oil in radiator???

s-dimeblaze-her · 09-14-2006, 05:48 PM

i was working on my new sub box when i went to help someone push there can into a trailer. when i was walking back i saw a line of coolent down my drive way. i look in the radiator and there is oil in it......or there is something else that is black in it.....what does this mean? cracked block or head?

mrjohnwayne · 09-14-2006, 06:03 PM

Probably a bad radiator. My brothers 96 chevy went through 2 radiators. The core for the transmission fluid busted and would dump tranny fluid into the coolant.

s-dimeblaze-her · 09-14-2006, 06:26 PM

so i need a radiator and the cooling thing for the tranny and im set?

02F2504x4 · 09-14-2006, 06:44 PM

Yea i seen the same thing today I just pulled out a radiator out a 02 vw passet and i seen this black/grey fluid kinda looked like oil i was like wtf??? lol

s-dimeblaze-her · 09-14-2006, 06:47 PM

do i need to do a tranny flush also? and a coolent flush?

Larry O'Daniel · 09-15-2006, 09:16 AM

The "cooling thng for the trans" should be inside the radiator, not a seperate item. I would flush both. Water in the trans will do more harm so it is more important. Flush the radiator/motor after you get it together so you are sure you get all the old oil out.

vetteman · 09-15-2006, 01:23 PM

Is this a 2.8 or 4.3 engine? I had oil in my radiator and it turned out to be a cracked engine block. I know, that is not logical, but check around and you may be able confirm this. I had to replace the engine becaus of it. Seems there is a weak spot in the casting where the oil pressure is higher than the water pressure, thus the oil in water when it cracks. Hope this might help.

chevyguy · 09-15-2006, 03:36 PM

Black makes me think it is probally oil. You need to try to verify what type of contamination you have in the radiator. Check the oil for a flothy milky substance. Check the transmission fluid for the same. if you find it in either then that will help narrow it down. May need to drain and remove the radiatro and have it tested at your local radiatior shop. No sense in replacing good parts. Try to identify wher the problem is. If it is milky oil, You got big problems, If its in the transmission, New radiator.

gejandsons · 09-15-2006, 08:13 PM

could be several different things . finding out where the oil came from will be a big help. Blown head gasket could be the problem. Check for bubbles in the radiator fill neck while engine is running at operating temp.

s-dimeblaze-her · 09-16-2006, 09:37 AM

i checked the oil in the tranny and in the engine. there was nothing in eather. but the tranny oil was a little runny tho.

09-14-2006, 05:48 PM	#1
s-dimeblaze-her Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	oil in radiator??? i was working on my new sub box when i went to help someone push there can into a trailer. when i was walking back i saw a line of coolent down my drive way. i look in the radiator and there is oil in it......or there is something else that is black in it.....what does this mean? cracked block or head?

09-14-2006, 06:03 PM	#2
mrjohnwayne Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,220	Probably a bad radiator. My brothers 96 chevy went through 2 radiators. The core for the transmission fluid busted and would dump tranny fluid into the coolant. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

09-14-2006, 06:44 PM	#4
02F2504x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cali Posts: 88	Yea i seen the same thing today I just pulled out a radiator out a 02 vw passet and i seen this black/grey fluid kinda looked like oil i was like wtf??? lol __________________ 2002 F-250 4x4 CC 7.3L DIESEL Mods Edge Evo Edge Juice W/ Attitude 4 Inch Turbo Back Exhaust Straight Pipe DIY Tymar Intake Foil Delete Recon Light Strip

09-15-2006, 03:36 PM	#8
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,160	Black makes me think it is probally oil. You need to try to verify what type of contamination you have in the radiator. Check the oil for a flothy milky substance. Check the transmission fluid for the same. if you find it in either then that will help narrow it down. May need to drain and remove the radiatro and have it tested at your local radiatior shop. No sense in replacing good parts. Try to identify wher the problem is. If it is milky oil, You got big problems, If its in the transmission, New radiator. __________________ When i die, i dont want to walk gracefully thu the pearly gates and turn in a unused body. i want to go sliding thru sideways and turn in a body that has been completely used up.

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09-14-2006, 06:26 PM	#3
s-dimeblaze-her Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	so i need a radiator and the cooling thing for the tranny and im set?

09-14-2006, 06:47 PM	#5
s-dimeblaze-her Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	do i need to do a tranny flush also? and a coolent flush?

09-15-2006, 09:16 AM	#6
Larry O'Daniel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tulsa, stationed at Ft. Sill, OK Posts: 90	The "cooling thng for the trans" should be inside the radiator, not a seperate item. I would flush both. Water in the trans will do more harm so it is more important. Flush the radiator/motor after you get it together so you are sure you get all the old oil out.

09-15-2006, 01:23 PM	#7
vetteman Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1	Is this a 2.8 or 4.3 engine? I had oil in my radiator and it turned out to be a cracked engine block. I know, that is not logical, but check around and you may be able confirm this. I had to replace the engine becaus of it. Seems there is a weak spot in the casting where the oil pressure is higher than the water pressure, thus the oil in water when it cracks. Hope this might help.

09-15-2006, 08:13 PM	#9
gejandsons Full Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 21	could be several different things . finding out where the oil came from will be a big help. Blown head gasket could be the problem. Check for bubbles in the radiator fill neck while engine is running at operating temp.

09-16-2006, 09:37 AM	#10
s-dimeblaze-her Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	i checked the oil in the tranny and in the engine. there was nothing in eather. but the tranny oil was a little runny tho.

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