Hi Guys: I am writing after a terrible weekend. I just had a leaking radiator repaired and it sprung a new leak after 30 minutes. I figured out there was too much pressure in the system and the coolant was not leaking out of the radiator alone, but also into the engine. So here is my dilemma. The car is running perfectly fine, well now its parked). All signs point to a blown head gasket, but I had my waterpump done two years ago. I am wondering is it possible the oil seal is allowing coolant into the engine? The car has never overheated, and is barely smoking. Do you guys think it is at all possible the waterpump seal has failed and is allowing the coolant to pass into the crankcase? Is this even possible?
Run a simple compression test. That'll tell you if you're leaking into a cylinder. With coolant in the oil, the heads most probably need to come off. Maybe a gasket, maybe a crack. If you're really broke (no $ broke) and there's no cylinder leakage, you could then try some stop-leak, but if you do, don't tell anybody 'cause you'll get flamed. Even if that works, sell all your stuff on Craig's List, cause you gotta fix it properly very soon. Don't run the motor with the contaminated oil. The coolant goes to the bottom of the pan, so that's what gets picked up first. Not good for bearings. If your motor is old and tired, it's a really good time to take it out and freshen it up. Coolant in the oil is never good.
There is an inexpensive test kit you can use to check for a blown head gasket. Basically it checks for the presence of combustion gas in the coolant. Do a search on Amazon for "block check" and it should come up. If either your coolant or the oil looks like a chocolate milkshake it's a bad sign.......
Cylinder leakage test(look for bubbles in coolant tank) litmus test as mentioned above gas analyser check for HC's at coolant tank top... Make sure you diagnose it properly before you tear into the motor, you might just have had a couple of leaks!
While I don't know the intricacies of the 300 engine.. if it's like most others, there is no way a leaky water pump, gasket or otherwise will leak into the oil. I'd put my bet on the headgasket. What I would consider, personally, is drain both coolant and oil. Re-torque the headgasket to spec, then see if it recurs. Could just be a seating around an oil passage.. Then being the redneck that I am, I might even go 1-2 lb-ft of torque more... hehehe
Actually, it is very possible. Due to the design of this pump and similar designs used on the 400 and BB, it is indeed possible to have coolant and oil mix.
Incorrect. The waterpump is internal in the front chain case with a seal that, once subjected to immersion in coolant when the coolant seal fails, corrodes, becomes brittle and will allow coolant to pass internally, more so if the weap hole is plugged. Headgaskets leak from a coolant transfer port to an oil return port.... and not all headgaskets are created equal. The list of potential sources are plentiful but a proper diagnosis is fairly straight forward.
Tried to find schematic, now that is same as 400.. Yes yes, now I see.. I looked at the 400 pump. Yes I see how intermixing can occur. I stand corrected. Apologies.
for reasons not understood by me or anybody else I know...the place to look is in the front chain box....look CAREFULLY at the subassemblies....look for perforations and corrosion...POROSITY.....under pressure-things change...
