Intermix?
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Rat Balls
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Scottsdale AZ, USA
Intermix?
Here we go. Car sat for 2 weeks. Warmed it up and went for a drive last night. When I got to where I was going I noticed a significant splatter of oil on the ground in the left rear area under the engine. Moved the car one spot over to see if the car would still leak if not running. When I got back to my car after a couple of hours, there was a small oil spot in the same area about the size of a quarter. Oil level was fine. Drove home. Car ran great. Oil pressure good. No CEL's.
Got up this morning and there is the same size spot under the car in the same place, but...it is the color of coffee with too much cream in it. Oil looks fine on the dipstick and I really can't tell if there is oil in the coolant tank. It looks clear but could be a little murky. Definitely not milkshake.
Had the AOS replaced about 2 months ago. Having it towed to my Indy this morning.
Nice way to come home from vacation!
Got up this morning and there is the same size spot under the car in the same place, but...it is the color of coffee with too much cream in it. Oil looks fine on the dipstick and I really can't tell if there is oil in the coolant tank. It looks clear but could be a little murky. Definitely not milkshake.
Had the AOS replaced about 2 months ago. Having it towed to my Indy this morning.
Nice way to come home from vacation!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 77
From: Austin, Texas
front or back of engine.
The left rear on a 996 is where the water pump is. Its a weak spot,
if it was weaping and picked up some grime along the way you might
get an "external" intermix.
Could also be an oil leak from your spark plug tubes.
Best bet is to get under car attempt to find the source -- you might
have to degrease it first and let it sit.
you can take a turkey baster and suck out some of your coolant and inspect it.
what year is your 996?
mike
The left rear on a 996 is where the water pump is. Its a weak spot,
if it was weaping and picked up some grime along the way you might
get an "external" intermix.
Could also be an oil leak from your spark plug tubes.
Best bet is to get under car attempt to find the source -- you might
have to degrease it first and let it sit.
you can take a turkey baster and suck out some of your coolant and inspect it.
what year is your 996?
mike
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 4
From: Virginia Beach VA
Coolant Tank
Has the coolant tank been replaced? If not it is likely the cause of the leak. Check your coolant in the expansion tank. Is it already milky brown? If so then you have what I had four years ago. Oil was mixing with the coolant but not the other way. I changed the AOS and flushed the system with Shout in the hope that the AOS was the issue. Ran for three DE events and noticed the brown mixture. Drained about one liter and let sit overnight. It was half oil and half coolant. Decided on new engine when they went for $8,200. Prices now? Not good!
Thread Starter
Rat Balls
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,636
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From: Scottsdale AZ, USA
front or back of engine.
The left rear on a 996 is where the water pump is. Its a weak spot,
if it was weaping and picked up some grime along the way you might
get an "external" intermix.
Could also be an oil leak from your spark plug tubes.
Best bet is to get under car attempt to find the source -- you might
have to degrease it first and let it sit.
you can take a turkey baster and suck out some of your coolant and inspect it.
what year is your 996?
mike
The left rear on a 996 is where the water pump is. Its a weak spot,
if it was weaping and picked up some grime along the way you might
get an "external" intermix.
Could also be an oil leak from your spark plug tubes.
Best bet is to get under car attempt to find the source -- you might
have to degrease it first and let it sit.
you can take a turkey baster and suck out some of your coolant and inspect it.
what year is your 996?
mike
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 77
From: Austin, Texas
Identify the source of your leak.
In addition: Check your coolant and see if there is oil in there.
you can use turkey baster, a tube with some suction, whatever
to extract some of your coolant from the overflow tank.
If you do have oil in coolant, but not coolant in the oil.
The external oil cooler is known to fail and it will, because of pressure differences,
shove oil in your coolant -- but not the other way around.
Now this would not cause the leaking -- but if you do see the intermix -- it would be
the first thing I would replace. AOS is possible too -- but unlikely.
If you still have issues -- let us know -- there are more involved things to check
Mike
In addition: Check your coolant and see if there is oil in there.
you can use turkey baster, a tube with some suction, whatever
to extract some of your coolant from the overflow tank.
If you do have oil in coolant, but not coolant in the oil.
The external oil cooler is known to fail and it will, because of pressure differences,
shove oil in your coolant -- but not the other way around.
Now this would not cause the leaking -- but if you do see the intermix -- it would be
the first thing I would replace. AOS is possible too -- but unlikely.
