Oil in Coolant

"G R Easton" wrote in message

> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>
> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator.
> There doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any
> relatively easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to
> find out that it was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head
> gasket? A radiator?
>
> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that
> it should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even
> after only 1500km is quite black?
>
> TIA for the help
>

Odds are it is transmission oil from the cooling loop in the radiator
(requires radiator replacement.) The next step is to drain the transmission
oil and look for sign of milkiness. If there are milky swirls or even
cloudiness the radiator needs to be replaced and the transmission oil
changed. Don't put it off.

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

"G R Easton" wrote in message

> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>
> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator.
> There doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any
> relatively easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to
> find out that it was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head
> gasket? A radiator?
>
> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that
> it should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even
> after only 1500km is quite black?
>
> TIA for the help
>

Odds are it is transmission oil from the cooling loop in the radiator
(requires radiator replacement.) The next step is to drain the transmission
oil and look for sign of milkiness. If there are milky swirls or even
cloudiness the radiator needs to be replaced and the transmission oil
changed. Don't put it off.

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

"G R Easton" wrote in message

> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>
> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator.
> There doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any
> relatively easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to
> find out that it was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head
> gasket? A radiator?
>
> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that
> it should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even
> after only 1500km is quite black?
>
> TIA for the help
>

Odds are it is transmission oil from the cooling loop in the radiator
(requires radiator replacement.) The next step is to drain the transmission
oil and look for sign of milkiness. If there are milky swirls or even
cloudiness the radiator needs to be replaced and the transmission oil
changed. Don't put it off.

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

I don't know about your make and model, but the car I am familiar with
(244 Turbo) has an oil cooler which is NOT integral with the radiator,
it is a separate application and thus could not contaminate the
coolant.

Assuming yours is integrated in the radiator (?!), I would first try to
eliminate that as a possible cause; drain the radiator, undo the hoses,
unbolt the radiator and remove it the radiator.

Take it to a radiator shop to be tested and if it is OK, then focus on
a blown head gasket or warped cylinder head.

Of course, if you'd rather take it to a shop, go right ahead, but for
me part of the fun of Volvos is diagnosing and repairing them myself.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

I don't know about your make and model, but the car I am familiar with
(244 Turbo) has an oil cooler which is NOT integral with the radiator,
it is a separate application and thus could not contaminate the
coolant.

Assuming yours is integrated in the radiator (?!), I would first try to
eliminate that as a possible cause; drain the radiator, undo the hoses,
unbolt the radiator and remove it the radiator.

Take it to a radiator shop to be tested and if it is OK, then focus on
a blown head gasket or warped cylinder head.

Of course, if you'd rather take it to a shop, go right ahead, but for
me part of the fun of Volvos is diagnosing and repairing them myself.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

I don't know about your make and model, but the car I am familiar with
(244 Turbo) has an oil cooler which is NOT integral with the radiator,
it is a separate application and thus could not contaminate the
coolant.

Assuming yours is integrated in the radiator (?!), I would first try to
eliminate that as a possible cause; drain the radiator, undo the hoses,
unbolt the radiator and remove it the radiator.

Take it to a radiator shop to be tested and if it is OK, then focus on
a blown head gasket or warped cylinder head.

Of course, if you'd rather take it to a shop, go right ahead, but for
me part of the fun of Volvos is diagnosing and repairing them myself.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

I don't know about your make and model, but the car I am familiar with
(244 Turbo) has an oil cooler which is NOT integral with the radiator,
it is a separate application and thus could not contaminate the
coolant.

Assuming yours is integrated in the radiator (?!), I would first try to
eliminate that as a possible cause; drain the radiator, undo the hoses,
unbolt the radiator and remove it the radiator.

Take it to a radiator shop to be tested and if it is OK, then focus on
a blown head gasket or warped cylinder head.

Of course, if you'd rather take it to a shop, go right ahead, but for
me part of the fun of Volvos is diagnosing and repairing them myself.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

G R Easton wrote:
> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>
> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator. There
> doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any relatively
> easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to find out that it
> was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head gasket? A radiator?
>
> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that it
> should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even after
> only 1500km is quite black?
>
> TIA for the help


'96 850 turbo, 75k mi, auto

I have the same problem with my car and haven't found the solution yet.
I had the head removed and inspected and no problems were found. Once
the oil gets into the cooling system, it's very difficult to get all
the oil contamination removed from the system. I still have some traces
of oil in the cooling system but nothing like it was. I should mention
that the radiator was also removed and tested at a reputable radiator
shop, no trouble found.

The only other strange symptom is a noise when the car is first
started (almost sounds like a bad bearing and varies with engine rpm).
the sound disappears after engine warms up (after driving a couple of
miles). This has been going on for at least two years and hasn't gotten
any worse. The Volvo dealer has no idea what this is about and I'm not
sure that it's related to the oil in cooling system problem.

