'93 Cab Oil in Coolant and Coolant in Oil

[snap]

I recently converted this Cab from Auto to Manual because the Trans Cooler had leaked and dumped the coolant into the Auto.

Having just got to the point where I was really very happy with the car and all bugs under control, the vehicle has just dumped a signicant amount of oil laden water out of the expansion bottle. Oil does not show on dipstick. Oil filter full of caramel cream. Totally scary.

Given that I think it happened in a short period of time, there may be hope of the internals being OK. No noises evident when the vehicle was used and running (well) as usual.

So, I will flush both cooling and lubrication systems, but I still haven't established the cause......

I am suspicious of the heat exchanger above the oil filter, so will start there, but can anyone suggest other opportunities for fluid exchange(before I dive into the head)?

Once again, wise words appreciated.

[Oneofthegreats]

Head Gasket!!

Porous cyl. head. Corroded cyl. head.

It happens, as that's what has happened to mine.

[gtimk5]

Hi snap, I have struck this problem on some T4s and after replacing the small cooler it came right but wiuth those there was heaps of oil in the cooling system due to the oil pressure being a lot higher than the cooling system pressure.
Flushing the colling system out afterwards was a bugger,
Good luck with it and let us know how you get on. Welcome to the forum too!
Andrew

[snap]

GOLFWORX and Andrew,
Thanks for the feedback; Sorry for the slow return but have been in sunny, warm??? Hobart for the last few days.
The head gasket is a real possibility and I have to accept that.
The cooler though makes me suspicious due to, as Andrew indicated, the abundance of oil in the cooling system.
In fact, the expansion bottle was the source of the only oil under the car.

I think I might press. test the cooler as a first (optimistic) step; but will be in sunny/warm Canberra for the next few days so I prob. won't know until after then.

Thanks again.

Regards,

SNAP

[Bora Sport]

I would go staight to the heat exchanger at the oil filter. They quite commonly fail.

[snap]

Yep.

Have put a few psi on the coolant side of the cooler and air is coming out where oil should be.

I will swap over the unit from the other cab later this week and flush oil/water systems and see how it goes.

There are 2 plugged tappings in the top of the casting which mounts the cooler and filter. Does anyone know if these are a chance for taking lines to an external air/oil cooler? Or am I just an optimist at heart?

Regards,

SNAP

[roccodingo]

think there both for sender units, the oil cooler lines are about 20 mm threads..plus the housing has an oil thermostat built into it.

[Jmac]

Just watch with coolant in the oil , if left in there too long it has been known to wash the white material of your bearings - Mains and Big ends. Seen it before.
JMAc

[snap]

JMac and others,

I have flushed both oil and coolant systems a few days back and all seems well.

I have installed a shortened oil filter pick up tube, deleted the oil cooler/heater and looped the water supply (with a restrictor). May go to an aftermarket sandwich oil cooler kit in the future.

As predicted by gtimk5, flushing the oil from the cooling system took 5 or 6 full cycles of water with running up to temp each time before it came clean.

Best strategy seemed to be to allow the hose from the radiator to the expansion bottle to discharge out of the system and take the oil with it as the engine heated up.

I am on the second oil and filter change and have removed the condensate from the rocker cover and breathing system.

Without a pressure gauge, I can't assess any degradation in the bearings but the pressure light goes out immediately on start and no noise is evident (yet).

I will press it back into service and let time be the judge (and continue to curse the previous owner who obviously didn't see the value in glycol)

Any suggestions for an aftermarket cooler? I just can't bring myself to put oil anywhere near water again.

Regards,

Snap

[Jmac]

Sounds like you are onto it buddy. JUst a precaution with the bearings as i have seen it before. Good luck mate
Jmac