Oil in coolant

I noticed my engine was getting quite hot and had a flashing red light so I checked my coolant lines and had a leak. I then noticed my coolant level kept going down so figured I had another leak.

Today I took out most the coolant hose and as I was flushing out the engine and hose I didn't take out, the water that was going onto the floor had a small bit of what looked like oil in it. I checked the oil it seems fine (a little more runny I guess but no clue)

What does this mean, have I got a blown head gasket? Is it just dirty pipes?

Any help would be great before I started taking apart the head gasket to investigate.

Whoa…..

For oil/AF mix there are a couple of things that can do that.

1. Blown head gasket.
2. Oil Stabilizer failure.

So lets check a few things first.

For a blown head gasket, do this replace all the hoses, and refill your coolant.  

Take a latex glove or Balloon and tie it over the cap of the expansion tank tightly.  

Start the car and then rev the engine above 3000 RPM for 30 seconds.  If the Glove inflates and gives you the finger, bad head gasket possible warped head.

Oil stabilizers, that is the box between the oil filter flange and the oil filter,



Have been known to leak and allow oil in to the AF

Why because coolant is at or around 15 psi or 1 bar, where Oil is at 2-4 bars or 30 ps1-60 psi

If I suspected the head gasket and I had a oil stabilizer, then I would replace it at the same time.

Be sure that you get a new o-ring for it. As it is cheaper than a HG and Bolts, I would replace it first.

On my 90's Cabbies I never had one, but when I added one I used the external oil cooler.  My 81 Diesel Golf never had one either, I suspect it was because of the Oil pressure on that would of blown it up like a balloon.

If it is the head gasket, then I would say tohave the head checked for warpage, as well as needing new HG and bolts, as the head bolts can not be re-used.

Thanks so much I'll have a look later to check it out hopefully it's nothing too expensive

oil cooler first and easiest just by pass it and run it