Hope someone has seen and fixed this problem for both our sakes.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

G R Easton wrote:
> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>
> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator. There
> doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any relatively
> easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to find out that it
> was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head gasket? A radiator?
>
> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that it
> should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even after
> only 1500km is quite black?
>
> TIA for the help


'96 850 turbo, 75k mi, auto

I have the same problem with my car and haven't found the solution yet.
I had the head removed and inspected and no problems were found. Once
the oil gets into the cooling system, it's very difficult to get all
the oil contamination removed from the system. I still have some traces
of oil in the cooling system but nothing like it was. I should mention
that the radiator was also removed and tested at a reputable radiator
shop, no trouble found.

The only other strange symptom is a noise when the car is first
started (almost sounds like a bad bearing and varies with engine rpm).
the sound disappears after engine warms up (after driving a couple of
miles). This has been going on for at least two years and hasn't gotten
any worse. The Volvo dealer has no idea what this is about and I'm not
sure that it's related to the oil in cooling system problem.

Hope someone has seen and fixed this problem for both our sakes.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

G R Easton wrote:
> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>
> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator. There
> doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any relatively
> easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to find out that it
> was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head gasket? A radiator?
>
> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that it
> should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even after
> only 1500km is quite black?
>
> TIA for the help


'96 850 turbo, 75k mi, auto

I have the same problem with my car and haven't found the solution yet.
I had the head removed and inspected and no problems were found. Once
the oil gets into the cooling system, it's very difficult to get all
the oil contamination removed from the system. I still have some traces
of oil in the cooling system but nothing like it was. I should mention
that the radiator was also removed and tested at a reputable radiator
shop, no trouble found.

The only other strange symptom is a noise when the car is first
started (almost sounds like a bad bearing and varies with engine rpm).
the sound disappears after engine warms up (after driving a couple of
miles). This has been going on for at least two years and hasn't gotten
any worse. The Volvo dealer has no idea what this is about and I'm not
sure that it's related to the oil in cooling system problem.

Hope someone has seen and fixed this problem for both our sakes.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

G R Easton wrote:
> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>
> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator. There
> doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any relatively
> easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to find out that it
> was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head gasket? A radiator?
>
> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that it
> should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even after
> only 1500km is quite black?
>
> TIA for the help


'96 850 turbo, 75k mi, auto

I have the same problem with my car and haven't found the solution yet.
I had the head removed and inspected and no problems were found. Once
the oil gets into the cooling system, it's very difficult to get all
the oil contamination removed from the system. I still have some traces
of oil in the cooling system but nothing like it was. I should mention
that the radiator was also removed and tested at a reputable radiator
shop, no trouble found.

The only other strange symptom is a noise when the car is first
started (almost sounds like a bad bearing and varies with engine rpm).
the sound disappears after engine warms up (after driving a couple of
miles). This has been going on for at least two years and hasn't gotten
any worse. The Volvo dealer has no idea what this is about and I'm not
sure that it's related to the oil in cooling system problem.

Hope someone has seen and fixed this problem for both our sakes.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

Doesn't look like transmission fluid. The oil is that yellowish engine oil
colour and not the reddish tinged transmission colour. The transmission
fluid appears to be uncontaminated on the dipstick as well. Thanks though.


"Michael Pardee" wrote in message

> "G R Easton" wrote in message
>
>> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>>
>> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
>> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator.
>> There doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any
>> relatively easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to
>> find out that it was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head
>> gasket? A radiator?
>>
>> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that
>> it should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even
>> after only 1500km is quite black?
>>
>> TIA for the help
>>
>
> Odds are it is transmission oil from the cooling loop in the radiator
> (requires radiator replacement.) The next step is to drain the
> transmission oil and look for sign of milkiness. If there are milky swirls
> or even cloudiness the radiator needs to be replaced and the transmission
> oil changed. Don't put it off.
>
> Mike
>
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant 

Doesn't look like transmission fluid. The oil is that yellowish engine oil
colour and not the reddish tinged transmission colour. The transmission
fluid appears to be uncontaminated on the dipstick as well. Thanks though.


"Michael Pardee" wrote in message

> "G R Easton" wrote in message
>
>> '95 850 non-turbo, 130,000 km, auto
>>
>> I just noticed some oil in the coolant tank and after a bit of reseach
>> figure it is either the head gasket or the oil cooler in the radiator.
>> There doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil though. Is there any
>> relatively easy way to determine which? I would hate to do one only to
>> find out that it was the other. Any idea of the hours involved for a head
>> gasket? A radiator?
>>
>> One other odd thing is that it looks like clean oil. I would expect that
>> it should be about the same colour as the oil in the engine which even
>> after only 1500km is quite black?
>>
>> TIA for the help
>>
>
> Odds are it is transmission oil from the cooling loop in the radiator
> (requires radiator replacement.) The next step is to drain the
> transmission oil and look for sign of milkiness. If there are milky swirls
> or even cloudiness the radiator needs to be replaced and the transmission
> oil changed. Don't put it off.
>
> Mike
>
 >> Stay informed about: Oil in Coolant