coolant in oil

[airworthy]

'99 Bravada: went to chg oil & found water mixed with oil (oil filter looks brown milky). Water Pump? Intake Manifold Gasket? or maybe Head Gasket? Any suggestions? Thanks

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, I assume you have loosing coolant then, no? More than likely the intake would do this as opposed to cyl. hd. You can test for a bad hd gasket first, there are kits available that test for exhaust gases in the coolant, maybe that should be step one.

[duke350]

Very common for the intake gasket to leak on these. Its a pretty simple job if you have the tools and basic mechanical knowledge. There is a how to with pictures posted in the Blazer section. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=879228
There is also a how to for the head gaskets, but it is more likely the intake gaskets.

[KCarter82]

Definately, if you do it yourself, even if you don't see a crack in the Heads, have it tested to make sure it isnt cracked.

Did it overheat at all? Overheating can cause even the smallest hair line crack invisible to the naked eye. Carbon build up can also hide them. Without a pressure test done in a shop theres no way to be 100% sure they aren't. I hope they aren't. Better safe than sorry tho.

I hope they are right about the intake. Just my 2 cents offered from experience with intake/head gasket leaks. Put one back together only to find out there was a hair line crack that couldnt be seen. That day really sucked.

KC

[airworthy]

Just an update: I pulled the intake manifold (upper and lower) and the evidence was there.....yellowy/brown mix. I replaced the Upper and Lower manifold gaskets. I also pulled, cleaned, and replaced valve covers with new gaskets. All seems to be well now (other than no heat.....Probably that pesky heater core clogged again. Hose going in is hot, hose coming out is cold).
Thanks for the help.
ps. I found a loose vacuum hose near the drivers side fender. Don't know where it goes, but I put a screw in it. Any suggestions? I can hear some hissing like a vacuum leak.

[Chris Stewart]

If you don't have a ball shaped vacuum tank on the underside of the hood, look for a vacuum hose nipple in the area below your driverside hood hinge...there's a square shaped vacuum tank inside the fender.