Help! Oil in cooling system - Cracked block??

Weve got a 200tdi engine, and when putting in a thermostat i found white sludge in the coolant that would seem to be oil in the coolant. There is also a film of water in the oil when i drained some from the sump.

Weve had the head tested and its all fine, hasnt been warped at all. we're struggling to figure out what it is??!

Oil cooler in the rad leaking into the cooling system !!!! . get the rad leak tested

sypher said:

Oil cooler in the rad leaking into the cooling system !!!! . get the rad leak tested

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Never knew they had an oil cooler in the rad! cheers for the advice, ill check it out!

C1428 said:

Never knew they had an oil cooler in the rad! cheers for the advice, ill check it out!

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Any update on this ?

Weve checked the engine over, changed the head gasket. That was fine. the engine isnt over heating, so it hasnt been cooked.

Flushed the cooling system and oil, there still seems to be oil in the water, whether this is remaining oil or theres still a problem, we're not too sure.

Checking the rad is our next step, any ideas on how to do this properly?

C1428 said:

Weve checked the engine over, changed the head gasket. That was fine. the engine isnt over heating, so it hasnt been cooked.

Flushed the cooling system and oil, there still seems to be oil in the water, whether this is remaining oil or theres still a problem, we're not too sure.

Checking the rad is our next step, any ideas on how to do this properly?

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One way is to fill the WATER part of the rad with WATER, that has a goodly dollop of Fairy Liquid in it.

Put your thumb over ONE of oil cooler connections, and an air line to the other - stick a tubeless valve in the airline nozzle to help make a seal.

Pressurise the oil cooler section for a while, and if soapy bubbles come out of the water out connections, well, we have a problem, Houston.

If you take the rad out of the car this can be done with the rad lying flat on its front which is very handy.

If it is desparate, get a double ended union and connect BOTH oil pipes to it meantime.

A really good way to get the oil out of the water passages is to toss in about a tablespoonful of that powder stuff women use in washing machines.
Don't use DISHwasher stuff - use CLOTHES washer powder.

CharlesY

Great advice! Cheers!

you may even find that once u have repaired the leak/replace faulty unit, you can be finding traces of oil in the system for months, just keep flushing every couple of weeks to clean it out. can be a b**** to really clean as oil can linger anywhere in the system.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
Rik

rikweller said:

you may even find that once u have repaired the leak/replace faulty unit, you can be finding traces of oil in the system for months, just keep flushing every couple of weeks to clean it out. can be a b**** to really clean as oil can linger anywhere in the system.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
Rik

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It was the rad!! Got it tested today for a fiver and its basically ****ed! We'll have a new one by friday

Thank god its sorted, i was dreading a cracked block! :S

Cheers for all the advice, has been a great help!

C1428 said:

It was the rad!! Got it tested today for a fiver and its basically ****ed! We'll have a new one by friday

Thank god its sorted, i was dreading a cracked block! :S

Cheers for all the advice, has been a great help!

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That's what LandyZone is for - sharing experiences.

CharlesY

C1428 said:

It was the rad!! Got it tested today for a fiver and its basically ****ed! We'll have a new one by friday

Thank god its sorted, i was dreading a cracked block! :S

Cheers for all the advice, has been a great help!

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I suggest you fill her up with clean water PLUS a tablespoonful of clothes-washing powder stuff, and run it for a week. Check in the header tank each day before you start - if you see oily signs, toss in some more powder.

Don't use DISHWASHER liquid as it foams up too much.

After a week, drain and flush, and if it is all clean, fill her up with the correct mix of anti-freeze and water, to prevent corrosion starting.

CharlesY

CharlesY said:

I suggest you fill her up with clean water PLUS a tablespoonful of clothes-washing powder stuff, and run it for a week. Check in the header tank each day before you start - if you see oily signs, toss in some more powder.

Don't use DISHWASHER liquid as it foams up too much.

After a week, drain and flush, and if it is all clean, fill her up with the correct mix of anti-freeze and water, to prevent corrosion starting.

CharlesY

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Will do! Many thanks!

glad its sorted mate

sypher said:

glad its sorted mate

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I don't think he's changed the radiator yet.

CharlesY

CharlesY said:

I don't think he's changed the radiator yet.

CharlesY

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Yep, all changed, brand new core. It was a crap non-genuine rad we used, so it kinda distroyed itself internally!