff I added, maybe it has oil in it?! What ever it is it looks and feels like oil that has layered on the left side of the degas bottle. I didn't notice it before I added but I was not looking real close either.

 

Why would you add rust preventive to this cooling system?
Did you get a manual with this vehicle?
chk it I believe it takes a special coolant yellow or orange
not to be mixed with any other coolant type or additive.

Rich




02 F250 4x4 SC 5.4v8 6spd 3.73ls Trueblue/Silver and Chrome Nerfs

"All Levers"

 

Is this a new truck? I have heard there were some head gasket leaks on early 5.4's. My 2001 F-250 5.4 had some oil in the coolant overflow tank at 1000 miles or so. The truck tech at my dealer (lucky to have a good one) informed me he has seen alot of this. It is the protective rust ban put in the motors for shipment to the assy plant. If it got worse they offered to flush the system, but it cleared up (mixed in?)after a few thousand miles. The oil has not reoccured so far at 16,000 miles.

 

Thanks for the feedback.
I have concluded that my oil cam from the rust preventative I added. I bought another bottle, mixed some in water and the same oily film seperated on the top. I added the preventative because I bought it used and have been catching it up on the maint schedule. It was overdue on a coolant change out and it may be sometime before I get a chance to. Overkill I know but I didn't think it would hurt.

Thanks again.