Drops of oil in coolant

[chief]

Ok, upon replacing everything under the hood for processing anti-freeze thru the engine, i now discover a very very few couple of drops of oil in the radiator's reservoir.

Am i correct in assuming i have a headgasket leaking???

And if i am correct, can any of you mechanics recommend a corrective action other than R&R the headgasket???

 

[epj3]

Sounds like the headgasket. I just wanted to let you know that NOS has a tendency to do stuff like that to an engine. If you have the money to fix the head gasket no problem, then dont worry about it -- but I'm guessing the NOS system is what caused the premature wear.

Oh yea if your headgasket is gone, theres nothing you can do but replace it which WILL cost a lot of $$$. Probably about $1500 on your car.

 

[chief]

Haven't used the NOS yet. Have to have the trans fluid serviced to provide a positive base performance level with the sc and aftercooler. As it might actually be a headgasket leak, i will induce the NOS and find out if it blows the headgasket to a more valid evidence that the required R&R is currently necessary.

Truly, i appreciate your input "epj3".

 

[mjbst111]

ummm, i really wouldn't TRY to blow out a head gasket even worse if it is leaking. That could be the worst thing to do. Doing a head gasket job before the oil and coolant completely mix to make "mayonaise" is a good idea. Cleaning a "mayonaised" engine could be best described as hell. I don't know if e36's have hydrolic valve lifters (my guess is they don't) but if they do you might as well purchase a set now if you plan on blowing out your head gasket on pupose. I know e30's don't but i hope for your sake yours does not.

At the very least it would be an interesting experience..... good luck.

 

[Tom]

Do you have oil in the spark plug chamber too? There is really noway of getting around replacing the headgasket if it's bad. I would just deal with it now before it causes any engine damage down the line.

 

[carcus]

Got any pictures of the engine? I would like to have a look at your setup. Have you removed the beauty cover and checked for any leaks from the block yet?

 

[chief]

I do have a picture of the setup but donot know how to upload to this forum as i donot have a homepage to create a link. No leaks from the block. I just noticed the oil drops this past weekend. And, last year when i did turn on the NOS, it could have caused the problem and i just hadn't noticed.
As for getting the headgasket fixed soon, i agree. I will be contacting my favorite mech very soon. Like ya'll have pointed out, it is easier to fix now than after it truly blows out.

I appreciate all of your inputs.

 

[mjbst111]

i have a question... where did you spot the oil droplets? In the reseviour or did you drain the coolant or what? Because any oil that would get mixed with coolant via the head gasket leak would certainly not continue to exist as oil. If it leaked a little bit through the head gasket it would immediately turn white and gooey. Mayoniase like and show up on your oil cap.

this could save you a trip to a greedy mechanic that will certainly agree with you that it is a head gasket even if it is not.

 

[chief]

I found the drops in the reservoir. And no, the drops existed as black and not milky white as they were floating in the antifreeze.

 

[mjbst111]

take a look at your oil cap.... i don't really think it is your head gasket anymore

 

[chief]

Will do and thanks.

 

[zxc151]

Chief,

What was the final outcome of this condition: cause and solution?

My car has (what appears to be) oil in the coolant reservoir, but it is not white'ish nor cream colored. Rather, it is dark and has an odor that is different than that of the engine oil and transmission fluid. Is there any other fluid, othere than engine oil, that can somehow enter into the coolant system?

Thanks.

 

[epj3]

ZXC Nope, thats DEFINITELY a headgasket problem.

 

[chief]

Drained the radiator, well actually my electric fan failed, had the top radiator hose blow off, lost all coolant, had the car towed to the house. Replaced the electric fan, added coolant, and haven't noticed anymore unauthorized additives in the reservoir. Weird i know but everything seems to be working as advertised with the exception of the Fuel Trim. Ever since ethenol has been added to the fuel i have been getting the 170 and 173 codes. Gas milage sucks and new O2 sensors, new catalitic converters haven't changed the current situation. As the fuel trim is programmed into the cars brain - i will just have to live with it.

 

[epj3]

It's all unrelated. Have fun overheating again before you realize your headgasket is bad.

 

[chief]

Will do. Going on a trip to Michigan next week. Haven't had the temp needle go past the vertical even in this 100 degree temps.

Just have to avoid the speed traps between Texas and Michigan.

 

[mjbst111]

It's all unrelated. Have fun overheating again before you realize your headgasket is bad.

Eric, can youn explain why it could be the head gasket?

Before someone is willing to dump all kinds of money into trying ot fix something they usually want to be convinced of the issue and why and how it is happening.

All the explanation you are offering is that it is DEFINITLY the head gasket. I'm not convinced yet.

how could oil get to the reservoir without mixing with the coolant?? When oil touches coolant/water it turns milky. besides that the coolant system (when hot)is pretty damn pressurized right? Any kind of oil/coolant system breech would end up with the coolant going into the oil system giving results like mayonnaise on the oil cap.

 

[epj3]

Eric, can youn explain why it could be the head gasket?

Before someone is willing to dump all kinds of money into trying ot fix something they usually want to be convinced of the issue and why and how it is happening.

All the explanation you are offering is that it is DEFINITLY the head gasket. I'm not convinced yet.

how could oil get to the reservoir without mixing with the coolant?? When oil touches coolant/water it turns milky. besides that the coolant system (when hot)is pretty damn pressurized right? Any kind of oil/coolant system breech would end up with the coolant going into the oil system giving results like mayonnaise on the oil cap.

Who's to say it isn't happening to the engine while cold?

 

[jrt67ss350]

Plus, the cooling system should only be pressurized to around 10 psi or so if the radiator cap is working properly. Hopefully your oil pressure is alot higher than 10 psi!!!

 

[rcgils]

Check the oil dipstick and see if it is milky looking; that is a sure sign of a blown head gasket. Also the spark plugs will start fouling out from the moisture and of course the engine will run hot right away. Also check and see if antifreeze is leaking out of your exhaust tailpipe. If you don't have any of these problems then your head gasket is not blown.