Oil in coolant (but no loss of power or rough running?)
Discussion
My J-reg golf gti 8v has oil in the coolant, its the proper creamy brown gunge and when running the car with fresh water in the resovior you can see oil squirting in like toothpaste but its already mayo and only pools when it reaches the top..
weirdly though, its not running badly at all, the only reason i know is because i checked the coolant level when i topped up the oil when the oil light came on. There has been no coolant light and its not been overheating, but the heater has stopped blowing hot air
I'm thinking head gasket, but i'd expect it to at least overheat and the oil cap and dipstick are spotless, no gunk or anything anywhere just in the expansion tank.
Any ideas?
weirdly though, its not running badly at all, the only reason i know is because i checked the coolant level when i topped up the oil when the oil light came on. There has been no coolant light and its not been overheating, but the heater has stopped blowing hot air
I'm thinking head gasket, but i'd expect it to at least overheat and the oil cap and dipstick are spotless, no gunk or anything anywhere just in the expansion tank.
Any ideas?
If the car has an oil to coolant heat exchanger it is likely to be that.
Also check your dipstick for a rising oil level, you do not want your engine oil level rising with coolant in the sump. Coolant can react to oil and make it sludge, which isn't good, and coolant in your lubrication system would be bad.
So the next step is to diagnose the fault.
Once you have done that and repaired, make sure you change the oil, drain out all the old coolant and then use detergent to remove the oil. A heavy duty truck shop should be able to supply a product by Fleetguard (Cummins) and this will get the oil out, ready for you to fill with the recommended coolant.
Also check your dipstick for a rising oil level, you do not want your engine oil level rising with coolant in the sump. Coolant can react to oil and make it sludge, which isn't good, and coolant in your lubrication system would be bad.
So the next step is to diagnose the fault.
Once you have done that and repaired, make sure you change the oil, drain out all the old coolant and then use detergent to remove the oil. A heavy duty truck shop should be able to supply a product by Fleetguard (Cummins) and this will get the oil out, ready for you to fill with the recommended coolant.
Mc lovin said:
Thanks very much for the reply.
The oil is rising up the dipstick
How far do you think it'd be safe to drive? I think its safe to say its the headgasket really isn't it? i don't think it has an oil/water cooler.
It isn't safe to drive. Don't attempt it. Once water gets in the bearings they will be wiped out. The oil is rising up the dipstick
How far do you think it'd be safe to drive? I think its safe to say its the headgasket really isn't it? i don't think it has an oil/water cooler.
If the car was running OK then the head gasket is probably OK.
I think you need to actively investigate if it has the oil / water cooler and make sure you see it with your own eyes.
Don't get fooled into thinking the worst may have happened, it may not be nearly so bad.
not 100%,but am pretty sure it will have an oil-cooler.
you should find that the oil-filter on the front of the engine is screwed into an aluminium housing a couple of inches deep with two small coolant hoses coming off the side-that's the cooler.
they fail internally,and are well known for causing problems like yours.
you should find that the oil-filter on the front of the engine is screwed into an aluminium housing a couple of inches deep with two small coolant hoses coming off the side-that's the cooler.
they fail internally,and are well known for causing problems like yours.
ColinM50 said:
Pop in to a garage and get them to do a sniff test and they can tell you if it's head gasket. Then you make your decision as to get them to do it or DIY or whatever. But leastways you'll know what the problem is, at the moment you're guessing.
If the car is running ok then the gasket might only have failed between an oilway and a waterway and not across a bore. A sniff test would reveal nothing in such a case but I have no idea off the top of my head how the oil and waterways are arranged in this engine. A compression test would of course be a good place to start.Anyway if the oil level on the dipstick is rising then water is getting into the sump too so it's time to get this car off the road and find out why before the entire thing becomes shagged.
Hi look at where the oil filter fits to it's housing I think you will find a sandwich oil cooler. Would have two water pipes going to it. If you have one remove it and get it pressure tested. Not sure where you are but southern engines London done mine and they say it's common. Good luck.
I am not a mechanic but i want to share this with you guys I am posting this comment because ive noticed most people that have a problem and get it solved then dont mention how they got it sorted. I started with this problem gradually about 6 months ago and over time it got so bad that all the coolant turned into brown sludge. Took the car to so many mechanics all of them said the same thing head gasket many of the garages have a really good rep. Aa came aswell and done the "sniff test" he said the colour changed to green which i disputed .After all the headache and heartache i took my car to a crappy looking garage he told me by looking at the expansion tank its the engine oil cooler now its all getting sorted costing me £300 original dealer parts rather than £3000 i was told by few mechanics.
I am not a mechanic but i want to share this with you guys I am posting this comment because ive noticed most people that have a problem and get it solved then dont mention how they got it sorted. I started with this problem gradually about 6 months ago and over time it got so bad that all the coolant turned into brown sludge. Took the car to so many mechanics all of them said the same thing head gasket many of the garages have a really good rep. Aa came aswell and done the "sniff test" he said the colour changed to green which i disputed .After all the headache and heartache i took my car to a crappy looking garage he told me by looking at the expansion tank its the engine oil cooler now its all getting sorted costing me £300 original dealer parts rather than £3000 i was told by few mechanics.
Other than dragging up an 8 year old post ???
Given the symptoms, only an idiot would be suggesting a head gasket when it's pretty obvious it is the oil cooler.
And there is no way anyone repaired such a problem properly for only £300.....given price of cooler and the length labour involved to try and clean out the system afterwards. Failure to do so will lead to problems in the future and many rubber hoses may also need replaced.
Given the symptoms, only an idiot would be suggesting a head gasket when it's pretty obvious it is the oil cooler.
And there is no way anyone repaired such a problem properly for only £300.....given price of cooler and the length labour involved to try and clean out the system afterwards. Failure to do so will lead to problems in the future and many rubber hoses may also need replaced.
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