Oil in Radiator Reservoir
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Car: 1990 Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: Stock L98
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Oil in Radiator Reservoir
A couple of months ago I noticed what appears to be a thin film of oil floating on top of the coolant reservoir.
I also noticed that the needle on the oil pressure gauge was fluctuating moving rapidly back in forth in idle and usually returning to normal when I gave it gas. When I checked the oil I was running pretty low. Filled it up and ran it for a few more days. The oil when checked from the dipstick appears fine but there is still oil in the overflow. There also seems to be a loss in power.
I stopped driving it as soon as this happened. I was about to start work this weekend and assumed it was a head gasket but I am still unsure.
What could it be?
Thanks,
Mike
I also noticed that the needle on the oil pressure gauge was fluctuating moving rapidly back in forth in idle and usually returning to normal when I gave it gas. When I checked the oil I was running pretty low. Filled it up and ran it for a few more days. The oil when checked from the dipstick appears fine but there is still oil in the overflow. There also seems to be a loss in power.
I stopped driving it as soon as this happened. I was about to start work this weekend and assumed it was a head gasket but I am still unsure.
What could it be?
Thanks,
Mike
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Car: 1990 Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: Stock L98
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Hoping for gaskets. I am going to have the heads inspected and machined along with a valve job (If they aren't cracked). Do you think I could rule out a cracked block? That's my major concern its my first car and my daily driver, need to have it going before school starts up again in late august.
Thanks
Thanks
#4
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Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Hoping for gaskets. I am going to have the heads inspected and machined along with a valve job (If they aren't cracked). Do you think I could rule out a cracked block? That's my major concern its my first car and my daily driver, need to have it going before school starts up again in late august.
Thanks
Thanks
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Car: 1990 Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: Stock L98
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Yeah it did over heat just before the problem occured. (the TB hose ruptured due to age). Thats why I think its the head gasket. It didn't red line but did get very hot had to drive for about 5 min before I could pull over.
My engine has never been frozen.
And I just checked the transmission fluid, there is no change in color or anything out of the ordinary.
My engine has never been frozen.
And I just checked the transmission fluid, there is no change in color or anything out of the ordinary.
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Car: 1983 camaro sport coupe
Engine: 2.8l v6 - stock motor
Transmission: NWC t-5
Axle/Gears: whatever came stock (?)
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
This is a little bit of an odd issue. Coolant psi is higher than the oil psi, so normally the oil gets contaminated. I know that its not unheard of, but still odd nonetheless.
Now I see that you overheated it. That is *usually* headgasket failure. As long as you didn't go past the red, your heads might still be ok.
Now I see that you overheated it. That is *usually* headgasket failure. As long as you didn't go past the red, your heads might still be ok.
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Car: 91 Z28,64ImpalaSS4094spd,67 Galaxy
Engine: Dart 415Profiler hd,cmprlrs,Hlly750
Transmission: Built 700R4, 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3:89 Moser 9"
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Do a carbon test on w/ a sniffer on the antifreeze, if positive it's a headgasket or worse, if not it could be just an intake.....
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Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
You can check for a blown head gasket by starting the engine cold and seeing if the cooling system pressurizes. With a blown head gasket, the compression goes right into teh cooling system if it blows out into the water jacket. This will also cause the puke bottle to constantly have exhaust bubbling up through it.
Also, what color is the oil? Is is brown, or red like ATF? Another possibility is a blown ATF cooler in the radiator. If its a 350 TPI, it may also have an oil cooler, which can leak oil into the cooling system. Not an uncommon problem as they age and degrade internally.
Also, what color is the oil? Is is brown, or red like ATF? Another possibility is a blown ATF cooler in the radiator. If its a 350 TPI, it may also have an oil cooler, which can leak oil into the cooling system. Not an uncommon problem as they age and degrade internally.
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Car: 91 Z28,64ImpalaSS4094spd,67 Galaxy
Engine: Dart 415Profiler hd,cmprlrs,Hlly750
Transmission: Built 700R4, 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3:89 Moser 9"
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Good point-OIl Cooler, been so long since I had a TPI motor I forgot about that...
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Car: 1990 Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: Stock L98
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
The oil is the right color.
I did notice that the upper radiator hose is sometimes squished like it has a vacuum or something, that's gotta mean something.
And I do have the oil cooler option. One of the hoses did rupture recently and leaked in the drive way after I shut the car off. But I don't think its the oil cooler because of the loss in power. Could the oil cooler flowing in to the radiator cause a significant loss in power?
