Another bad day - Coolant in engine oil !!
06-14-2009, 09:00 PM
#31
Team Owner
Blown thats what i was thinking as well. First all you need to do is pull the plugs, any that look spotless and have no color to them or are rusted will indicate a leaking headgasket.
Second by removing the air cleaner you will be able to see the rear block off plate and the heater control valve, if the HCV looks old then it would be wise to replace it as well as the short hose connecting it to the head.
there is a similar block off plate on the DS head and if the bolts are loose it can leak, if the bolts/bolt are loose remove it and then add some anti seize to it then do the other bolt, The block off plates are under the lower air cleaner housing
Second by removing the air cleaner you will be able to see the rear block off plate and the heater control valve, if the HCV looks old then it would be wise to replace it as well as the short hose connecting it to the head.
there is a similar block off plate on the DS head and if the bolts are loose it can leak, if the bolts/bolt are loose remove it and then add some anti seize to it then do the other bolt, The block off plates are under the lower air cleaner housing
06-15-2009, 04:06 AM
#32
Three Wheelin'
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Seeing as tho you have some crap in the oil filler neck, you should turn your attention to changing the oil anyway. drain that oil out and let us know if you see anything come out with the oil
06-15-2009, 10:43 AM
#33
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
First pic cylinder 1-8 (from left to right)
Second 1-4
third 5-8
06-15-2009, 10:51 AM
#35
Team Owner
plugs 6 and 7 look cleaner than the rest.
Did you find any crusty trails coming off the engine? or off the bottom of the oil pan. Its quite possible that your leaking coolant.
If you run the car after its at operating temperature, does it smell like a sweet smell?? The sweet smell would indicate a coolant leak into the cylinder.
It would be a good idea to get a coolant /block tester at NAPA, about 50.00 you fill a tube with about 2 oz of blue fluid and then suck the fumes from the coolant tank into the tube, if it turns green or yellow then you have hydrocarbons leaking into the coolant.
The plugs you have are good plugs however i would suggest that you replace them with the standard Bosch WR7DC copper tips, about 1.99 per. These plugs seem to work better in the engine than the platinum tips do
Did you find any crusty trails coming off the engine? or off the bottom of the oil pan. Its quite possible that your leaking coolant.
If you run the car after its at operating temperature, does it smell like a sweet smell?? The sweet smell would indicate a coolant leak into the cylinder.
It would be a good idea to get a coolant /block tester at NAPA, about 50.00 you fill a tube with about 2 oz of blue fluid and then suck the fumes from the coolant tank into the tube, if it turns green or yellow then you have hydrocarbons leaking into the coolant.
The plugs you have are good plugs however i would suggest that you replace them with the standard Bosch WR7DC copper tips, about 1.99 per. These plugs seem to work better in the engine than the platinum tips do
06-15-2009, 10:55 AM
#36
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
...
Second by removing the air cleaner you will be able to see the rear block off plate and the heater control valve, if the HCV looks old then it would be wise to replace it as well as the short hose connecting it to the head.
there is a similar block off plate on the DS head and if the bolts are loose it can leak, if the bolts/bolt are loose remove it and then add some anti seize to it then do the other bolt, The block off plates are under the lower air cleaner housing
Second by removing the air cleaner you will be able to see the rear block off plate and the heater control valve, if the HCV looks old then it would be wise to replace it as well as the short hose connecting it to the head.
there is a similar block off plate on the DS head and if the bolts are loose it can leak, if the bolts/bolt are loose remove it and then add some anti seize to it then do the other bolt, The block off plates are under the lower air cleaner housing
06-15-2009, 11:01 AM
#37
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Plug 7 is interesting since that where the coolant seems to drip on the manifold ??? It is hard to see but the weld on the cylinder head is in that area
06-15-2009, 12:08 PM
#39
Team Owner
the welded portion of the cylinder head is to contain oil as the other side is open to the cam housings.
That said run the car up to operation temp and then remove the oil fill cap see if smoke is coming out , smell it and possibly let the car run for a bit bleed off the water vapors. since the oil looks good on the stick , this might be an anomoly from not driving the car for a long enough period of time.
Look at the bottom of the oil pan and see if there are any water drippings , also what is the condition of the heater control valve and short hose, if they are older than 5 years replace them both.
Check the well drain under the plastic cover see if there might be coolant , this could be a leaking heater hose leaking , into the well then from the drain.
That said run the car up to operation temp and then remove the oil fill cap see if smoke is coming out , smell it and possibly let the car run for a bit bleed off the water vapors. since the oil looks good on the stick , this might be an anomoly from not driving the car for a long enough period of time.
Look at the bottom of the oil pan and see if there are any water drippings , also what is the condition of the heater control valve and short hose, if they are older than 5 years replace them both.
Check the well drain under the plastic cover see if there might be coolant , this could be a leaking heater hose leaking , into the well then from the drain.
06-15-2009, 12:57 PM
#40
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Cooling system pressure test OK (started with 10 PSI then 14 PSI). But the cap does not hold pressure !! Can that be my problem ??
Last edited by oups59; 06-15-2009 at 01:21 PM.
06-15-2009, 01:45 PM
#41
Team Owner
Yes a failed cap will vent coolant out, so check the HCV and the short hose replace both as well as the coolant cap
06-15-2009, 02:12 PM
#42
Burning Brakes
To help in locating any external coolant leaks, get a ultraviolet flashlight. I found one at my local hardware store. It is 4" in length making it easy to maneuver around the engine.
Either in a garage or at night as you shine it on/under the engine, antifreeze will be a bright orange, oil will be brown.
This helped me in locating an external head gasket leak that was hard to trace out the exact location. Your leak sounds to be greater but it will help in the process of elimantion.
Either in a garage or at night as you shine it on/under the engine, antifreeze will be a bright orange, oil will be brown.
This helped me in locating an external head gasket leak that was hard to trace out the exact location. Your leak sounds to be greater but it will help in the process of elimantion.
06-15-2009, 02:33 PM
#43
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
OK but should it give the white sludge in the filler cap ? And vent out 3 liters in 200 miles?
HCV and short hose were replaced during the intake rebuild last winter.
06-15-2009, 03:46 PM
#44
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
06-15-2009, 04:30 PM
#45
Team Owner
did you check the firewall drain for traces of coolant?
Its also entirely possible that the heater hoses are leaking at the heater core connection and then the coolant will drain into the well and then run out the firewall drain this would be next to the passenger side header pipe, and just next to where the engine harness come out of the firewall
Its also entirely possible that the heater hoses are leaking at the heater core connection and then the coolant will drain into the well and then run out the firewall drain this would be next to the passenger side header pipe, and just next to where the engine harness come out of the firewall