I just bought a '96 Mustang less then a week ago. It runs smooth and quietly. I was checking my coolant resevoir and it is dirty! It definitely needs a flush. But, the dirtiness is caused by oil mixed with the coolant in the resevoir. Then, when I checked the radiator, it's mostly green, but you can tell that some oil is mixed in with the coolant in there. What could it be and do I have a week before I can get it looked at?
2007-10-17 12:23:16 · 8 answers · asked by TheRealHitch 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I checked the oil on the dipstick and it's a light brown like it should be. The coolant isn't mixed in with the oil in the engine, just the resevoir and a little in the radiator.
2007-10-17 13:08:03 · update #1
Blown head gasket or a cracked head.
2007-10-17 12:30:10 · answer #1 · answered by cimra 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First thing I would do is carefully check your oil.
If there is evidence of the oil in the coolant, then there ought to be coolant in the iol. (When your engine is hot and you shut it off, the temperature and pressure rise slightly as the block cools) Since the oil pressure at that time is zero, there should be some coolant getting into the oil through the same route. If there is none in the oil, then get the cooling system flushed properly and keep an eye on it, it may just have been old and/or dirty.
If your coolant is getting into the oil, you will notice milky-white sludge in the oil (on the dipstick) and possible near the oil filler cap. Also, the oil level will rise if coolant is getting into it.
2007-10-17 12:40:33 · answer #2 · answered by Daremo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ocassionally people dump radiator sealers in the radiator or coolant recovery tank. I spite of he*l as the radittor heat cycles many times the sealers such ar Bars Leak will leave a brown residue in the coolant recovery tank. There is a very outside chance that the transmission cooler inside your radiator could be leaking. I'd certainly have it acid cleaned to get the garbage out of the cooling sustem, remove the coolant recovery botthe and clean it with Wisk and some amonia. If you can get a round bottle scrub brush in do that too.
2007-10-17 12:55:57 · answer #3 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have either a blown head gasket or a cracked head. I have had this happen to me and ther is no other reason for oil in your anti-freeze. You better get a ride where you need to go.
2007-10-17 12:36:16 · answer #4 · answered by slider 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is most likley the head(s), cracked warped or just a blown gasket. Get it looked at soon and make sure you have a good mechanic you can rely on for warranty work. If you can't do it yourself make sure that you have a shop that backup their work!
2007-10-17 13:25:39 · answer #5 · answered by Mr T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely your head gasket is blown/crack. If you know how to do a compression check, I would do that first so you have an idea of the problem.
2007-10-17 12:33:02 · answer #6 · answered by turbocivic89 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
first would be the head gasket if not it could be the water pump on some cars
2007-10-17 12:34:19 · answer #7 · answered by cornholio 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its probably a blown head gasket. get it compression tested to confirm.
2007-10-17 12:35:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