Oil in coolant? turbo maybe?

[snakeyes711]

Ok, a few weeks ago I started noticing trace of oil specks in my coolant. My first guess was the head gasket. After doing some research, I found that the oil cooler its possible to pass oil in the coolant. I drained all the fluids, and found the oil cooler was finger loose. So I took it off, and cleaned it. Then I blew through the water lines, and It didn't leak out surprisingly. I couldn't see how or where it would pass oil into the coolant.

So I put it all back together this time tight with fresh fluids. Saturday night I hit the cruise strip for a while did a few races(nothing beside me was faster BTW)I raced a boosted 250sx, a subaru wrx, and a few Honda's.

Sunday morning I checked the fluids, and found some more oil in the coolant. I checked the oil, and sure enough a 1/4 of a quart or so was missing. Could the turbo be letting the oil in my coolant?

 

[ricktb]

not sure about the 14b turbo but the stock t-25 in a 2G keeps the coolant in a separate housing, unless the housing itself is cracked internally.. Is there coolant in the oil? maybe try a compression test? im sure a search for oil in coolant may give you some clues to find the answer.

 

[snakeyes711]

Dude, I searched through every post about oil in coolant trust me. Thats what led me to look at the oil cooler. I don't just blindly ask questions before doing my research. With that said no there is't coolant in my oil. Compression test is perfect.

Now that I'm thinking About it... I really couldn't get anything to leak out of the oil cooler with vacuum, or pressure. If At WOT its seeing 112.5 PSI It MAY very well be a bad oil cooler. Is there a sure positive way to check one of these things at a high PSI anyone knows of?

 

[blackbetty]

I have also been dealing with this exact problem for a couple of months now..
At first I was leaning towards a faulty oil cooler sandwich, so i replaced it with a new '90 housing and air to air oil cooler.. but the problem still lingers. My compression is still the same as when I finished the break in period on this engine, and it never smokes.

I am beginning to think that it is my turbo (ebay evoIII 16g). It boosts like a champ and has absolutely NO shaft play, but it seems like they always have problems.

I too would like some insight. This has been going on for way too long.

 

[JusMX141]

Could the turbo be letting the oil in my coolant?

Not likely. The center housing would have to be cracked, and this is something that I've NEVER seen in over 5 years of rebuilding turbochargers.

I'm voting head gasket, oil cooler crushed / damaged, or cracked block / head. It's much easier to wind up with oil in your coolant from any of these failures than it is coolant in the oil because there will always be greater pressure in the oiling system. Cooling systems operate around 16psi while oiling systems can sometimes exceed 100psi.

 

[slvrDsm]

I just had the same problem with my 2g.. IMO i would replace thr oil cooler.. I found mine to be loose a while ago.. so I tightened it really tight.. CRUSH! there it went my whole coolant overflow was full of oil.. I ordered one from a recycling yard for 50 bucks.. Problem fixed.. If it was a head gasket or a crack somewhere then why not start with the cheapest Fix that COULD be the prob.. Thats what I would do.. hope it helps.

 

[ricktb]

heh sorry man, just trying to be helpful.. good luck I hope you find the issue

 

[98gst14b]

loosing any coolant? Any smoke coming out of the exhaust??

 

[snakeyes711]

not much actual coolant lose. no. Last weekend I pulled all the fluids,a dn replaced them new filter, and all. The oil cooler was loose, so I tightened it back down snug with my fingers, and a wrench not like waay over torqued. Then when I put my oil filter back on I tightened it one turn past being seated. It seems like after that it got a little worse. I got another oil cooler from the junk yard for 10 dollars. I know it has good. We'll see if that cures it or not.

I think the next thing I'm going to try, is to re torque the head bolts.

 

[snakeyes711]

heh sorry man, just trying to be helpful.. good luck I hope you find the issue

Thanks I understand where you are coming from. The new oil cooler has resolved my problem for oil in the coolant

Now I need to see why on my logger the coolant temp is always 209-213*.

 

[snakeyes711]

loosing any coolant? Any smoke coming out of the exhaust??

No coolant loss. I doo have some smoke coming out of the exhaust when I hit it hard. Black,a nd some white. May be time for a new 14B. I also found the grounding strap on the downpipe broken, and fixed that.

 

[phill LZ RS TRB]

Here's how I tested my oil cooler:
1. Plug one of the coolant pipes (I just used my finger, but for more pressure you may want to plug it)
3. Submerse in gasoline
4. Get an air compressor and one of those air nozzles with the rubber tip
5. Put the air nozzle on the open coolant line on the oil cooler (you have to press fairly hard so air doesn't leak out around the nozzle)
6. Give it some air, and if bubbles come up from the inside then it's bad

With mine, it didn't take much pressure to test, I could actually plug one coolant line with my finger and blow into the other, and heard air escaping from the inside (just hold it like it is a cell phone).

I went to the shop to see if they could order me one, and their supplier had it priced at $579, so I'm just getting a used one!

Torque for oil cooler bolt is 33 FT LBS according to Chilton's manual.

 

[snakeyes711]

Yeah, Igot mine from local yard, dude said "whats that?" me, "part the oil filter screws on to" him " five bucks"! me " no problem!"