Damn!!! Oil in coolant!!!

Well after the 300tdi engine change and all the work that took - on my own......... today i found a load of oil in my coolant expansion tank checked the dipstick and the oil level is half way up the dipstick

So it looks like my head gasket has just gone

Water and oil haven't gone white - so its just happened.......... so looks like i'm going to be very busy again for the next week

Probably have to wait a week for the new gasket and bolts to turn up too

Could it be diesel rather than engine oil?

Did think that but it doesn't smell of diesel and its engine oil in the coolant

I know how you feel my 90 can go for weeks before something breaks but it also comes like London busses :-(

Yep - thought i might get some use out of it before donning the overalls again - i'm just glad i didn't get stranded anywhere remote.

DEFENDER90-DAZ said:

So it looks like my head gasket has just gone

Water and oil haven't gone white - so its just happened.......... so looks like i'm going to be very busy again for the next week

Probably have to wait a week for the new gasket and bolts to turn up too

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Same boat as me then, except mines a N/A. I've also caught it at a early stage (no mayo). I've paid £12 for next day delivery which by my reckoning means I'll be waiting until Wed but I won't be surprised if it takes longer.

Yep same thing mate - only remembered replying to your thread last night too!!

Mine didn't get hot so hopefully it won't need a skim................

Fortunately, mine only started smoking on a short trip home, but even in that time it had used over a litre of coolant, so I can see how you would quickly get in a situation where it overheats.

Hopefully I caught mine in time also, I could use a break with the beast!

I have been very vigilant in checking the oil and water. Vague intermittent symptoms have been there since I bought it though, so it all makes sense now. I’m just hoping that it’s been caught at a stage where there is no damage.

How much would you expect to pay for a skim?

Well i've asked my mate and he said for a pressure test and skim and clean up including valve lapping £100 - but ive noticed that its already got a 3 hole gasket on it - i'll check it with a straight edge and go from there......

DEFENDER90-DAZ said:

Well i've asked my mate and he said for a pressure test and skim and clean up including valve lapping £100 - but ive noticed that its already got a 3 hole gasket on it - i'll check it with a straight edge and go from there......

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some do its goes off piston height above block thats why theres was a choice of 3 ,so it doesnt mean necessarily its been off before

Yep thought that too - some people just use a 3 hole gasket if they aren't sure of which 1 to use. Hopefully it will be ok as its not got hot - won't know until i've got the head off though - been reading loads about doing it as i haven't actually done 1 before

yes if you need to order a gasket before you see the car you know it would fit ,plus its used so you dont need to pocket valves after skim by some ,drain block using the bung on passenger side it stops bores filling with coolant when you undo bolts

I have got a quick question though: whats the best way to clean out the oil thats been mixed with the water???

dishwasher liquid flush.

Yep have used that before for flushing out the coolant/radiator but i meant the sump and oil galleries

Forte

just a thought was the engine getting hot up to the point you noticed the oil in the coolant. cause if not it maybe rad has split internally so water n oil mixing that way. as far as getting water out of engine just change the oil a few times and change the filter. it will sort it self out then in theory well has with mine any way.

I had thought of the oil cooler/radiator but i'll get the head off and have a look - if the gasket is ok and the head is ok i might have to look in that direction.

surely easier to check rad first before disturbing cylinder head

Yep - might be an idea that ! as the radiator will have to be flushed anyway.............

Might remove the radiator and fill it with water and see if any water comes out of the oil cooler unions.................