Re: Oil in the coolant - 2 liter

[C2slayman@domain.elided]

David,
    The head gasket can fail in three ways - oil passage seals, water passage seals and combution chamber seal.  And any of these seals can fail in different ways causing different leakage paths.  For example, an oil seal failure can leak into the coolant passage, into the combustion chamber or outside the head.  Of course, for oil to get into the coolant, that seal must fail also.  Since the oils is at a higher pressure than the coolant (15 - 75psi vs 0 - 7psi), it is the oil that will leak into the coolant during engine operation.  Water can leak into the oil passages (frothy oil in the sump - DANGER WILL ROBINSON!  DANGER! DANGER!) when the engine is shut down, but this might be a negligible effect in your case - so you wouldn't see dye in the oil.  Can you add dye to the oil and look for it in the cooling system?  I bet that's where you find it!  (You didn't really explain the dye kit procedure - it sounds like you add it to the coolant and then look for it in the oil - or is it vice versa?)
    At any rate, do a compression test to make sure you don't have a massive head gasket fail.  If there is no water in the oil, check the clean cooling system for more signs of oil.  If you start to see it, time for a new head gasket.  It's not that bad a job if you take your time and go carefully.
    Does anyone know if the viton o-rings and brass pin kit work on the TwinSpark?  If so, that will solve the oil passage leaking problem once and for all!

Good Luck,
Charlie

  Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2002 10:12:54 +1000 (EST)
  From: David Masters <david@domain.elided>
  Subject: Oil in coolant - 2 litre

  Fellow Alfisti,

  I had the sickening experience of finding emulsified oil in my
  overflow tank on the mighty 2l Twin Spark over the weekend.  Of
  course I thought this would be terminal, and psychologically
  prepared myself for a head gasket replacement.
  Before commencing I borrowed a dye kit, and got a negative
  reading on the contents of the cooling system, and so then
  proceeded to do a thougher clean of the cooling system, using a
  chemical flush, including removal of the overflow tank, and giving
  it a good wash out with kitty litter and kero.
  Refilling it with new Coolant, there is now no evidence of there
  ever being a problem.
  What are the leading causes of oil getting into the coolant, and
  are any of them repairable?  There is no sign of any oil
  contamination in the sump.
  Without understanding why I got a "negative" on the dye test, I
  can't help thinking it is a head gasket that would let oil into
  the coolant, but it might only happen under high load conditions.

  Any comments?

  Cheers,
  david
  - -- 
  David Masters, 1989 ALFA75 Twin Spark, 100000 miles.
  Full Synthetic Engine Oil used for the life of the car.
  Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
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