I'm going to pull the heads within the week so I'll let you guys know if I find anything.
Thanks,
Mike
I did notice that the upper radiator hose is sometimes squished like it has a vacuum or something, that's gotta mean something.
And I do have the oil cooler option. One of the hoses did rupture recently and leaked in the drive way after I shut the car off. But I don't think its the oil cooler because of the loss in power. Could the oil cooler flowing in to the radiator cause a significant loss in power?
I'm going to pull the heads within the week so I'll let you guys know if I find anything.
Thanks,
Mike
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Car: 1990 Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: Stock L98
Transmission: 700R-4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
No I haven't, I've never done a pressure test before.
do I need one of those kits?
do I need one of those kits?
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Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
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Car: 91 Z28,64ImpalaSS4094spd,67 Galaxy
Engine: Dart 415Profiler hd,cmprlrs,Hlly750
Transmission: Built 700R4, 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3:89 Moser 9"
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Pressure test and Carbon test on Anti-freeze, you have a collapsed hose and need to replace it....
#19
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Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
I agree, if you overheated it recently it's a head gasket or a cracked head.
I had a friend who had a crack in one of his cylinder heads that, due to the location of the crack, would get gas/oil into the coolant system but wouldnt leak coolant into the engine. He had to bleed the coolant system constantly at the racetrack.
Hopefully its just a gasket and not a head that needs replacement.
I had a friend who had a crack in one of his cylinder heads that, due to the location of the crack, would get gas/oil into the coolant system but wouldnt leak coolant into the engine. He had to bleed the coolant system constantly at the racetrack.
Hopefully its just a gasket and not a head that needs replacement.
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Car: 1990 Camaro IROC-Z28
Engine: Stock L98
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Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Think I found the problem!
Took the heads to a machine shop to get a valve job.
The valve guides were worn out and there was a cracked seat!
Get the heads back friday and will be putting everything back together hopefully this is fixed!
Thanks for all the help
Took the heads to a machine shop to get a valve job.
The valve guides were worn out and there was a cracked seat!
Get the heads back friday and will be putting everything back together hopefully this is fixed!
Thanks for all the help
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Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
Ive seen it done in alum. heads, but I dont know if Id trust a welded cast-iron head due to the difficulty with welding cast iron. On top of that, the crack is in a real critical area.
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Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
I believe the OP said the crack was in the seat...not the head. So no welding would be needed.
The valve seat is replaceable.
IMO...I don't believe this would answer the oil in the coolant issue, since there is no oil or coolant that touches the seat, aside from leaking valve seals.
A slight loss in power could be noticed, not sure how much because I have not experienced that yet. I'd imagine it to feel like a constant murmur of a misfire though.
Perhaps the replacement gaskets will fix that oil issue. Like magic. Did you inspect the old head/intake gaskets upon removal?
Hope you find the problem.
The valve seat is replaceable.
IMO...I don't believe this would answer the oil in the coolant issue, since there is no oil or coolant that touches the seat, aside from leaking valve seals.
A slight loss in power could be noticed, not sure how much because I have not experienced that yet. I'd imagine it to feel like a constant murmur of a misfire though.
Perhaps the replacement gaskets will fix that oil issue. Like magic. Did you inspect the old head/intake gaskets upon removal?
Hope you find the problem.
#24
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Car: 1990 Camaro IROC-Z28
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Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Oil in Radiator Reservoir
I believe the OP said the crack was in the seat...not the head. So no welding would be needed.
The valve seat is replaceable.
IMO...I don't believe this would answer the oil in the coolant issue, since there is no oil or coolant that touches the seat, aside from leaking valve seals.
A slight loss in power could be noticed, not sure how much because I have not experienced that yet. I'd imagine it to feel like a constant murmur of a misfire though.
Perhaps the replacement gaskets will fix that oil issue. Like magic. Did you inspect the old head/intake gaskets upon removal?
Hope you find the problem.
The valve seat is replaceable.
IMO...I don't believe this would answer the oil in the coolant issue, since there is no oil or coolant that touches the seat, aside from leaking valve seals.
A slight loss in power could be noticed, not sure how much because I have not experienced that yet. I'd imagine it to feel like a constant murmur of a misfire though.
Perhaps the replacement gaskets will fix that oil issue. Like magic. Did you inspect the old head/intake gaskets upon removal?
Hope you find the problem.
Will have the car up and running within the week.
I'll give you guys updates as soon as I start driving again
Thanks!
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