Coolant in oil

[road2damascus]

Well I am here for the same reasons most others come here. I have a Ford Explorer XLT 4.0l, I really like it, and I need advice before I start tearing into it. My name is Mike. I have 3 SUV's, 02 Explorer, 95 GMC Jimmy s-15, and a 94 Jeep Wrangler. My wife drives the Explorer. That's actually a complement to this truck because its the safest, most comfortable, and most reliable of my vehicles. I graduated from Wyoming Technical Institute and was a mechanic for a little while as a profession. I now plow snow and do many trades for money in my own business. I work on all my vehicles myself and am about to finally dig into the Explorer after having 104k of virtually trouble free miles. I have been lurking around this site and just now became a registered member. My search does not necessarily work and the info I have found doesn't directly answer my question.

I did an oil change last night and found a slight "Chocolate Mousse" look to my oil. I automatically said its the beginnings of a blown head gasket or intake gasket. It has been taking a long time to warm up (thermostat open) and I noticed that the lower thermostat housing was wet. I read all the posts on the lower thermostat housing problems and plan on replacing this, thermostat, gaskets, seals, and temperature sensor. I have not done any tests for compression yet. Coolant level is still good so its not leaking to much.

My Question: Is it possible that the coolant in the oil could be directly related to the thermostat housing leak? Can it cause the intake manifold gasket to fail?


Thanks in advance.

 

[NHarris]

Hmm, I wouldn't think a thermostat housing leak would cause it to mix with the oil. I could be wrong. You would see coolant flowing towards the back of the block in the "valley" of the engine or up front like you said.
I would go ahead and replace the thermostat housing, like you mentioned. Must be a fail safe thermostat so it went bad and remains open.

Do you happen to smell coolant (even a slight hint) in the exhaust? If not I would go for the intake gasket first.

 

[road2damascus]

Thanks Nate

Thanks for the reply. I guess I am just searching for an easier fix than another head gasket. I just had to do one on my Jeep in December and considering how cold it is here and I don't have a heated place to work on it.....I am not looking forward to another! To answer your question, yes there is a hint of coolant smell coming from the exhaust. Now I got to figure out what side its leaking from. One more question, these heads require new bolts anytime the head is taken off correct? Torque-to-yield right. I also found the tightening sequence along with the additional 90 degree turn on the 12mm bolts. Any other tricks I need to know?

Mike

 

[muhl5443]

make sure you have the timing all lined up correctly. most head gaskets are sold in pairs. you are better off just doing both sides.

 

[NHarris]

The bolts are the torque-to-yield ones. With the extra 90 degree turn, if you didn't know, draw a line on the bolt. Makes the process easier. Other than that no tips that I can think of. I just quickly read through the repair manual for the 4.0L SOHC explorers, not any important tips that I can see.
Like muhl5443 said, just do both sides. My 98 Explorer had a blown head gasket; both sides were replaced.
And make sure to get everything to TDC.

 

[chitown1211]

Well I am here for the same reasons most others come here. I have a Ford Explorer XLT 4.0l, I really like it, and I need advice before I start tearing into it. My name is Mike. I have 3 SUV's, 02 Explorer, 95 GMC Jimmy s-15, and a 94 Jeep Wrangler. My wife drives the Explorer. That's actually a complement to this truck because its the safest, most comfortable, and most reliable of my vehicles. I graduated from Wyoming Technical Institute and was a mechanic for a little while as a profession. I now plow snow and do many trades for money in my own business. I work on all my vehicles myself and am about to finally dig into the Explorer after having 104k of virtually trouble free miles. I have been lurking around this site and just now became a registered member. My search does not necessarily work and the info I have found doesn't directly answer my question.

I did an oil change last night and found a slight "Chocolate Mousse" look to my oil. I automatically said its the beginnings of a blown head gasket or intake gasket. It has been taking a long time to warm up (thermostat open) and I noticed that the lower thermostat housing was wet. I read all the posts on the lower thermostat housing problems and plan on replacing this, thermostat, gaskets, seals, and temperature sensor. I have not done any tests for compression yet. Coolant level is still good so its not leaking to much.

My Question: Is it possible that the coolant in the oil could be directly related to the thermostat housing leak? Can it cause the intake manifold gasket to fail?


Thanks in advance.

I notice you are in IL. Which is a cold weather state. I live in MN which is obviously cold too.

Recently I noticed some white goo on the bottom of my oil cap. My first thought was that the head gasket is going and its time to start pricing repairs.

I then googled " white milky substance under oil cap" and was immeadiately hit with thousands of results. I was surprised how common this was.

Long story short......When it is super cold outside, it is very common for condensation to form in the engine. This usually happens when vehicles are driven short distances and the oil doesnt get hot enough to burn away the condensation. Many people have this problem in the winter on all kinds of vehicles. It is actually quite common and not harmful in most cases.



Perhaps this is your issue? Especaily if everything tests ok. I am sure it's not out of the question for some of this condensation goo to build up and fall into the engine itself.

Give it a google and good luck.

 

[wood1]

http://www.misterfixit.com/headgskt.htm

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

No need to replace the intake manifold gasket. This year explorer does not have a lower intake plenum. No coolant flows near or through any of the intake ports. The large intake manifold on top the engine that you see, bolts directly to the head intake ports. No coolant nor oil flows through it.

-That source can be eliminated.

 

[road2damascus]

Thank you all for your replies. That was my first post on this site and I was relieved to get replies other than "There is a search function you know". Explorer has been sitting ever since my first post. Whole family got sick including me and I work out in the cold. Not a good combo. I will keep you all posted as to what I find.

 

[NHarris]

Looking forward to the updates. Even post some pictures up of the work your doing on your Explorer for visual aids.

 

[road2damascus]

Long time no update

Lost my passwords for my websites. So as it turns out it was condensation in oil due to what "Chitown 1211" posted :

When it is super cold outside, it is very common for condensation to form in the engine. This usually happens when vehicles are driven short distances and the oil doesnt get hot enough to burn away the condensation. Many people have this problem in the winter on all kinds of vehicles. It is actually quite common and not harmful in most cases.

I still have a slight leak in the lower thermostat housing that needs fixing before winter.

 

[chitown1211]

Lost my passwords for my websites. So as it turns out it was condensation in oil due to what "Chitown 1211" posted :

When it is super cold outside, it is very common for condensation to form in the engine. This usually happens when vehicles are driven short distances and the oil doesnt get hot enough to burn away the condensation. Many people have this problem in the winter on all kinds of vehicles. It is actually quite common and not harmful in most cases.

I still have a slight leak in the lower thermostat housing that needs fixing before winter.

Great news. Also makes me think how many people have wasted money and prematturely repaird their head gasket.

A mechanic could easily scam wih this.