Oil looks like choclate milk(ish)

[Lake_Bueller]

I haven't had time (and the weather isn't cooperating) to dig too far into the issue. Quick run down of the issue prior to parking it:

Changed the oil and checked all the fluids about 4 weeks prior. Coolant level was fine. I'm fairly relgious about checking it since I've had 3 reserve tanks leak.

Driving home from work when the temp spiked. I pulled off the road within 2-3 minutes (I was on a bridge at the time). Popped the hood and was expecting a steam bath from coolant. But no runs, drips or sprays. Added some coolant (I carry a gallon of Prestone 50/50 in the back of the truck. I'm always paranoid with a 100k mile DII). The temp dropped to normal levels and I continued the remaining 15 miles home without incident.

Next morning check the oil dipstick. Looked like a milkshake. And the coolant had dropped a bit also. The exhaust looks normal (not smokey like I'd expect from a HG leak).

My guess is it's one of 2-3 issues:

1) Front gasket leak dumping coolant into the oil system. This would be my best case scenario.
2) Head gasket leak. Bad but not excellent
3) Cracked block or slipped liner. Worst case scenario.

I'm guessing my first step should be the magical coolant chemistry test. If that comes back negative, whats my next step? I'd rather just buy a rebuilt from Will Tillary than spend the time and $$$ on a head gasket that will probably fail again.

Thoughts?

 

[salvvia]

Change oil asap. Mix some Kseal with a half gallon of 50/50 coolan shake well add mix drive keep constant watch on oil milkshake oil is bad
Good luckt

 

[Howski]

I would say 1. is a good place to start. Similar situation happened to me 2 years ago. Would advise against K Seal as it'll clog your T stat and belch coolant. Don't need to risk an overheat on top of coolant and oil mixing

 

[Tugela]

I'd skip the K-Seal. Additives in your cooling system are a band-aid at best. If the head gasket is the issue then replacing those (and doing a good job of it) will be cheaper than a new engine. If you do it right new head gaskets will last a while. Depends on your indifference curve of time and money.

 

[helievacpilot]

X3 on the K-Seal. DON'T do it.

 

[squirt]

I'll admit that I've used Bars Leaks head gasket fix in the past on a couple of different D2's, with very good, lasting results. But that was for external coolant leaks only.

I would not try a snake oil sealer for coolant leaking into the oil. I'd say you've got the right order of attack for the problem, with the first scenario being the most likely by a significant margin.

 

[salvvia]

Kseal is a temp fix i had the oil milkshake on my d2 as well, changed and flushed oil drove did kseal mix drovefor about 2-3 days oil stayed clean but still had slight coolant loss so i sucked it up and broke down engine and found crack in head around top rebuilt top to bottom now dealing with efn tapping liffter or two EFFF!!!!!!
Rebuild it right if your going in for long term repair

Merry Christmas from Pinky

 

[rovercanus]

I betting front cover gasket. Not that too terrible to change but in wintertime Wisconsin it will suck.

 

[Devildog01]

Don't drink it!!!!!! It's not chocolate milk!!!!!!

 

[Lake_Bueller]

Coolant test showed exhaust gasses.

Would I still be getting coolant in the oil with a bad head gasket? Is there a good test for a creak in the block?

 

[Rob371]

Spark plug inspection might be a good step.

If you locate cylinders with evidence of coolant then maybe try a cylinder leakage tester. Is the escaping air going into an adjacent cylinder, into the crankcase, into the cooling system?

 

[discostew]

I betting front cover gasket. Not that too terrible to change but in wintertime Wisconsin it will suck.

I hate it when I agree with you.

I also would bet on the front cover. You could take the oil pan off and pressure test the cooling system.

 

[Lake_Bueller]

I hate it when I agree with you.

I also would bet on the front cover. You could take the oil pan off and pressure test the cooling system.

Would I get exhaust gasses in the cooling system from the front cover gasket going out?

 

[discostew]

Coolant test showed exhaust gasses.

Would I still be getting coolant in the oil with a bad head gasket? Is there a good test for a creak in the block?

Most of the cracked blocks I've seen leak out the top of the liner and into the cylinder. They would misfire on start up then clear out. But always lost coolant over time.

 

[ezzzzzzz]

Would I get exhaust gasses in the cooling system from the front cover gasket going out?

No, if it were only the timing cover. However, if you have a bad HG or cracked block the over pressurization could have blown out the timing cover gasket. What do the plugs look like? If 1,7,2 or 8 show a sign of steam cleaning replacing the HG might be the fix. If any other plug shows signs the block is most likely cracked as there would be no other way to get coolant into those cylinders. A cheap flex neck camera could be used to view the cylinders too. I've attached pic of a 4.0 with blown HG for a visual.

 

[salvvia]

Just break it down press test block and check heads and front cover for cricks and cracks and pray for good block let us know

 

[nickm347]

I've been able to successfully test a bad front cover gasket twice by doing the following:
1. Remove the oil filter
2. Remove the upper coolant hoses from the 'T' junction (with the bleeder) going into the lower intake
3. Poor water/coolant down it. If it comes out where the oil filter goes then the front cover is bad.

This doesn't account for exhaust gases in the coolant though.

 

[Lake_Bueller]

The search is underway for a rebuilt 4.6 motor with SAI. Will Tillery is fresh out of motors right now. I'd like to do it right because I plan on keeping this one for awhile.

 

[BackInA88]

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/5939489644.html and you get the rest of the truck.