Going under the knife.....again

[dieseldan73]

Well, I have to do something, I have oil in my coolant and I need to figure out why. It is going to be be sunny and 60 on Thanksgiving, so I might as well start tearing it apart. I will get it apart to remove the water pump to inspect the front cover where I drilled and tapped the water pump bolt. If I see nothing there, I'll continue to the oil cooler. Is there any way to pressure test the oil cooler while it is out? I will need to know if it's bad so I can replace it or continue chasing the leak. Is there anywhere else that oil and coolant can mix. I checked for combustion gases and didn't see any signs, so I don't think it's the headgaskets. Can the heads be cracked between oil and water passages? I had the heads decked, pressure tested and magnafluxed only 2500 miles ago, so I don't see them being bad. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Got my fingers crossed.

[elchaseo]

Has the oil cooler ever been replaced? If so how many miles ago?

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[windrunner408]

I would just buy a new oil cooler all together. When you did the heads, did you replace the oil cooler then too or just leave the one that was in there previously?? Oil coolers are like $300 and I think if you're going in to pull it out, you might as well replace it.

[elchaseo]

+1

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[dieseldan73]

I replaced everything 2500 miles ago including the oil cooler. Delta are between 3 and 5 degrees all the time. I had the engine out and tore down to a shortblock. That' s why I'm leary about tearing it down again because the oil cooler is brand new, heads were checked, headgaskets, studs. I took my time because I only wanted to do it once. That's why I'm asking for suggestions because I feel like taking a shot in the dark by just replacing the oil cooler again.

[windrunner408]

I guess it may be that since you "drilled and tapped" a hole, you might have gone too far I would check that first.

[dieseldan73]

Originally Posted by windrunner408

I guess it may be that since you "drilled and tapped" a hole, you might have gone too far I would check that first.

That's what I'm thinking, and if that's not it, on to the oil cooler, but I don't want to spend the 12 hrs working on it, get it all back together and find out another oil cooler did not solve the problem. I don't know what else it could be. There oil in the degas, but no coolant in the crankcase.

[Snake]

I also think your drill and tap fix may have caused the issue you're seeing. The most common way for oil to get in the coolant is through a ruptured oil cooler, but I have a hard time believing yours failed so quickly.

[twoicebergs]

For the oil cooler, 30 psi with the other end blocked and see if it holds. You could go higher, but if it is the cooler, you will notice right away, you might even see bubbles in the degas.

I guess the only good part of this is you are familiar with taking it apart and reassembling it, so it won't take as long!

[JUGERNAUT]

i would check front cover behind water pump first! is it alot of oil or just a little bit in the coolant? if its alot its the oil cooler and if its just a little bit its a hole in front cover behind water pump.