oil in radiator?

[tkannegaard]

is oil in the radiator usually just a bad head gasket or is a crack more common?

[GenevaDirt]

sign of blown head gasket...check for anti-freeze in the oil too.

[tkannegaard]

no antifreeze in oil. just oil in antifreeze

[pyrothehitman]

I agree with Geneva...blown gasket. When JYing, the first thing you check on used engine are the radiator for signs of oil.

another thing that results from blown gaskets is excess condensation from the tailpipe. Do you see water dripping or sprutting out of the tailpipe?

[citizen caine]

blown head gasket..
another sign to look for.
take the radiator cap off, then start the car.
you will see water moving around as a normal condition.
With a blown head gasket you will see bubbles in the water. this is a result of cylinder pressure being pushed into your coolant passages.

[Movin]

Sounds like that one isn't too bad yet, check the head for any needs and replace the gasket. Running on coolant can hurt o2 sensor, Cat, and scuff the bore. If it hydraulics and your starting system is good it can damage internal rotating parts, when you try to start it.

[blkfordsedan]

is oil in the radiator usually just a bad head gasket or is a crack more common?

Is your car an auto trans or a manual? If it's an auto, it could be getting trans fluid into the radiator via the trans cooler.

[Movin]

The oily look won't be black and the smell won't have hints of a wet muffler smell. Good call!

[tkannegaard]

oil is black lol not red. no condensation in tail pipe. will force coolant out of radiator sometimes

[citizen caine]

If you pull the head off to replace the gasket.
Take a straight edge across the head surface to look for any warp.
If i remember correct, I think anything under .003" is ok. any more than that and you'll need to get the head milled.

on a side note,
milling the head will increase your compression ratio giving you more power!

[Movin]

It will probably be flatter than either spec if cleaned up good.

[blkfordsedan]

I recommend having aluminum heads re-surfaced, regardless of how flat they are. It's not 100% required, but it greatly increases the chance of getting the best possible seal on the head gasket. You will get the optimum surface finish for the gasket and there will be no question about it being flat. Most factory gaskets are a real pain to scrape off, and you end up gouging the surface. Even using an abrasive wheel can scratch the aluminum and have a detrimental effect on gasket seal. Nothing sucks like having a new head gasket leak.........I'd rather spend the extra $40 and enjoy the insurance.

[citizen caine]

if you have the money to get them milled, absolutely.
But sometimes your on a budget and thats not an option.
Im definitively with blkfordsedan, mill them if you can.

[JoDan]

If its right at the threshold on flatness then I usually get them resurfaced just so I have the excuse to get them checked for cracks while I'm at it. Otherwise its not a huge deal.

[tkannegaard]

started swaping gasket yesterday found a guy in spokane that rebuilds heads for like 100 bucks with core 140 without lol so i just bought one new valve grind milled and pressure checked replacing radiator for giggles while im at it with timing belt tentioner hoses and water pump