oil in coolant?

[Denji]

Hi, i have oil in my coolant. I changed my coolant because my car would get kinda hot on 90+ sunny days with my air conditioning on only while at a stop. I just figured i had a smaller fan, an intercooler in the way and old fluid in my radiator, so i changed the radiator fluid. When i refilled it, it had a little oil in it. I thought i didnt flush it well enough so i did it again. Now its back!

1. Car runs fine, no smoke
2. Car does not overheat other than specified above, even then wouldnt overheat just get hotter, doesnt seem to do it since i changed the fluid though.. hasent been as hot though so not sure.
3. There doesnt appear to be any coolant in my oil
4. I will compression test shortly and refer back to this.

Any info in the meantime? considering mostly the following

1. head gasket
2. oil cooler
3. turbo

I dont feel its the head gasket since there is no real overheating problem, white smoke or coolant in my oil

2. I took off my filter, but then i realized i dont have a 24mm deep drop, it is NOT loose enough to turn the bolt connected to the housing with my hand

3. the turbo has little to no shaft play as i checked it about a week ago, seems fine and makes good boost with no abnormal noise, i feel this is least likely.

Now where you come in! suggestions? I need to get this car fixed before my next semester, i am a commuter! Thanks- Brandon

 

[donmagicjuan]

Sounds like you're already on top of things, my friend. Other than a compression test, there is a lesser known method for testing your head gasket, which is particularly helpful if it's just starting to leak and doesn't evidence itself on the compression test. You can pick up a hydrocarbon tester from an auto parts store for pretty cheap and test for HCs in your coolant. If that turns up positive, then you can eliminate the other possible causes right off the bat and gear up for the PITA ahead.

EDIT: On the other hand, if you already have oil in your coolant, I suppose this is a rather frivolous test. Please excuse my ignorance!

 

[Denji]

Compression numbers, cylinders left to right

1. 183
2. 181
3. 185
4. 195

Any input on this? They dont seem low, they seem high?

 

[talonracn49]

On the pistons and the head, you will get carbon buildup that will raise your compression, because you are reducing the volume of the cylinder.

Compression looks in line to me. I would guess that your headgasket leak is still small.

 

[Denji]

I compared my fluid to that of my own fluid with some oil added. I have determined that the stuff in my radiator is actually not oil. I'm still unsure as to what the dark substance is. It is now my belief that there was something that chemically reacted in my radiator ans caused a precipitate to form.

 

[Wherestheboost]

We use a tool at my shop that tests the C0 level in coolant for leaks or other headgasket problems.

 

[diablos991]

We use a tool at my shop that tests the C0 level in coolant for leaks or other headgasket problems.

That is called a Hydrocarbon test and would tell you if exhaust gasses are getting into your coolant. (head gasket leak)
That dark substance may be dirt. Have you had your radiator powerflushed or flow tested?

 

[Denji]

That is called a Hydrocarbon test and would tell you if exhaust gasses are getting into your coolant. (head gasket leak)
That dark substance may be dirt. Have you had your radiator powerflushed or flow tested?

No, i should have. I have learned over and over again to always be thorough and not take shortcuts.. but still i do it. Its not so bad now when i look in there, it may have settled or something. For some reason when i would drain my fluid i would only get half of it, i dont know how i could effectively flush it if the other half of my fluid mysteriously wont come out.

 

[diablos991]

To power flush mine, I take it to a radiator shop and pay them $30 bucks. They pressure test it and hook it up to a machine that cycles fluid through it. Then they top it off for me. I usually get it done once every 2 years at least. But I'm anal about that kind of stuff.

 

[Initial DSM]

Posting this for a friend he has a 95 eclipse gsx still has the 7 bolt motor but it has a new mitsu mls head gasket and arp head studs done 2k miles ago.. we noticed oil after we took the radiator cap off 2 weeks ago i was like what the hell there's no coolant in the oil and its not blowing out white smoke so i don't think it's a head gasket ..this happend to me once on my 92 laser fwd 3 years ago it was the oil cooler housing on that car but on my friends car i disconnected the coolant going into the oil cooler thought it happend to him to but there's still oil in he's coolant and in his coolant over flow bottle ..anyone has any idea ? thanks

 

[BISHILVR]

Cracked head, head gasket, cracked block, cracked turbo housing (if its turbo)

 

[Denji]

One time when i cleaned out my radiator and used water wetter, it kinda picked up an oil like contaminent, but it wasnt really oil. I am not trying to say its not oil in your case, but I thought that i had a problem and upon closer inspection, it wasnt oil at all. here is the thread - http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235187

 

[Denji]

I have since found that its not terribly uncommon for this stuff to appear after the use of water wetter and other such agents, not that it causes a chemical reaction, but it picks up grime that was caught in the radiator, just wanted to clarify for anyone searching that this can be remedied by flushing as the posters in this thread have recommended. Its all because i tried to do things quickly instead of taking my time to be thorough, dont let it happen to you!