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[Trey]

I started out with coolant in my oil. After researching this forum I determined that my oil cooler was bad, or so I thought.

When I removed the oil cooler, I found really nasty, rusty coolant, but almost no oil.

Can some of you who have replaced the oil cooler tell me what I should have found? I was expecting the kind of goo I drained out of the oil pan.

It would be helpful to know if I'm on the right track.

Thanks.

[tunnie]

oil needs to be in coolant to suggest oil cooler failure, first signs is oil in expansion tank. Rusty coolant suggests very poor coolant servicing, ie just fresh water allowing engine internals to rust!

Coolant is not only there to stop it freezing, but its also there to protect the engine components from the harshness of water

[dbug]

I started out with coolant in my oil. After researching this forum I determined that my oil cooler was bad, or so I thought.

When I removed the oil cooler, I found really nasty, rusty coolant, but almost no oil.

Can some of you who have replaced the oil cooler tell me what I should have found? I was expecting the kind of goo I drained out of the oil pan.

It would be helpful to know if I'm on the right track.

Thanks.

More likely to be head gasket failure - what engine?  1998 V6 3.0Lit?

[Trey]

Engine 2001 V6 3.0.

[tunnie]

must be a very late 2001 registered, as Y Plate on wards was 3.2.

If coolant is in your oil, then that suggests HG, but depends how much! If it just a bit of mayo, try change of oil to GM 10/40 and some long blasts, as short runs generate a lot of condensation which never gets burnt off

[Elite Pete]

What makes you think you have coolant in the oil, mayo in the filler neck?

[Trey]

Yes, mayo in the filler neck.  7+ liters drained out of the oil pan.

If it is the head gasket how do I know which side.  Or, do I replace both sides while the engine is dismantled this far.

I removed the oil cooler with ease.  How difficult is it to replace the head gaskets?  Are cracked heads common or does a gasket replacement generally solve the problem?

[Elite Pete]

Yes, mayo in the filler neck.  7+ liters drained out of the oil pan.

If it is the head gasket how do I know which side.  Or, do I replace both sides while the engine is dismantled this far.

I removed the oil cooler with ease.  How difficult is it to replace the head gaskets?  Are cracked heads common or does a gasket replacement generally solve the problem?

Was that of water and oil?

[Trey]

yes, a slush of water and oil.

[dbug]

yes, a slush of water and oil.

Bl**dy hell - head gasket failure most likely cause mate 

[Andy H]

I started out with coolant in my oil. After researching this forum I determined that my oil cooler was bad, or so I thought.

When I removed the oil cooler, I found really nasty, rusty coolant, but almost no oil.

Can some of you who have replaced the oil cooler tell me what I should have found? I was expecting the kind of goo I drained out of the oil pan.

It would be helpful to know if I'm on the right track.

Thanks.

I still think you were right to condemn the oil cooler.

V6 head gaskets fail between the combustion chambers and the coolant passages or from the coolant passages to the outside of the block. I haven't seen anyone reporting failure between the oilway and the coolant passages in a head gasket :-/

[Darth Loo-knee]

If you replace the head gaskets change both banks not just one