How will I be able to tell if the coolant is leaking into the oil?
2006-11-19 14:23:39 · 10 answers · asked by bellbottombleus 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It doesn't always leak into the oil but the quickest way to tell is pull out the dipstick. If the oil looks milky-gray, then water has mixed with your oil.
If you are losing coolant and you have the 3.8 V-6 engine, there is a known problem with the intake manifold gaskets.
2006-11-19 14:27:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your coolant is leaking into the oil, then your oil will have a milky gray color. You will know right away that you have a problem.
If the coolant is leaking into the cylinders on the intake stroke, you will see a greater than normal amount of steam coming from the exhaust. Remember that water is a by product of combustion and you will always have a small amount of steam coming out of the exhaust, but a warm engine will not normally be noticeable in warm weather.
You can also remove the spark plugs and look for a green look to one of them, that is the green from the coolant.
2006-11-19 14:32:42 · answer #2 · answered by plezurgui 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pull out the dipstick. The oil will be gray. If you are loosing coolant and there is no visible leak under the car, no unusual smell inside the car when the heater is on (bad heater core), or no coolant in the oil, then you should consider taking the heads off and checking for a bad head gasket or cracked head. Good luck.
2006-11-19 14:30:39 · answer #3 · answered by jeff s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On these cars the plastic upper plenum is notorious for internal leaks into the cylinders. Check externally for oil/coolant leaks at the plenum corners and mount flanges. Pull the plugs and check them as well. If one or more are very clean as opposed to the rest that is a sign of liquid in those cylinders. If the upper plenum is leaking you run the risk of hydro locking the engine if you let it go for too long.
2006-11-19 14:48:37 · answer #4 · answered by ron k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your coolant is leaking in to the oil system then pull the dipstick...if it is milky looking then there is coolant in your oil. This is normally caused from a faulty head gasket.
If you don't see this..then it is possible you have a cracked head...or something simpler..your water pump is just starting to leak.
Another thing to check is your heater core. simple to check...not so simple to replace. Just feel the carpet on the passenger side of your floor board...if it is wet then it's the heater core.
2006-11-19 14:29:44 · answer #5 · answered by Kenneth S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The oil will take on a "chocolate milk" look, becoming lighter in color, and the level will rise. If you monitor the oil level frequently you will notice the level getting higher versus the normal loss of oil level. Hope this helps.
-Jeff
2006-11-19 14:29:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
drain the oil into a pan, you will see it. If you cant then you can take it to somplace and have the radiator flushed. They will pressure check it and that will tell you if one of the jackets is cracked and losing coolant.
2006-11-19 14:26:05 · answer #7 · answered by Biker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should push down on the cap and twist it off. it may take about 2 gallons of 50/50 antifreeze/water. If the radiator isn't leaking, it will be intake gaskets or the better intake.
2016-11-29 07:16:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible for your engine to burn antifreeze and not have it mix into your oil to make cappuccino. Smell your exhaust (no, don't breath it in) and see if it smells sweet. If so the head gasket(s) must be replaced.
2006-11-19 14:47:18 · answer #9 · answered by Lab 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remove the engine oil fill cap on th valve covers.
Flip it over and look at it.
Does it have a whiteish hue to it. (that's water vapor)
2006-11-19 14:31:01 · answer #10 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