oil in coolant overflow bottle

[crs01]

G'day guys. Iv been treating the sierra to some fresh fluids and some nulon treatments, but during the process some oil has started to collect in the overflow bottle for the radiator (about 15mm deep). The engine/gearbox have only done 5ks or so since the oil was changed and the engine has recieved no undue stress so im a little confused. Any help would be greatly appriciated,


Chris.

[inka]

check the oil on your dipstick bud
sounds like you have a bit of a leaky head gasket or water jacket somewhere

[crs01]

thanks inka, yeah theres a small drop in oil level and the plug in cylinder 1 has some oily deposits starting to build up...number 2 is showing signs of overheating with a lot of white scale building up. number 3 and 4 are fine. (the plugs were compared to pictures in the haynes manual)

the over heating being isolated no.2 seems a bit unusual.....what do you think could cause that?

[Vineboy]

Try taking the rad' cap off, filling the radiator right up then turning on the engine. If bubbles appear could be head gasket.

[kimclive]

Hi,

There are a few ways that water and oil can mix in your engine but in general it's not good.

The most common are a blown head gasket or a cracked head/block.

As was suggested check for bubbles in the radiator after the thermostat is open and also check your compression.

You need to find where your water and oil jackets are joining.

Cheers

Clive

[crs01]

thanks guys. OK, turned her over this morning and waited for some bubbles to make their way to the rad, but nothing. checked the exhaust for any unusual vapour, but again nothing unexpected.

Ill do a compression check this afternoon as you suggested clive....that may answer some questions, but im pretty new to the zook thing so havent come accross the common gremlins yet......is this an unusual problem or have i just purchased a lemon?

[kimclive]

(clip)......is this an unusual problem or have i just purchased a lemon?

Well my friend, that depends on what the problem is. If it's a head gasket it fairly common, cracks are less common but do happen.

Good luck with it.

Cheers

Clive

[Pinball]

Whats the engine, and has it been bored recently?

Alloy blocks are prone to exposing casting faults when bored, these then give rise to water/oil crossover with a bit of heat and cool cycle.

Is the oil in good nick or is it getting milky?

Has the head been off and in need of retension?

Spock

[crs01]

Well the oil is fine.....mot milky at all and after the car was sat idling for 10 mins the oil was re checked and thankfuly still fine. Could it be that the head has warped slightly because no.2 is funning hotter than the rest? would that result in the coolant oil ceossover you mentioned pinball?

Thanks for all the help so far guys, very much appriciated.


*edit* its a stock G13ba

[Pinball]

Doubt a hot #2 will cause sufficient head warpage to drop 15mm of oil into the overflow. And that much oil in the collant system should show considerable reciprocal leakage in the sump.....

Have you compression tested the cylinders yet?

If you got the time, or money to pay someone else.. take the head off and check it for warpage with a straight edge, you'll be redoing the gasket at the same time. Eyeball for signs of water movement across the block face, usually leaves a mineral deposit trail as i don't know to many ppl who use demineralised in their radiators.

When you put the whole lot back together, use some aviation gasket or liquid gasket in combination with the standard gasket, this will help "heal" any small imperfections or leaks.

Still a lot of oil though....

Spock

[bazooked]

dude got to a meachanic or good rad place and get then to check the co2 levels in the rad this will give u a much better indication of wats goin on with the motor, 90% of the time u wont see bubbles.

[crs01]

OK it goes a lil' somthing like this:-

#1.........192psi
#2.........192psi
#3.........190psi
#4.........190psi


According to the good book the working range is between 170-199 psi. So again theres no "smoking gun" to speak of which leaves 2 choices...Take it for a drive and see if its any worse or take the head off and check for warpage/signs of fluid exchange as you suggested Pinball. Off with its head!


chris.

[nicbeer]

A lot better than mine.

Just did a head gasket on mine, blue hose and then no start.
had about 60psi in each cylinder.

Not too had to do the cylinder, take ur time and see where everything goes before taking it off.

btw: have u checked all the breathers on the block and inlet manifold? maybe blocked and pushing oil somewhere. Def oil in the overflow bottle and not sludge from cooling system??

cheers

[inka]

with those results i wouldn't be stressing too much yet.
change oil and flush cooling system then refill oil and water and check again would be my suggestion. possible contamination from work already done JMO