Hi everybody this is my first post. I was loosing antifreeze constantly the last 5 months and started to notice my oil level rising with the engine light on the past 2 years. I read about the possible causes on this forum tried to check for codes but accidently erased them so I went ahead and changed out my lower intake gaskets new plenum and front valve cover. Changed my oil after the work was done and again after 300 miles . Problem now is my car makes lifter noise after if warms up going up when rpm's go up. My car ran good except for the water problem. Don't know where to go from here. anyone help here. Thanks

Are you saying there is still coolant getting into the oil?

Are you saying there is still coolant getting into the oil?
no water in oil runs good, just makes noise like lifters during acceleration and at idle after 10-15 mile ride. put one quart of rislone in to clean enging after 1st oil change took it for a ride and the noise started by time i was back home. put 300 miles on it and changed oil again the noise continues don't know what to look at or if should just do the whole job over again, looks like intake manifold runner did not move freely when i was cleaning it i left the imrc hooked up so i did not push on the very hard did not want to break anything. seems like something i did created the problem the water in oil problem is gone, the heater works normal, its just the lifter noise driving me crazy.

forgot to mention i have a 3.8 L cargo van.

There's a good chance your work caused a problem that a number of '99's had ... the inner plastic piece on the intake upper gets loose and rattles. Some folks keep the rattle down by applying RTV, as an adhesive, between the inner and outer piece. Just a few daubs does the trick.

I up-graded to the new style with plastic rivets looks like

will the inner plastic piece rattle?

I mean will the spacer that goes between the upper and lower rattle?

If you have the upgraded upper ... I'm not sure what may be the noise source. Have you tried "sampling" the noise, with a plastic tube or hose to the ear, to see if you can better locate it?

I will give that a try, thanks 12ounce

Well I tried the stethoscope and it seems i can hear the tapping that now sounds like knocking coming from the egr valve the loudest, you can also hear some from each of the injectors. Don't know where to go from here, does someone have any advice,
thanks

I don't like oil additives such as Rislone ... but I don't blame you for trying something. Of course, nothing is as bad as coolant ... and apparently your engine had quite a bit in it. I don't know how extensive the damage may be ... I know nothing to do other than keep an eye on the oil and keep driving it until you sense the engine is about to fail.

I rebuilt a Escort engine once that had extensive coolant damage ... in fact I'm still driving it. But a 3.8 is bigger and more complicated (enclosed chain drives) ... it could be a costly rebuild ... but I don't really know for sure.

Thanks 12ounce, it really runs good other than the noise, I guess i will just run it as long as i can, sure like this van and hate to give up on it.