Oil in Radiator

**captainvw** · 30-01-2011, 11:14 AM

Just found an oily substance in my Radiator

Its just a standard 1.6 L petrol eng.....
Thinking head gasket anyway to be sure with out removing the head ? pressure test radiator?anything else i should be looking for ?

**paulie71** · 30-01-2011, 03:42 PM

head gasket sounds about right. Other pain free (relatively) cause is if there is an oil cooler on the oil fliter stem. It works as part of the coolant system. It is a squareish aluminum box directly above the oil fliter at the front of the engine.

Otherwise Headgasket or someone who owned the car didn't use coolant and some corrosion may have occurred in the head. If you can it's not a bad idea to get the head re-done while you have it off the car. Don't know the cost these days by it might be worth a look

**mikinoz** · 30-01-2011, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by paulie71

head gasket sounds about right. Other pain free (relatively) cause is if there is an oil cooler on the oil fliter stem. It works as part of the coolant system. It is a squareish aluminum box directly above the oil fliter at the front of the engine.

Check this as it costs only $100 to replace if you have find this is the cause.

I had it happen and this was the result...

Any other issues, like using water/overheating?

**Volksee77** · 30-01-2011, 07:20 PM

yeah you can get some sludge in the radiator which isn't major but if oil the water looks like a milkshake as the photo above pictures then yes you've done a head gasket (unless by some chance someone fitted a water fed oil cooler)