Flecks in coolant: hoping not HG

[Tugela]

My Disco 1 sat for a month while I was on vacation. I checked the fluids before driving it last weekend and saw a couple flecks of crud floating in the coolant. First reaction: it's oil and points to a blown head gasket. Before I march down to the auto parts store for the kit that tests for exhaust gases in coolant I thought I'd ask for some other opinions since I don't think the head gaskets should be a problem (in other words, I'm in denial).

Reasons why it shouldn't be the head gaskets:

• I replaced the head gaskets less than 40,000 miles ago (the whole enchilada- machined heads, valve job, etc.).
• There is minor coolant loss, but it's through a leak in the front of the valley gasket and it's so small I don't think it's going through the head gaskets. Prior to the last HG job the coolant loss was much greater.
• I have not overheated the engine.
• Truck has reasonably new radiator, t-stat, hoses.
• I've been monitoring coolant temps with ScanGauge and they stay in range of 188-195 F.
• Flushed the coolant every 24 months and oil changes every 3,000 miles.

Reasons why it could be the head gaskets:

• It's a Rover.
• Coolant hoses are pressurizing.

Should I be worried? What else might the crud be? I suppose the only way to know for sure is to test the coolant for exhaust gases.

 

[AfiRover]

just test and report back

 

[discostew]

I think it would be hard for a little bit of engine oil to get in the cooling system thru a head gasket without the oil in the crankcase looking like a milkshake . I would be concerned if the hoses felt harder than normal I guess .

 

[my240]

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://instagram.com/p/3TEAKZMHpV/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">#Milkshake from my motor :9. Serving fresh from the radiator #landrover #discovery #blownheadgasket #callmemaybe</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A video posted by @jamesepoop on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2015-05-30T07:34:15+00:00">May 30, 2015 at 12:34am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
<script async defer src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> I found this in my coolant reservoir so I drained out. Oil in the pan looks clean and clear, no signs of coolant. Any guesses?

 

[discostew]

oil cooler ?

 

[jymmiejamz]

If your hoses weren't pressurising, you would have a problem. The cooling system requires pressure to function normally. Is the crud in the expansion tank the only symptom?

 

[my240]

It looked like the build-up was mainly in the expansion tank. Whatever coolant was in the system, came out of the block/ lower hose like normal. When I unscrewed the pressure cap, the sludge started moving quicker from the expansion tank.

4 weeks ago, I topped off the oil. I lost about a quart of oil in 4 weeks, which isn't normal. But I did make a trip to the dunes about 300 miles roundtrip and went wheeling this past weekend. No signs of overheating at all. I assumed the oil went to the coolant expansion tank. That sludge is oil but doesn't smell like petroleum like I'm used to in a blown headgasket case. How do you think this happened? Seepage of some sort? No coolant in the oil. The head gasket was 30k miles ago but I suppose anything could happen. Am I doomed to rebuild? Thanks for the advice in advance!

By the way, currently running some prestone coolant flush to get rid of the gunk hopefully.

 

[d1driver]

Before jumping to head gaskets, you might consider removing your front cover to see if there is a gasket failure.

 

[discostew]

You could pull the oil pan and pressure test it . Take the lower oil cooler pipe off at the radiator while you do it and see if coolant comes out of there .

 

[jymmiejamz]

I've never seen oil in the coolant, just coolant in the oil. If you had coolant in the oil I would say put some thread sealant on the threads of the long water pump bolts on the driver's side, or replace the front cover gasket.

 

[discostew]

I've never seen oil in the coolant, just coolant in the oil. If you had coolant in the oil I would say put some thread sealant on the threads of the long water pump bolts on the driver's side, or replace the front cover gasket.

When you do its going to be a sport . The oil cooler is going to be the cause . We used to see it when a trans cooler takes a shit on a GM truck . That was a strawberry milkshake , and the coolant attacks the glue that holds the clutch material on the friction plates .