Oil in coolant 97 Z28

Well I figured I would ask you guys. My friend is getting ready to pull his 97 Z28 out of the garage. Last time I was under the hood I noticed there was oil in his coolant. The car runs fine but it does sound like there is a small tick in the lifters or something.

Now he does not take the best care of his cars and when I told him he said its been like that for a long time well before I drove it.... I had thought I did something to it and felt bad.

What could be causing this? What will happen if nothing is done about it?


I have changed the coolant in it twice and I changed the oil/trans fluid and filter last year when I had it for the summer.... Also had to put a transmission mount it it as it was broken when I picked it up.

Are you certain it's engine oil? Could it be trans fluid?

Transmission coolers run through the radiator and can (rarely) leak into the cooling system. Put some on your finger and smell it... Compare the color, too. If ANY "red", it's trans fluid.

If it IS oil, it's not a good sign. In order for oil to get into the water, oil pressure must override water pressue. This can only happen in the block, and not the heads, as there are no pressurized passages to the heads. You'll get water in the oil if the heads are leaking somewhere.

Check it out and get back to us.

Jim

ok... we are gonna try to get it out soon .. i gotta help him as he cant really get in and out of the car since his back surgery

I finally got it out and it is indeed oil .... he does not seem to care though.

well that is a sure sign of a blown head gasket or warped head or something of the sort, which is BAD.
although, a 97 Z28 isnt that hard to come by so if he is determined to kill it, a new one should be easy to find i guess

Well I guess he is selling it... I doubt it will sell though.

He is in his 60s and cant get in it since he had back surgery.

Typical sign of a blown head gasket.