oil in the water

[tmikes]

can any one tell what would causes oil in the radiator of 97 mountaineer V8 ? i just had the timing cover replaced. I checked the oil and there is no sign of water. is there any way the transmission fluid get in the water ? Any help would be Appreciated

 

[Turdle]

Yup, if the trans cooler inside the radiator was to leak.

 

[tmikes]

Is that very common? would there be water in the tranmission ? Thanks

 

[drdoom]

I don't know if I'd say common, but let's say it's not uncommon. Yes water will be in the transmission, so chheck the ATF to further the diagnosis.

 

[tmikes]

ok check the ATF does not look like there is water there here is a pic of what the rad looks like. Is that oil or ATF ? Thanks for all the help

 

[tmikes]

dont know if the pic is working

 

[tmikes]

(lost photo)

 

[drdoom]

It is not.

 

[tmikes]

(lost photo)

 

[waskly]

his pic.

 

[waskly]

from that pic looks like you need a radiator. less thats rust, from never doing a coolant service.

 

[Turdle]

looks like trans fluid in there.

 

[drdoom]

Yep.

 

[tmikes]

Thanks waskly for helping me out with that pic. I just recently had some one changed and flush the rad and put antifreeze in it and they did the timming cover also.

 

[tmikes]

So it must be the rad then ?

 

[Turdle]

Yes. New radiator, another coolant flush and flush the transmission to be safe.

if the transmission fluid level is good, there is coolant in the transmission. Makes sense, if some of the fluid is in the radiator-

 

[tmikes]

Thanks Turdle ya the transmission fluid level is good. Never though of it like that makes very good sense. hard to tell on the stick if it is water or ATF. Much Appreciate

 

[tmikes]

Should I change the transmission filter and drain the thetransfer case or will just taking a qt. of ATF out a putting one in tell it comes out clean work ? Thanks for all the help

 

[colintrax]

Replace the rad yourself, and flush the cooling system yourself. Tranny flush, let the ford dealership handle that. Costs a lil under $200 at the dealership and then you don't have to mess with nasty ATF or worry about leaving some coolant in the trans.

 

[lobo411]

I should have taken a picture of what I found on my radiator cap/radiator filler neck tonight before cleaning it. Oh well.

There were 2, 2 mm diameter globs of a rust-colored substance with a jelly-like consistency on the brass piece on the bottom side of the radiator cap, as well as a very thin film of the same coating the bottom of the radiator cap/internal coolant passages visible when you remove the radiator cap.

My first thought was: Motor oil! I assumed the hot water in the cooling system would turn the motor oil from honey/black to rust colored, but now I'm not so sure. My coolant levels are stable, but I've had an issue with the car running cool so it all just clicked "head gasket" to me. But seeing this thread makes me not so sure.

Tomorrow I'll run the car, change the oil, and check the transmission fluid dipstick. However, I change the oil religiously every 3 mo and top off my oil every week, and I've never seen anything unusual (coolant) in the oil or on the dipstick. I flush the coolant every 2-3 years (most recently last year), so I'm confident it's not rust. I haven't checked the trans fluid in a while, but I changed the fluid a little over a year ago and it looked fine.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!