Coolant in oil

Hello,

I have a 95 Grand Prix, 3.1 engine. At first I didn't have any heat in my car for the first half of the winter. On the first, somewhat warm day we had here in Cleveland I started replacing what I thought was wearing out after 10 years to hopefully get some heat. My temperature gage would shoot up over 220 within about 10 minutes of driving, then my fan would kick on and cool it down to below normal temperature. All that was with the outside temperature below thirty. To date I've changed the T-stat, temp sensor, water pump, and flushed the system. However, today I made a big discovery. My engine's performance is good but I found water on my dipstick and a lot of "goup" on the oil filler cap. It looks like water and oil turned to grease. Could it be a head gasket? I'm constantly (daily)refilling my coolant tank. I'm not having execessive steam coming out of the exhust. How could be loosing so much coolant? Suppose I check them and find them to be good, what else could it be, or is that a very likely cause? I would hate to dig in and find that not to be the problem. Thanks in advance!

Hello,

I have a 95 Grand Prix, 3.1 engine. At first I didn't have any heat in my car for the first half of the winter. On the first, somewhat warm day we had here in Cleveland I started replacing what I thought was wearing out after 10 years to hopefully get some heat. My temperature gage would shoot up over 220 within about 10 minutes of driving, then my fan would kick on and cool it down to below normal temperature. All that was with the outside temperature below thirty. To date I've changed the T-stat, temp sensor, water pump, and flushed the system. However, today I made a big discovery. My engine's performance is good but I found water on my dipstick and a lot of "goup" on the oil filler cap. It looks like water and oil turned to grease. Could it be a head gasket? I'm constantly (daily)refilling my coolant tank. I'm not having execessive steam coming out of the exhust. How could be loosing so much coolant? Suppose I check them and find them to be good, what else could it be, or is that a very likely cause? I would hate to dig in and find that not to be the problem. Thanks in advance!


Sounds like a head gasket.

Kustomkid54 is right it could be the head gaskets. If you don't have white exhaust then the other item may be the intake manifold gasket. The 2.8L which is similar in design would leak fluid into the oil from causing a similar problem to yours. I would not drive this car very far until I found out where the coolant is going because you could be in for a major rebuild. Also drain your oil to see how much you get out. If it is more than 5 quarts you really need to get the engine worked on.

Kustomkid54 is right it could be the head gaskets. If you don't have white exhaust then the other item may be the intake manifold gasket. The 2.8L which is similar in design would leak fluid into the oil from causing a similar problem to yours. I would not drive this car very far until I found out where the coolant is going because you could be in for a major rebuild. Also drain your oil to see how much you get out. If it is more than 5 quarts you really need to get the engine worked on.

Thanks for the replys!

Sounds like a head gasket.


Entirely noob question (gotta learn somewhere, and I like to ask the best), but I have to ask it - Where are these head gaskets located under the hood, and what should they look like/do?

(Greased, dirty, etc??)

Entirely noob question (gotta learn somewhere, and I like to ask the best), but I have to ask it - Where are these head gaskets located under the hood, and what should they look like/do?

(Greased, dirty, etc??)

Well, the head gaskets are under the 2 heads.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v425/kustomkid54/snaps023.jpg

If you look at this picture, see the "dip stick", (yellow). And the plug wires? The front head is just under them. Back head is in the back by the firewall. The oil fill tub goes into the cover which is over the head.

Hope this helps.

my 94 gpse 3.1 just this past couple of weeks started drinking down the coolant thank god for the low coolant light on the dash..anyhow yesterday 4-28 the oil had changed its color to a milkshake brown not good not good..i too figured a head gasket problem but a neighbor of mine is a mechanic and he said the intake was probably at fault. head gaskets i hear cost money 100-250$ a pair so when i take apart my motor i do hope its the intake gaskets (50$?) no i didnt have white smoke either.it was good to hear about that info that gives hope. hope i didnt hurt my motor

Well, it sounds like we're in the same boat. I've had my 95 the whole ten years, it's a good car. I've just ordered gaskets and will complete the job when they come in. It's my first time doing that type of job, it's going okay. You seem to be right about the intake gaskets, they were in "bad" shape. The head gaskets seem to be okay but since I was already in there, I figured I would replace them anyway!