Oil in the radiator

[Flash]

But no water in the oil or transmission and no exhaust in the water.

I didn't think it was trans fluid but I had a spare radiator so i put that in in case it was the trans cooler.
There's still oil in the water but that may have come out of the block.

When I changed out the engine about 2 years ago I replaced one of the heads and installed a new steel head gasket. I can't see a steel gasket blowing.

Do the head bolts need to be retorqued? I don't remember if I did.
And if they do need retorquing is it likely that water could get into the oil?

 

[SoHK_alumni]

Think you'll need to clean up the coolant and then monitor for "new" oil the coolant.

If you continue to get oil into the coolant, there are darn few places it could come from.

On the early V8 Explorers, there's an oil/water cooler at the oil filter.

Other than that, a very small leak at one of the head gaskets, just allowing oil at high pressure to migrate into the coolant but small enough to keep the water out when the engine is hot but shut down.

Typically no, no need to re-torque the head gaskets but in your situation, don't think it'd hurt either.

 

[Flash]

On the early V8 Explorers, there's an oil/water cooler at the oil filter.

I usually say what engine I have when I post, I forgot this time.
It's a SOHC.

I did clean it up then there was some more oil coming up. I didn't know if it was still coming out of the block or if it was more of the same.

Looks like I should retorque the head.
At least there isn't water in the oil.

 

[lobo411]

Mine has a little bit of brown gummy stuff on/near the radiator cap, but since it's not clear what it is exactly (could be engine oil, could be trans fluid, could just be some kind of radiator deposit) and since there are no other obvious problems, I just clean it up when I see it. Unless you have a ton of oil or if it's more than just an annoyance, I wouldn't tear up the whole engine in the hopes of addressing it.

For all you know, it could just be that a little engine oil got into the radiator when you changed the head gasket and now it's migrating out of the cooling system. And in the process of trying to fix an annoyance, you break a wire or a vacuum line or something.

 

[Flash]

For all you know, it could just be that a little engine oil got into the radiator when you changed the head gasket and now it's migrating out of the cooling system. .

No, it's been 2 years and there's a fair bit of oil.

I changed out the radiator hoping against hope that it was the trans cooler and it 'refilled' with oil cream.

Now it's losing water, I can't tell where from.

I'll check the plugs for a clue as to how to proceed and which head I'm dealing with.