1989 festiva:Motor Oil in my radiator

[Linda]

I have oil in the coolant but no coolant in my oil. Doesn't smoke.. ????

[nitrofarm]

I have oil in the coolant but no coolant in my oil. Doesn't smoke.. ????

Automatic Trans?

[dalebwilson]

Leaking head gasket could be a possibility.

[ricko1966]

If it is an automatic I would suspect the transmission cooler in the radiator is leaking check hour transmission fluid if it is overfull it is swapping fluid if it is milky it is swapping fluid.on a manual transmission car I would think it is the head gasket is leaking at an oil passage oil pressure is greater than cooling system pressure so you just blow oil int cooling system not vice versa.

[harpon]

I had that on my old '88. I guess it was the head gasket cause it was a manual. When I bought it the water pump was squeaking and mechanics told me I needed a new water pump. I put some additive lubricant in, it quit squeaking but after that there was always this brown oily gunk in the coolant-

the good news is that I drove it over another 100 K -from 175 to 275-without ever having to replace the water pump- never leaked and never overheated- even in 115 degree heat of California desert.

[Linda]

What do you think about it being the intake manifold gasket, it has been suggested to me? Oh it is a manual trans. Thanks for all the help.

[nitrofarm]

I dont see how an intake gasket could allow Oil into the pressurized Coolant system.

[zoom zoom]

Other vehicles have oil galleys going thru the intake manifold, but we don't. Probably the head gasket... Mine is doing it too for like 15,000 miles or so, maybe 20? Eh I'll run it until I get tired of adding oil then fix it or get a new engine. Won't hurt much as long as you don't run out of oil in the motor. Make sure the oil isn't brown, if it's going both ways you might have a problem. I have so much oil in the radiator I'm pretty sure there isn't any antifreeze left, oil doesn't freeze lol.. It'll be ok.

[harpon]

Mine never seemed to go the other way and get coolant into the oil- but every time I changed the coolant, it soon had the brown gunk in it. At first I thought it was the water pump lubricant but after a couple of coolant changes, I fggured it wasn't- The car never used much oil anyway- When I drove it between California and Indiana several times- I think I was putting a quarter of a quart in after 12 hours or more driving- maybe 7-800 miles, so oil consumption was never an issue with me considering how economical the car was otherwise.

[ricko1966]

It is not an intake gasket v engines v4 v6 v8 have the issue of a leaky intake will leak coolant into the lifter valley and then drain into the oil,but they swap antifreeze to oil,not oil to antifreeze.Only four possibilities I see cracked head cracked block warped head or eroded sealing ring on head gasket.My money is on head gasket,I don't even suspect the head or block but someone is going to tell you it could be.Anyways easy job on our cars 3 hours if your good.