DeWolf

So I bought a RHD 79 Minerva Manual. The old girl is rough but worth saving.

Question1: Car runs fine but has an intermix issue. Do these have a habit of putting coolant through the oil cooler somehow?

Question 2: If it runs fine and smooth as butter is there a chance the intermix is a blown head gasket between a cooling jacket and oil passage?

Cheers
Scott

jpitman2

Intermix is not a term I have heard used in this context. With an engine oil cooler in the LH radiator tank, and an auto fluid cooler in the RH tank, anything is possible. Where are you seeing coolant - in the engine oil? Or are you seeing oil in the coolant ? Both oil supplies will run higher pressures than the coolant pressure , so either could be driven into the coolant. Note that if Auto fluid gets into the radiator, the coolant can get into the auto box, and then the box is usually done for - the clutch facings are fixed with a water soluble glue, and the come off. Genuine 2 cooler rads can be well ober A$2k, aftermarket (Adrad) much less - mine was $880 10 years ago, no problems so far.
More pics would be good, so far it looks fine, if a little non-standard in the rear spoiler, painted front spoiler. Which wheels are they - look a bit like S4 rears ?
jp83 Euro S AT 57k

DeWolf

Hey JP,

Coolant in the oil. It's a manual so no trans fluid. Wheels are just standard S manholes. I've got a really nice set of Simmons to go on until I find some teledials. Rear spoiler is already off and front spoiler to follow. Spent much of the last 30 years in Darwin so the interior leather is beef jerky.

DeWolf

jpitman2

There is a test for combustion gases in the coolant you can get done - if positive, its probably a head gasket; if not, more likely oil intercooler. Since Bruce B reckons oil coolers here are not much benefit, you might bypass it - disconnect the hoses from the cooler , and connect them together. Then you would want to change the oil and flush the coolant thoroughly, and see if the problem returns. The rear spoiler should be an S type, not the current S4 type wing.
Rego in NT, or SA?
jp 83 Euro S AT 57k

DeWolf

Cheers. Shouldn't have a spoiler at all. It's a 79, so no 'S' yet.

Mrmerlin

DeWolf

Hi Stan,

Unfortunately it has also at some point had an S rear spoiler on there and has the rear quarter window trim pieces which I have to get rid of. Not sure exactly what i need but I'm sure if I post some pics someone like good self will let me know....lol. I must confess to knowing very little about these early cars. Yes, I watched your track video. Very cool. I have my other 86 project as well. After watching your vid I think my 22 year old son wants this car when it's up and going again.