Archived HELP - Radiator is full of oil ???

[rbolten]

2 quarts low on the dipstick and it's in the radiator



What's going on here ???

 

[B.G. Smith]

If it is engine oil, it is probably the oil cooler, located in the side of engine behind the oil filter. bg

 

[rashwor]

Could be...

a head gasket or cracked head. Not sure you have a oil cooler.

 

[rbolten]

I don't think it has an oil cooler on it either, not that I have found anyway,



But I do know that there is a lot of engine oil in the radiator and the overflow bottle is just sludge as well.



does anyone know for sure what the problem is likely to be ???

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by B. G. Smith

If it is engine oil, it is probably the oil cooler, located in the side of engine behind the oil filter. bg

He has a 5 speed. That COOLER is a Heat exchanger for the Trans and is found on auto rigs only.



Possibly a head gasket. How many miles?

 

[rbolten]

99,000 miles

 

[DF5152]

my guess is head gasket this stuff always hits u right were it hurts, the wallet :{

 

[KSchrader]

Out of curiosity have you changed the oil to see if Antifreeze is in your oil? My guess is head gasket as well.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Originally posted by rbolten

I don't think it has an oil cooler on it either, not that I have found anyway,



But I do know that there is a lot of engine oil in the radiator and the overflow bottle is just sludge as well.



does anyone know for sure what the problem is likely to be ???

It has an oil cooler. Better check it before you start dismantling the engine. Look between the oil filter and the engine, you will see a plate bolted to the side of the block, that is the cover of the oil cooler. And yes, there is a transmission cooler on that side of the engine too but it is near the rear of the engine. bg

 

[Extreme1]

It's most likely the engine oil cooler. Try pressure testing the cooling system. If it fails to hold, check the oil level, it probably came up with the engine shut off and no oil pressure. However, depending on the specific failure, it might only leak at higher (engine oil pressure) pressure levels so if it passes the coolant pressure test, it still might be the problem.



It's not a nice part to change but it's easier than a head gasket.

 

[LDPetersen]

99k miles? Isn't engine covered to 100k?

 

[rbolten]

After you tap the injection pump wire with the PE Comp I don't think so, or what ???

 

[Sticks]

Originally posted by rbolten

After you tap the injection pump wire with the PE Comp I don't think so, or what ???

Depends on your dealer. Your conscious if you want to try. How much over 20psi boost have you been running? Racing? Sled pulls?

 

[rbolten]

no racing or sled pulls, just use to pull 10,000 lb. travel trailer



always running 35 to 40 lbs. of boost

 

[Missouri Mule]

Oil in the radiator/run off bottle symptom is all most always the engine oil cooler or blown head gasket cracked head sounds feasible also.

 

[TStinson]

RBOLTEN -

I just got thru with similar problem. My '99 put 5-6 qts. of oil into, and thru, the radiator and overflow bottle on a trip from Houston to Vidor (100 mi. )

The oil cooler referred to is located inside the block and is accessed by removing the oil filter mount. Be aware that there are two gaskets required to R&R the oil cooler. When I removed it and pressure checked it, no leaks were to be found there.

Then it was OFF WITH THE HEAD.

What I found was a deteriorated area of the fibrous headgasket material between cylinders 3 & 4. This was not very easy to see, but after studying every possible avenue where oil could get to the coolant, this came to light.

The oil (under more pressure than the coolant) was being forced from the oil passage, to a headbolt hole, and then to a water jacket passage.

After milling the head for flat and having the valves cleaned-up, I reassembled everything and am once again happily pounding the pavement.

One thing to watch with the headgasket - I strongly suggest going to Cummins to get the parts. I started at a Chrysler Dealer and got more grief than anything else. For some reason, and after contacting the regional parts rep, the ONLY headgasket that Chrysler could come up with for my engine DID NOT FIT! Funny thing is - everything I got from Chrysler was in a Cummins box.

I ended up calling Cummins Southern Plains in Houston 713-679-2220. If you look at the gasket very carefully, there is a seven digit number embossed in one surface. With either that number, or the engine serial number found on a plate on the side of the injection pump mount @ the driver-side front corner of the engine, the correct Cummins part can be had. In my case, the original number had been superceded to a new number. The Chrysler regional parts rep didn't have a clue why they coldn't get the right gasket.

This may not be your problem, but hope it helps you out.

 

[Extreme1]

This is a link to an oil cooler assembly for sale on e-bay. It gives a good image of what the cooler element and cover look like.

 

[Robin]

As you describe it, the quantity of oil almost certainly indicates a leaking oil cooler or its gasket.



As previously mentioned, the oil cooler is part of the oil filter bracket assembly. Drain the cooling system, take off the filter. Remove the turbo oil line. Be careful here, the end connected to the turbo must be disconnected first and the line can twist easily. There are nine or ten bolts holding the cooler to the block. Remove these and pull the cooler out of the block. Next thing is to examine the large neoprene gasket. It is possible that the gasket has failed next to an oil port. It is also possible that a bolt or several have loosened.



While you have the cooler out, take the opportunity to drill a hole in the boss directly about the filter and tap it with a 1/8th in pipe tap and screw in an oil temp sender for future use. Flush out all chips before replacing the cooler. Also install new antifreeze. A '99 is overdue for a change if you havn't already done so.



Bob

 

[Robin]

Correction: There are two gaskets on the oil cooler. Also there is probably a plug in the area I said to drill and tap, making this unnecessary. I did drill and tap a cooler bracket to pipe in a preluber.



Bob

 

[jungledave]

It's the oil cooler on the side of the engine.