UH OH... OIL IN RADIATOR...can you figure it out?

[93fordturbo]

my truck has been using a lot of oil. i think about a gallon every couple three weeks. It doesnt leak on the ground. It also uses a lot of anti freeze. My oil has never been milky. No anti freeze on the ground either. i just put some oil and anti freeze in the truck today, and by the way, when the vehicle is warm, i still have no pressure when i take the radiator cap off. Cap is new. anyways, after it was running for five or ten minutes, i decided for whatever reason to put my finger in the anti freeze... i pulled my finger out and it was black. It looked like oil. Im not a hundred percent sure though. Head gasket? oil cooler? idk guys... help me!

 

[towcat]

oil cooler is leaking. that's the reason for the oil in your radiator.
as far as coolant loss, check the back of your motor where the head meets the block.

 

[stumpjumper3]

x2 on the oil cooler. Seen it a million times. One little tube in the cooler breaks and since oil pressure is greater than coolant pressure... well you see what happens. I'd change the cooler and then flush once with water to get the worst of it out. Then go down and get Cascade dishwasher detergent. It works really well at breaking up the grease without damaging your cooling system. Just squeeze a helping of that it and fill with water. Run your truck up to temp and just keep flushing until its clean.

 

[OLDBULL8]

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/showthread.php?t=44702
Oil cooler rehab.

 

[mabc926]

I still have oil in my rad from the bad oil cooler/cracked head(s) it just helps lube up the water pump


But yeah x2 on checking the oil cooler, I think it cost me close to $50 to rebuild mine.

 

[93fordturbo]

wow thanks a lot guys! i was thinking it was something major... like over a 1000 dollar fix. I sure appreciate it. So... can i drive the truck now... or is it best to park it?

 

[mabc926]

wow thanks a lot guys! i was thinking it was something major... like over a 1000 dollar fix. I sure appreciate it. So... can i drive the truck now... or is it best to park it?

That's the good thing about these engines man, nothing on them cost that much to fix

 

[yARIC008]

wow thanks a lot guys! i was thinking it was something major... like over a 1000 dollar fix. I sure appreciate it. So... can i drive the truck now... or is it best to park it?

Have you changed your oil lately? If you are getting coolant in your oil too it's best not to drive it as coolant on your bearings likely is not going to make them too happy...

 

[93fordturbo]

so do i drive it daily until i get it fixed in the next week or so... or park it until i fix it?

 

[mabc926]

so do i drive it daily until i get it fixed in the next week or so... or park it until i fix it?

Park it and be safe.

 

[93fordturbo]

i can change my oil again... but i have never seen any sign of coolant. i just put more oil in my truck... about 3 quarts and the dipstick was black and not bubbly. should i still change my oil? how long has this been going with my oil cooler. could it have been going on for a while? is that why im losing oil?

 

[93fordturbo]

it just doesn't make any sense. im losing a lot of oil and a lot of antifreeze. if oil was going into my antifreeze then why would i lose antifreeze. wouldn't the radiator be full of atleast oil and antifreeze. but i can hardly keep any antifreeze in the system. I dont drip any oil or antifreeze. someone said to look back behind my motor or something to see if i am leaking. i can try that. but all of this dont make sense to me. i sure appreciate your guys' help!

 

[towcat]

it just doesn't make any sense. im losing a lot of oil and a lot of antifreeze. if oil was going into my antifreeze then why would i lose antifreeze. wouldn't the radiator be full of atleast oil and antifreeze. but i can hardly keep any antifreeze in the system. I dont drip any oil or antifreeze. someone said to look back behind my motor or something to see if i am leaking. i can try that. but all of this dont make sense to me. i sure appreciate your guys' help!

the antifreeze consumption is either a bad head gasket or cavitation.
it's that simple.
sorry.

 

[93fordturbo]

so would "stop leak" be a temp fix or no?

 

[OLDBULL8]

so would "stop leak" be a temp fix or no?

NO NO NO NO