oil/water mix boiling out of water reservoir

Lawrence · #1 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 06:33 PM

I have a 2004 6.0 w auto trans.
Today while programming my transmission to the newly installed Banks 6 gun (no speed loader), a whistling/fan-like noise persisted at level 4 (similiar to what I hear for short periods towing up-hill).
Then noticed steam coming from under the hood (water and transmission temperatures remained normal).
When I stopped, a thick oil/water mix was boiling out of the water reservoir, and there is minimal oil in the crankcase.

Does this automatically mean that the head gaskets are gone, or could there be a lesser cause. I read a lot about the EGR cooler and oil cooler problems, but could they present the same way?
Thanks.

**dieseldan2005** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 06:36 PM

man that is weird, but maybe it could be enough to have stretched the head bolts and let the gaskets leak or the EGR could be pressurizing the cooling system, but the loss of oil is strange. Could check your oil cooler, i think they are prone to cracking and dumping oil into the coolant, that would explain your oil loss and oily coolant.

**Diesel Freak** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 06:52 PM

BUMP FOR GALE!!!
GOOD LUCK BUDDY!!!

**dieseldan2005** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 05:22 AM

bump for ya buddy!

bigbomar4 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 01:32 PM

Is coming out with force or just overflowing? If its overflowing id say oil cooler. If it is coming out with force and exhaust gas more than likly its the head gasket. The early 6.0s were bad about the oil coolers cracking and its not really to big a deal so hopfully this is your problem.

Lawrence · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 12:46 PM

My mechanic just called and said the EGR cooler failed which resulted in failure of the oil cooler.
He thinks the head gaskets are OK.
My question now is re the EGR. I have seen on this forum that a lot of people bypass the EGR. Do you recommmend that? Will that effect emissions inspections or cause any harm?

#7 (**permalink**) 10-25-2007, 12:51 PM

Actually your oil cooler failed and that caused the egr cooler to fail. Yeppers, see it all the time. Get her fixed. Oh and one more thing. They will flush the system but there will always be residue in the system.

austin2311 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2007, 06:06 PM

Hello all, I just recently had the same problem. They thought it was just the oil cooler, but once they got in there the oil cooler and the egr cooler were fine. So we dug farther. It was a blown head gasket. It was blown between the oil passage and the water jacket. It pushed all the oil into the water system. So I fixed it, and while I was there I went ahaed and replaced the Oil cooler and the EGR cooler, why not it was all ready off. just more money. Well drove it for a week and now I believe the HPOP is toast. WHAT THE *&%$. It never ends with this truck. It will pull a house down, but I dont know if I can trust it.

rstewkids · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2007, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbomar4

Is coming out with force or just overflowing? If its overflowing id say oil cooler. If it is coming out with force and exhaust gas more than likly its the head gasket. The early 6.0s were bad about the oil coolers cracking and its not really to big a deal so hopfully this is your problem.

I had same problem and dealer is now changing everything that the water goes through,radiator, engine and anything else in there. Has anyone had this before and is there anything else they should change and might not.