oil in coolant

latonyathomas53 · Post by **latonyathomas53** » 11 Oct 2017, 13:23

I have 2000 Volvo S70, I have oil in my coolant tank; my car is not smoking or running hot in fact it drives very good but I know this should not be and I need to know what there that I can do about it would someone please help.

Post by **June** » 11 Oct 2017, 13:31

If nothing is wrong maybe previous owner put water pump lubricant in the system. I know Zerex used to sale it and it looked like oil in the radiator. If not than system needs to be tested.

Post by **precopster** » 11 Oct 2017, 14:41

How long have you owned the car?

The transmission cooler can breach causing not only oil in coolant but coolant in transmission which could mean the end of the transmission in a very short time.

I would be doing a drain and fill of the coolant and see if it returns.

Post by **scot850** » 11 Oct 2017, 14:43

Assuming you have an auto, your oil cooler for the auto runs the oil through the LH end of the radiator. The oil cooler section can leak crack and leak oil into the coolant. Check the transmission oil level when hot. Do you have a 4 or 5 speed auto trans?

Neil.

latonyathomas53 · Post by **latonyathomas53** » 11 Oct 2017, 15:08

scot850 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2017, 14:43 Assuming you have an auto, your oil cooler for the auto runs the oil through the LH end of the radiator. The oil cooler section can leak crack and leak oil into the coolant. Check the transmission oil level when hot. Do you have a 4 or 5 speed auto trans?

Neil.

I have had the car a week and it has a new radiator, the coolant to the radiator is good is it possible for me to run water from the water hose though the coolant jug and clean all the nasty out with out it harming anything and it did an auto trans. I know I need a new heater coil which I have and it will be replaced on tomorrow do you think this has anything to do with it?

latonyathomas53 · Post by **latonyathomas53** » 11 Oct 2017, 15:12

precopster wrote: ↑11 Oct 2017, 14:41 How long have you owned the car?

The transmission cooler can breach causing not only oil in coolant but coolant in transmission which could mean the end of the transmission in a very short time.

I would be doing a drain and fill of the coolant and see if it returns.

I have had the car for a week, how do I drain and fill the coolant jug?

Post by **erikv11** » 11 Oct 2017, 15:29

Heater core problems will not result in oil in the coolant. Not unless the previous owner put some oily concoction in there to try to seal up the bad heater core.

To drain the coolant the best way is to pull the lower radiator hose off where it connects to the bottom of the radiator, like underneath the car at about the driver's side high beam headlight. Have a bucket under there, it will come out fast. There is also a drain valve on the bottom of the radiator in about the same location on the car, but they break very easily and you likely need a new radiator if it breaks. Stick with the hose. There is also a drain valve on the engine block but you don;t need to use that one if you refill and flush the system a few times using the hose. Then refill with fresh 50:50 coolant, I'd use Zerex G-05 (e.g. viewtopic.php?t=79804)

Post by **scot850** » 11 Oct 2017, 15:49

If the OP has a 2000 does the coolant flow through the oil cooler in the back of the oil pan from the engine?

If you have only owned the vehicle for a week, was the radiator replaced by the previous owner, and if so why? It could be he had the issue and what (hopefully) you have is the residue finding its way to the highest point in the system.

There is no easy way to remove the header tank to clean, but if you are replacing the heater core and draining the system down, now is the time to remove the header tank and clean it.

Be VERY careful removing the header tank. The power steering header tank is hooked onto it and needs to be un-hooked and lifted out the way.

Lift the coolant tank carefully as the level sensor is plugged under it and it is easy to damage the wire to it. There is a connector for the level sensor underneath the tank sitting on the inner fender. You may need an extra hand to support the header tank while separating the connector. While you are in there check the condition of the larger coolant pipe from the bottom of the tank to the metal pipe at the back of the block. These become dry and can crack, and again while in there it may be worth considering replacing it for safety. If it is nice and flexible you can make the call to replace or not.

Neil.

Post by **jimmy57** » 11 Oct 2017, 17:12

That car has an oil pan mounted oil cooler. Those can and do rupture. If you take the coolant hoses off the cooler and connect them together and then flush cooling system with Cascade auto dishwasher soap, probably three times. Then you can run the car a few days and see that the oil doesn't return but does run out of the hose connections on cooler. If so you have a definite answer. If the oil-coolant mix is pinkish and looks like Pepto-Bismol then it is auto trans fluid. If it looks more like a half caff, latte macchiato frappuccino then it is motor oil.

latonyathomas53 · Post by **latonyathomas53** » 12 Oct 2017, 06:31

scot850 wrote: ↑11 Oct 2017, 15:49 If the OP has a 2000 does the coolant flow through the oil cooler in the back of the oil pan from the engine?

If you have only owned the vehicle for a week, was the radiator replaced by the previous owner, and if so why? It could be he had the issue and what (hopefully) you have is the residue finding its way to the highest point in the system.

There is no easy way to remove the header tank to clean, but if you are replacing the heater core and draining the system down, now is the time to remove the header tank and clean it.

Be VERY careful removing the header tank. The power steering header tank is hooked onto it and needs to be un-hooked and lifted out the way.

Lift the coolant tank carefully as the level sensor is plugged under it and it is easy to damage the wire to it. There is a connector for the level sensor underneath the tank sitting on the inner fender. You may need an extra hand to support the header tank while separating the connector. While you are in there check the condition of the larger coolant pipe from the bottom of the tank to the metal pipe at the back of the block. These become dry and can crack, and again while in there it may be worth considering replacing it for safety. If it is nice and flexible you can make the call to replace or not.

Neil.

Thank you for this information I am having some work done on the car today I will let you know how it turns out, again thank you