Another bad day - Coolant in engine oil !!
06-15-2009, 04:46 PM
#46
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Yes, I did. No leaks.
But if it pass the coolant pressure test, it was my understanding that solve the search for visible leaks. Right ?
But if it pass the coolant pressure test, it was my understanding that solve the search for visible leaks. Right ?
06-15-2009, 04:49 PM
#47
Team Owner
yes
the fluid did not turn yellow during the test.
06-15-2009, 05:21 PM
#51
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
06-15-2009, 08:34 PM
#52
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Well. I drove about 50 miles (50% highway).
The good news - I did the combustion leak test on a warm engine and still negative result
The bad news - the coolant in the expansion tank dropped about 1 inch
and there is a very small amount of milky deposit in the oil filler neck
In summary, here are the actions taken thus far:
1. Coolant pressure test - hold pressure
2. Expansion cap pressure test - fail -- cap changed
3. Combustion leak test - negative (tested 3 times)
4. All spark plugs looks good
5. No white smoke on startup
6. No oil in the coolant expansion tank
7. Only visible leak - DS manifold has white deposit. Unable to locate where it comes from.
The good news - I did the combustion leak test on a warm engine and still negative result
The bad news - the coolant in the expansion tank dropped about 1 inch
and there is a very small amount of milky deposit in the oil filler neck
In summary, here are the actions taken thus far:
1. Coolant pressure test - hold pressure
2. Expansion cap pressure test - fail -- cap changed
3. Combustion leak test - negative (tested 3 times)
4. All spark plugs looks good
5. No white smoke on startup
6. No oil in the coolant expansion tank
7. Only visible leak - DS manifold has white deposit. Unable to locate where it comes from.
06-15-2009, 08:58 PM
#53
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Well, the fact that you lost that much coolant and your oil level did not rise is a good thing.
If you are losing it into the combustion chamber you would see a lot of white smoke out the exhaust.
If you are losing it into the crank case, the coolant is heavier than the oil so you could just crack the drain plug after the cars sits for awhile, drain some oil into a clean container and see it you can see any coolant in the bottom of your drain pan. If you find coolant in the drain oil then it is either coming from (1) the oil cooler in the radiator or (2) a bad head gasket.
The sludge you see in the oil filler neck could be from (1) coolant getting into the crankcase (2) not getting the oil temp high enough to evaporate moisture (too cold of a thermostat), or (3) poor crankcase ventilation.
After seeing the pictures of the filler neck I would have thought for sure a bad head gasket but with the amount of coolant that you lost the oil level would have gone up for sure.
My guess is a leak in the radiator to atmosphere.
If you are losing it into the combustion chamber you would see a lot of white smoke out the exhaust.
If you are losing it into the crank case, the coolant is heavier than the oil so you could just crack the drain plug after the cars sits for awhile, drain some oil into a clean container and see it you can see any coolant in the bottom of your drain pan. If you find coolant in the drain oil then it is either coming from (1) the oil cooler in the radiator or (2) a bad head gasket.
The sludge you see in the oil filler neck could be from (1) coolant getting into the crankcase (2) not getting the oil temp high enough to evaporate moisture (too cold of a thermostat), or (3) poor crankcase ventilation.
After seeing the pictures of the filler neck I would have thought for sure a bad head gasket but with the amount of coolant that you lost the oil level would have gone up for sure.
My guess is a leak in the radiator to atmosphere.
06-15-2009, 09:26 PM
#54
Team Owner
check the top of the radiator where the top hose connects, see if you can find any chalky substances around the bent tabs.
Also wipe out the oil filler housing and go drive the car,it does have a thermostat correct.
Also get an IR gun an verify the temperature that the top hose is running at, with the car warmed up.
it could be possible that the thermostat is stuck open, the lower hose should stay cool till the top hose gets to about 180 then the thermostat should open and the the lower hose will heat up
Also wipe out the oil filler housing and go drive the car,it does have a thermostat correct.
Also get an IR gun an verify the temperature that the top hose is running at, with the car warmed up.
it could be possible that the thermostat is stuck open, the lower hose should stay cool till the top hose gets to about 180 then the thermostat should open and the the lower hose will heat up
06-15-2009, 10:29 PM
#55
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
Tim,
If the oil cooler in the radiator was bad, should I get oil in the coolant instead of coolant in the oil since the oil pressure is higher than the coolant pressure ?
MrMerlin,
I checked if the thermostat was working and it is - the lower hose stays cool then heat up but I did not mesure the temp with IR gun.
If the oil cooler in the radiator was bad, should I get oil in the coolant instead of coolant in the oil since the oil pressure is higher than the coolant pressure ?
MrMerlin,
I checked if the thermostat was working and it is - the lower hose stays cool then heat up but I did not mesure the temp with IR gun.
06-15-2009, 10:37 PM
#56
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One thing is for sure, the coolant is going someplace.
I would top the coolant off and drive it again to make sure there were no air pockets in the cooling system.
Bottom line is, if you can not find a external or internal leak, and there really is no leak.
That really only leaves one way for the coolant to get out of the engine, and that is out the tail pipes.
I would top the coolant off and drive it again to make sure there were no air pockets in the cooling system.
Bottom line is, if you can not find a external or internal leak, and there really is no leak.
That really only leaves one way for the coolant to get out of the engine, and that is out the tail pipes.
06-15-2009, 10:56 PM
#57
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
True. It is a certainty.
But if that was the case, the spark plug should show it. Right ?
But if that was the case, the spark plug should show it. Right ?
06-15-2009, 11:07 PM
#58
Rennlist Member
The car has lost ~4l of coolant; if its not very evident externally there's only one other reason.
As previously stated I'd triple check all external hoses, drains and coolant passages.
It just may be time to remove the heads.
As previously stated I'd triple check all external hoses, drains and coolant passages.
It just may be time to remove the heads.
06-15-2009, 11:09 PM
#59
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