Oil in antifreeze from block?

Wayne Hall · 10-10-2006, 08:47 AM

!987 944 changed thermostat antifreeze cam e out with oil in it.I did not see oil in anti freeze at any other time. Do I have a bad head gasket?

JustinL · 10-10-2006, 09:27 AM

Smart money is on oil cooler seals.

http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/lube-01.htm

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

^^I agree. Check your oil as well. You will probably have to drain it as the antifreeze will probably be in the bottom. If there is coolant in the oil...make sure you drain it completely and flush it and change the oil often for a little while after fixing the oil cooler seals. If the rod or main bearings have been run with coolant in there for any length of time, you may need to change the bearings in the bottom of the engine as well. So catching it early is the key to avoiding costly repairs.

Wayne Hall · 10-10-2006, 01:11 PM

Thank both of you. Glad to learn it is not my head gasket.

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

Still could be but the head gasket will OFTEN (but not always) have other signs as well. Usually the car will overheat and blow coolant out of the overflow from the compression leaking into the cooling system. Of course if the leak is only between the lubrication system and the coolant system, then what you have seen with your car is possible but that very rarely happens as the head gasket stress point is sealing the compression. Pick up a oil pressure relief valve alignment tool and an oil cooler seal kit from Pelican and your problems will probably go away.

Wayne Hall · 10-11-2006, 08:33 AM

Thanks Tom,

I forgot to mention that the car does run hot, Could that be because of the problem with the seals in the oil cooler?

JustinL · 10-11-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne Hall
Thanks Tom,

I forgot to mention that the car does run hot, Could that be because of the problem with the seals in the oil cooler?

When oil and coolant mix, they turn into a sludge that sticks to hoses and radiators. After you change the oil cooler seals, run some water with liquid dishwashing detergent through the system a couple times to clean it out. My Turbo S would run between the 2 and 3 mark on the gauge before resealing and flushing, now it's always at the second mark.

Razorback1980 · Razorback1980's Garage

Is it losing coolant? Blown head gasket will usually put compression in the radiator and blow the coolant out. Of course having oil in the cooling system will not help it run cool either. After you find and fix the problem, you definitely need to clean the radiator thoroughly. I took mine to a radiator shop for cleaning but you could probably do it at home as well. Blown oil cooler seals alone will not cause the car to run hot, but the oil in the radiator may keep the radiator from cooling as well as it should. Also make sure your cooling fans are running and working properly. Common problem with this car. In my Grand Prix when the head gasket went, I would see the temp needle go up and then when the pressure was released, the temp needle would drop back down some. This up and down movement by the gauge is definitely a sign of a blown head gasket. I also had to continuously put water in the cooling system. I could also see bubbles in the cooling system and it sounded like it was boiling after I shut the car off. Look at the plastic cooling tank to see if you see any compression coming back through there....but please do not open the cap hot.

Start by running a compression check on the engine. That will normally show a head gasket problem. Then I would check the cooling system to make sure the fans are working properly and the system is properly bled. If compression is as expected, I would replace the oil cooler seals and cleaning the cooling system and changing and flushing the oil. If that doesn't do it, of course it will most likely be the head gasket. If you see compression in the cooling system, then you may as well start with a head gasket and leave the oil cooler seals alone. Mine held up pretty well in my 86 but my 87 started leaking about 90,000 miles. When the 87's went, I elected to tear down my motor and replace all seals and bearings.

Wayne Hall · 10-12-2006, 08:35 AM

Thanks again. I am startomg with the oil cooler. I will let you know.

Wayne