Help TD5 oil in the coolant.

Apologies if this has been discussed before but I have done a forum search and nothing came up!

Right, like many others on here I was losing coolant most of which seemed to be from the expansion bottle lid. During a trip of about 20miles the other day temp gauge shot up then in a matter of moments went back down again a couple more miles and back up again didn't go down straight away this time so pulled up, allowed to cool, released pressure, and removed expansion bottle lid to discover oil in the coolant.

Had a quick look on here and other sites when I got in hoping that I don't need a new block!!

The general view was that the oil cooler had rotted thus oil in coolant.

Problem is oil cooler is totally separate to the radiator so how is this possible? I am now in process of replacing the radiator, oil cooler, expansion bottle, lid, coolant pipes and all filters now anyway.

Am I now looking at head gasket or... I have been told that there is an oil cooling matrix that is bolted to side of the engine next to the oil filter and the gaskets/o'rings on this may have gone.

Please, any knowledgable help will be gratefully received, I am in NW France, I will have a go at more serious mechanics (because I have to) but am by no-means a mechanic. I have tools (no specialised tho) and all work will be carried out outdoors as no garage.

If it's head gasket- how difficult?

If it is oil cooler matrix, same question how difficult. I have just ordered a Haynes manual.

The Landy is a 110 TD5 on a W (2000) with 145K on the clock.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Johnny

Anyone?

The oil cooler on the TD5 is bolted to the exhaust side of the engine and forms part of the cylinder block water jacket. Its not too hard to change but you need to remove a heap of stuff to get to it.

Head gasket is a bit more involved but not beyond someone with basic mechanical skills.

How much oil are we talking? If it's loads it's most likely the oil cooler. If it's just a light skim then hg is more likely.

90% chance that its the oil cooler, its made out of some realy flimsy metal that corodes away with hard water, hence we only use distilled water and a 50/50 mix of good anti freez. Its easy enough to get the cooler replaced, hoses also get damaged if driven like this for any extended period of time, We have this problem very often nad have had some cooler matrixes made up special order from an ebgeneering firm, will post pics if anybody interested. new martix has never broken on us yet,

Thanks all thats really quite helpful, there is lots of oil in the water so I will start with the oil cooler.
Rean can anyone purchase the coolers from your engineering co' as I would like to replace with one that will last.

Thanks again.