If you still have issues -- let us know -- there are more involved things to check
Mike
Thread Starter
Rat Balls
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From: Scottsdale AZ, USA
Just got the call from my Indy, Beck's European in Scottsdale. 3-way coolant hose to the expansion tank was leaking. The expansion tank is fine but the cap is bad (of course). He said everything else looks really good. Some movement in the water pump, but that is under extended warranty and the warranty company won't pay until something actually breaks. Time for an oil change as well.
Sorry to overreact, but the color of the coolant on my garage floor looked just like a chocolate milkshake and that was a huge red flag. Thanks again for all the quick responses. This site is an incredible asset.
Sorry to overreact, but the color of the coolant on my garage floor looked just like a chocolate milkshake and that was a huge red flag. Thanks again for all the quick responses. This site is an incredible asset.
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I don't think you over reacted at all considering that when most of what we hear is that the sky is falling. On a cloudy day we would be expected to take cover. Every sqeak, leak, and rattle is certainly a precursor to catastrophic failure. That's why you never see a new Porsche on the road, the word is out.
Hell I actually drove my Oldsmobile today... and I really enjoyed it. But it is throwing codes for crankshaft positioners and a transmission solenoid, even though it shifts and runs just fine. Thank God it's not a Porsche because GM only wants $3,500 to $4,000 to fix it, and it has a whopping 60k miles on it. I am fairly sure that the cost of the repairs exceeds the value of the car. But it does have the Northstar V-8 and averages 14.5 MPG.
At least I gave it it's monthly run.
Hell I actually drove my Oldsmobile today... and I really enjoyed it. But it is throwing codes for crankshaft positioners and a transmission solenoid, even though it shifts and runs just fine. Thank God it's not a Porsche because GM only wants $3,500 to $4,000 to fix it, and it has a whopping 60k miles on it. I am fairly sure that the cost of the repairs exceeds the value of the car. But it does have the Northstar V-8 and averages 14.5 MPG.
At least I gave it it's monthly run.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 6
From: Chicago IL
Just got the call from my Indy, Beck's European in Scottsdale. 3-way coolant hose to the expansion tank was leaking. The expansion tank is fine but the cap is bad (of course). He said everything else looks really good. Some movement in the water pump, but that is under extended warranty and the warranty company won't pay until something actually breaks. Time for an oil change as well.
Sorry to overreact, but the color of the coolant on my garage floor looked just like a chocolate milkshake and that was a huge red flag. Thanks again for all the quick responses. This site is an incredible asset.
Sorry to overreact, but the color of the coolant on my garage floor looked just like a chocolate milkshake and that was a huge red flag. Thanks again for all the quick responses. This site is an incredible asset.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,141
Likes: 77
From: Austin, Texas
Take a hammer to that WP or really look for seepage there.
You really don't want to wait until it completely fails, it might not be a big deal, but it can be catastrophic if you don't realize.
m
You really don't want to wait until it completely fails, it might not be a big deal, but it can be catastrophic if you don't realize.
m
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,372
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From: West of Mosport!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,528
Likes: 180
From: Glenview, IL
Don't wait for the water pump to fail as this can sends bits of the impeller into the engine, particularly the small passages in the head, which can cause lots of problems far worse thana failed waterpump. Do a search here to read about this. They are basically saying the pumps are expendable parts and should be replaced every 40,000-50,000 miles.
Or try to go on record with the warranty company (or is it the pump manufacturer warranty) that a failure could lead to consequential damages.
Or try to go on record with the warranty company (or is it the pump manufacturer warranty) that a failure could lead to consequential damages.
RL Community Team
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From: Seattle
Glad to hear that it was nothing serious!
Mike, I have long suspected that a defective AOS could cause and intermix. I would assume that a crack inside the AOS on the coolant side would force coolant into the oil. The oil side of the AOS is under vacuum, correct? Also, the oil is suspended and then "condenses to the oiling system," is that right?
I have been trying to find an internal diagram of the AOS forever. I may have to cut one completely apart, stem to stern, to understand better.
Mike, I have long suspected that a defective AOS could cause and intermix. I would assume that a crack inside the AOS on the coolant side would force coolant into the oil. The oil side of the AOS is under vacuum, correct? Also, the oil is suspended and then "condenses to the oiling system," is that right?
I have been trying to find an internal diagram of the AOS forever. I may have to cut one completely apart, stem to stern, to understand better.