radiator filled with oil

[84mcss]

i have a 98 gtp and my low coolant light and low oil light kept coming on and going off. I checked my oil and i was a quart low so then i checked my antifreeze and my overflow tank was filled with oil. So i uncapped the radiator after it cooled down and i found nothing but oil. I couldnt even smell antifreeze just the smell of oil. Also all of my cooling system hoses were literally "sweating" or seeping out oil. Very shiny and wet. So i rechecked my oil again to make sure it wasnt mixed with antifreeze and it was not. It was still fresh because of an oil change two weeks prior to this happening. I was told that my block was probably cracked but i dont think thats the case since i work in an engine machine shop and have seen the outcome of that.
After trying to figure out what had happened i took it to a friends shop and he told me my oil cooler inside of the radiator was cracked .

Has anyone ever ran into this problem before?

[bricker82]

Possibly a lower intake gasket. Known to fail often on the 97-03 series. My wifes car had this issue and it sucks. You have to pull the entire top assembly off to get to it as far as I know. But most likely this is the issue from my experience.

[GaryFenza]

Yep, welcome to the wonderful world of replacing the lower intake manifold gaskets. Thats most likely your problem

[tblake]

I disagree on the lower intake problem. Lower intakes will leak coolant into the oil, not oil into the coolant. Plus its not that common of a problem on the 3.8.

What color is the oil in the radiator, red? Check the transmission fluid to see that it is full. Maybe it might even be chalky bright red, indicating that coolant is getting in. At any rate you can do some major damage to your transmission if you continue to drive it with coolant in it. I would recommend to replace the radiator and do a complete flush of the transmission and filter change.

[bricker82]

Yeah it's a possibility, but he stated

i uncapped the radiator after it cooled down and i found nothing but oil

It's kinda unlikely that it's ATF then. You're right though, it's more the coolant getting into the oil and not the other way around.

[troy1]

I'll place bets on ATF! check your trans.

[bricker82]

ATF doesn't smell or look like motor oil though. Maybe when it mixes with coolant it does though!

[GTP Dad]

For the most part the only way that oil can get in to the radiator is from the transmission. The transmission works at a much higher pressure than the cooling system and can push tranny fluid into the radiator. If you are using dexcool it is possible that the dex is bad and has been mixed with tranny fluid. I would check the transmission as water can get into the trans fluid when the engine is off. If you leave it long enough it will ruin the tranny.

[bricker82]

Wow, good info. Even though I don't have the problem, thanks!

[84mcss]

well my car is in the shop right now and i am awaiting the info on the problem. My buddy did mention that it could be trans fluid but i checked all my fluid right when i discovered the problem. Oil looked and smelled good (just changed 2 weeks prior.) and the trans fluid looked and smelled good (just changed 1 month prior to this happening)
I will keep you all posted on the issue when it is fixed.
thanx....

[84mcss]

well i finally got some news today. First of all my radiator had nothing to do with it. Second, my boss got a technical bulletin from AERA engine builders association. This is what it says "The AERA technical committee offers the following information concerning engine oil in the coolant on 1995-2006 GM 3.8L VIN K engines. This undesirable situation can occur with seemingly low mileage on the engine. If the oil is allowed to remain in the coolant, overheating and internal engine damage will result.

The uncommon location of this oil leak has been found to be at the rear of the engine between the blok and rear block plate. This block plate seals both pressurized engine oil and coolant by the means of a paper gasket. The area separating the oil and coolant is very narrow. It has been reported that over time the gasket will deteriorate, providing a path for oil to enter the near-by cooling passage."

Has anyone ever had this problem before in here???

[tblake]

never even heard of it. News to me, almost seems like a knee deep pile of b/s. Block plate? Maybe the shop is trying to sell you an engine rebuild for something as simple as R&R of the radiator. Take it somewhere else and had a second diagnosis.

[84mcss]

My car has been to 2 shops. The radiator has nothing to do with it because it only has a trans cooler not an oil cooler. There is no trans fluid leaking in there Just oil. Nobody seems to know what the problem is. This is the only reasonable thing that could be wrong. Anyways, im taking it to another place that my boss told me to take it to.
My car is cursed

Trans=rebuilt
Rack and pinion=replaced
power steering pump=replaced
control arms=replaced
struts=replaced
upper intake=replaced
lower intake=replaced
supercharger coupler=replaced
Car has been hit= twice
abs/trac= doesnt work
passenger side window=doesnt work
and now this....

car has 100,000k on it and i have owned it for a year and a half
had 76000k when i bought it.

[bricker82]

WOw, I would have that car exercised for demons!!!

Good Luck man,