Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Whipped Cream In Radiator???

[KHeine]

Hi guys! I'm trying to help my friend who just got his hands on a '95 2500 4x4 CTD. There are a few bugs to work out, one of them being this: When you open the radiator, there is a bunch of foam like stuff inside. It is white and light green in color, and is pasty like whipped cream. I was kinda thinking maybe a headgasket? But when you pull the dipstick on the motor, there are no signs of antifreexe in the oil. There also doesn't seem to be excessive white smoke when it runs, although we haven't run it long. It has an auto trans, but the cooler is completely separate from the radiator. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance!

 

[tp0d]

excessive white smoke? there shouldnt be any smoke at all on a stock engine.



What does the coolant look like? bright green or kinda dark? Whats in the overflow bottle? any ring around the bottle? may be an additive the previous owner put in, but Ive never seen anything do what you're describing. . does the foam only appear after you've run it? mebe some air in the system causing the water pump to aerate the coolant... hmm



mebe a low mix of antifreeze to water, and somethin is growin in there... hmmm. .



dunno. . i think i would have asked the dealer about this before buying heh



good luck



-j

 

[Evan A. Beck]

If the stuff is oily, its most likely a headgasket failure. 99% of the time oil ends up in the coolant, rather than the other way around. Remember, oil is under more pressure than the coolant. Chances are, its been leaking for a while, since it has had enough time to circulate through the cooling system and get mixed together by the water pump. It's a major pain in the *** to get it all cleaned out of the system. Fleetguard makes an alkaline type cleaner used to flush the oil from the cooling system if this happens. Works good, but takes a good 10-15 flushes to get it all clean. The radiator is the worst part, consider having it professionally cleaned, and possibly replaced.



Good luck...

 

[PSchwering]

FYI - There is a Engine coolant to Transmission fluid cooler (assuming stock form) located on the passenger side of the engine, Just under, & Slightly behind the turbo. It kinda looks like a Vacuum Canister off of a gasser at first glance... ... P.

 

[KHeine]

Thanks guys! I'll do some more digging and let you know. We just had some snow here, which delays things. My buddy already bought the truck, it's just a matter of deciding whether or not to fix it or part it out. He only had to pay $500 for it!

 

[Rhondasway]

Head gasket. You won't see water on the oil dipstick because oil floats; the water would be at the bottom (if any went into the oil).

You can flush the cooling system by running some detergent through it and flushing a bunch of times, but if it's torn down for the head gasket anyway, yard the radiator and have it steam cleaned.

Oh, and don't run it long that way. It'll do more harm.