Oil in Coolant :(
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Loganville,GA
Oil in Coolant :(
I am sure this has been covered but for some reason the search feature will not work for me.. The verification code never takes.
Anyways I got a 97 expy 5.4L. I was doing my regular checking of fluids today and noticed what seems to be oil in the over flow Resv. It looks dark and I smell what I think is oil and coolant mixed. I stuck a white rag in there and it did come out a little brown. Couldnt have been like this long becuase I checked a few weeks ago and it was bright green. I am suspecting a leaking Head Gasket? I Def cant afford to replace that right now if thats what it is.. cant afford any major repairs right now...
... How can I tell if it is the Head gasket? Or could be a cracked Cyl head. She still runs good and drives good with High oil pressure and never over heats. And she is not leaking anything on the driveway. If it is the head Gasket is there a cheaper repair like a sealant?
Thanks Guys!
Anyways I got a 97 expy 5.4L. I was doing my regular checking of fluids today and noticed what seems to be oil in the over flow Resv. It looks dark and I smell what I think is oil and coolant mixed. I stuck a white rag in there and it did come out a little brown. Couldnt have been like this long becuase I checked a few weeks ago and it was bright green. I am suspecting a leaking Head Gasket? I Def cant afford to replace that right now if thats what it is.. cant afford any major repairs right now...
... How can I tell if it is the Head gasket? Or could be a cracked Cyl head. She still runs good and drives good with High oil pressure and never over heats. And she is not leaking anything on the driveway. If it is the head Gasket is there a cheaper repair like a sealant?Thanks Guys!
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I am not sure but the engine oil cooler may be in the radiator. That is a possible source for oil in the coolant.
If it is the headgasket, or a cracked head, there is no easy fix. The head must come off.
If it is the headgasket, or a cracked head, there is no easy fix. The head must come off.
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From: Loganville,GA
Ohh ok I have not clue where to start looking... I had a friend that had a leaking head gasket and he used some stuff called blue devil and if fixed his problem and still running strong, But his is a chevy.. That is why I asked if there were any easy fixes for the expy.
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From: Billings, Montana
The cooler in the radiator is for the transmission fluid, not the engine oil. It's possible this is what you're seeing.
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From: Loganville,GA
Yeah that is possible also, I know that The trans cooler goes in to the rad. How do I check for possible issues it could be?
You guys ever tried Blue Devil? http://www.autobarn.net/blue-devil-e...ProductReviews
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From: Billings, Montana
Yeah that is possible also, I know that The trans cooler goes in to the rad. How do I check for possible issues it could be?
You guys ever tried Blue Devil? Blue Devil Engine and Cooling Sealant (32 oz.) - BLU38386
You guys ever tried Blue Devil? Blue Devil Engine and Cooling Sealant (32 oz.) - BLU38386
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Could it be tranny fluid? Sometimes the tranny cooler built into the radiator can spring a leak. This will bleed tranny fluid into the cooling system. It's the lesser of two evils since a new radiator is less expensive than pulling the heads off.
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From: Chesapeake, Va.
Be careful how and what you test. If any coolant gets into the trans it will cause the clutches to debond as they are applied with a water soluble bonding agent. That would require a trans rebuild.
I suspect the oil is getting into the coolant due to a bad gasket at the oil filter adaptor on the block. This happens fairly often and the gasket is about $15.00 or so.
I suspect the oil is getting into the coolant due to a bad gasket at the oil filter adaptor on the block. This happens fairly often and the gasket is about $15.00 or so.
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I am sure this has been covered but for some reason the search feature will not work for me.. The verification code never takes.
Anyways I got a 97 expy 5.4L. I was doing my regular checking of fluids today and noticed what seems to be oil in the over flow Resv. It looks dark and I smell what I think is oil and coolant mixed. I stuck a white rag in there and it did come out a little brown. Couldnt have been like this long becuase I checked a few weeks ago and it was bright green. I am suspecting a leaking Head Gasket? I Def cant afford to replace that right now if thats what it is.. cant afford any major repairs right now...... How can I tell if it is the Head gasket? Or could be a cracked Cyl head. She still runs good and drives good with High oil pressure and never over heats. And she is not leaking anything on the driveway. If it is the head Gasket is there a cheaper repair like a sealant?
Thanks Guys!
Anyways I got a 97 expy 5.4L. I was doing my regular checking of fluids today and noticed what seems to be oil in the over flow Resv. It looks dark and I smell what I think is oil and coolant mixed. I stuck a white rag in there and it did come out a little brown. Couldnt have been like this long becuase I checked a few weeks ago and it was bright green. I am suspecting a leaking Head Gasket? I Def cant afford to replace that right now if thats what it is.. cant afford any major repairs right now...
... How can I tell if it is the Head gasket? Or could be a cracked Cyl head. She still runs good and drives good with High oil pressure and never over heats. And she is not leaking anything on the driveway. If it is the head Gasket is there a cheaper repair like a sealant?Thanks Guys!
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 332
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Yeah that is possible also, I know that The trans cooler goes in to the rad. How do I check for possible issues it could be?
You guys ever tried Blue Devil? Blue Devil Engine and Cooling Sealant (32 oz.) - BLU38386
You guys ever tried Blue Devil? Blue Devil Engine and Cooling Sealant (32 oz.) - BLU38386
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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Another good possibility. Sorry Mel, didn't catch your post and you're most likely on the money.
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From: Chesapeake, Va.
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From: Chattanooga, TN
I once had a bad intake manifold gasket go bad that allowed coolant into the oil system.
Kept loosing coolant with no trace of leaks to the ground.
Finally pulled a valve cover and found a 'white moose' on the underside of the covers.
Replaced the intake gasket and all was fine.
Saw where the gasket had broken down around the coolant passages.
That should be an easier fix than pulling the heads.
Good luck,
Kept loosing coolant with no trace of leaks to the ground.
Finally pulled a valve cover and found a 'white moose' on the underside of the covers.
Replaced the intake gasket and all was fine.
Saw where the gasket had broken down around the coolant passages.
That should be an easier fix than pulling the heads.
Good luck,
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Loganville,GA
Be careful how and what you test. If any coolant gets into the trans it will cause the clutches to debond as they are applied with a water soluble bonding agent. That would require a trans rebuild.
I suspect the oil is getting into the coolant due to a bad gasket at the oil filter adaptor on the block. This happens fairly often and the gasket is about $15.00 or so.
I suspect the oil is getting into the coolant due to a bad gasket at the oil filter adaptor on the block. This happens fairly often and the gasket is about $15.00 or so.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 246
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From: Loganville,GA
Thanks Guys for all the info. Seems like it could be a number of things. So many things to Check....I checked my Oil and it looks clean. So it seems like oil getting in the coolant but no coolant in the Oil if that makes sense. I havent Had much time to really sit down and inspect everything with work and all. In the mean time it is not being drivin until I find out the problem. Once the weekend gets here I will do some checking around.
One other thing, On these things is there a Cap on the Radiator to check it?? I dont see one unless I am blind. Or is the Rad. overfill resivor the only way to check fluid on this thing?
One other thing, On these things is there a Cap on the Radiator to check it?? I dont see one unless I am blind. Or is the Rad. overfill resivor the only way to check fluid on this thing?