Coolant pouring into crankcase

[riceybean]

I have a 2000 that has a massive coolant leak into the oil. We are taking about a minute to empty the coolant into the oil. I did a pressure test (or tired) and could hardly get it to pressurize the leak is so bad. There were no exhaust gasses in the coolant either(nothing was pressurized).The exhaust was also clear of steam.

I just removed the heads and the gaskets and cylinders show no outward signs of leaks. The piston tops were just covered in carbon and black. The walls look good with recent cross hatch marks,no lip and no signs of a slipped liner. The intake also showed no signs of leaks or loose bolts. I did start to remove the front cover, stopped at the water pump as I need a big strap wrench that is at work to hold the crank pulley. I found the top two cover bolts to be covered in the same gooey water and oil mixture. Is it possible that the cover gasket blew out and is letting the coolant into the oil?

The engine ran fine in fact is was running great, heads had been done about 20k ago. PO stated that the engine never got hot, that just the coolant light came on and started making a "weird" noise. When they checked for coolant after it had cooled it was mostly gone but never leaked out onto the ground. They checked the oil and it was a milkshake. The engine would start and ran fine even after it was towed. I drained about 12 to 13 qts of the goop out of the oil pan.

Sheesh, I was hoping for just bad head gaskets.

Chris.

 

[discostew]

take the oil pan off and see if it's coming from the front cover. It's probably what's happening and you would have to get the pan off it to do the front cover anyway. I understand you already have the heads off, but hopefully you will see a washed down area.

 

[Howski]

x2 on the front cover. Had mine leak and eventually fail. Similar symptoms as yours

 

[ubuntu]

Front cover

 

[jymmiejamz]

I would make sure you put sealant on the threads of the long water pump bolts. The most likely thing to cause this would be a front cover gasket. The only other thing I've seen cause this is a cracked black, but that is usually after a severe overheat.

 

[ptschram]

I would make sure you put sealant on the threads of the long water pump bolts. The most likely thing to cause this would be a front cover gasket. The only other thing I've seen cause this is a cracked black, but that is usually after a severe overheat.

I just tore one down where it was leaking oil badly from the front cover.

It was a heartbeat away from filling the sump with coolant-judging from what it looked like when the front cover was removed.

Sadly, a shop in Fort Wayne had charged this gentleman more to just replace the valve cover gaskets that we're charging for front cover/oil pan, intake, valve cover gaskets, wires, etc.

 

[ukoffroad]

My first HG job had the front cover leak, I just did the heads since I had so much of it apart knowing it needed it at the time.

 

[riceybean]

Crank pulley comes off tonight, wish me luck.

 

[discostew]

Crank pulley comes off tonight, wish me luck.

Your going to have to take the pan off. The oil sump tube bolts to the front cover from down below. Might as well start with the pan. The balancer should just slide right off after the bolt is out. I strongly recomend you cut yourself a piece of cardboard to sit nicely in back of the radiator to protect it. It's crazy stupid fragile. Bump it at all with anything and your gonna need a radiator too. I shit you not I dropped a 1/4 inch drive 10mm socket that bounced off the front of the engine and into the radiator. It broke a core tube.

 

[Nomar]

I strongly recomend you cut yourself a piece of cardboard to sit nicely in back of the radiator to protect it. It's crazy stupid fragile. Bump it at all with anything and your gonna need a radiator too.

^^ yes---do this ^^


.

 

[riceybean]

Pulley off, no problems. Nothing a 3 foot strap wrench couldn't handle. Had my wife hold that while I used the breaker bar on the pulley nut. Front seal was leaking like crazy too, glad that will be replaced. And now that you mention it I think the radiator is FUBAR anyway. Now for the oil pan, hate climbing under for that crap. I'm not as spry as I use to be.

 

[discostew]

Pulley off, no problems. Nothing a 3 foot strap wrench couldn't handle. Had my wife hold that while I used the breaker bar on the pulley nut. Front seal was leaking like crazy too, glad that will be replaced. And now that you mention it I think the radiator is FUBAR anyway. Now for the oil pan, hate climbing under for that crap. I'm not as spry as I use to be.

Me neither brother. Don't forget the 2 bolts that go straight up at the rear. Kind of hidden and deep in a couple recesses. Also the bottom bell housing bolts come in from the rear. Going to need to get them too.

 

[riceybean]

Got the oil pan off and the front cover but didn't see anything definitive as to where the leak was/is. I will have to go with a cracked block at this point.

Anyone in the Vancouver area want a 2000 with some nice parts for cheap? I don't have the energy or time to do a motor swap.