Coolant Color/Head Gasket Leak

[uscmas412]

I'm doing a cooling system drain, flush and refill as part of the PHH replacement. I noticed my coolant has a distinct oil color and appeared "slick." I sprayed PB blaster so I'm not sure if that's where the oil slicks came from. This is the first flush I've done since buying the rig a year ago, the PO had the radiator replaced approximately two years ago. I'm burning through 1 quart/1k miles, with no coolant found in the oil analysis from Blackstone. Thoughts?

 

[Tools R Us]

Looks like old coolant? Oil would float on the surface, makes a ring of mess around the cap and recovery bottle, coolant is slippery feeling.

 

[uscmas412]

Cool, turns out I don't crap about coolant!

 

[inkpot]

Almost looks like red and green mixed together? Hybrid Koolant! Kinda dark like much less than 50% water in the mix? I'd flush it, refill it, and run it. Don't forget to drain and clean the overflow bottle also.

 

[uscmas412]

I only got out about 3 gallons of coolant, opened the heater valve by running the heat too. I drained from the block and valve on the radiator. I blame the aftermarket radiator. Should I have it replaced with one of larger capacity?

 

[Mighty690]

It's so cheap and easy to send a sample to Blackstone I don't understand the waiting. Science works.

 

[Rivman1243]

It's so cheap and easy to send a sample to Blackstone I don't understand the waiting. Science works.

OP already did an oil sample

 

[Mighty690]

OP already did an oil sample

Ah, good one. But, that coolant definitely is not cool. Blackstone surely had something to say...

 

[Red Merle]

Ah, good one. But, that coolant definitely is not cool. Blackstone surely had something to say...

You know, I am not sure I am sold on Blackstone. I sent in my oil sample to them because I am losing coolant in my little Tacoma. They did the analysis, but they didn't find any coolant in it, just elevated levels of potassium and sodium, both of which they said "might" be from coolant. They told me to keep driving the truck and send in another sample later. Well, I am still losing coolant somewhere, but I am not sure if I can rely on their analysis to tell me whether or not I need to do a head gasket job on it. It seems like if the levels they found of the two elements are from the coolant, then there should be levels of whatever else is in coolant too. I am kinda confused by the whole thing, to be honest.

 

[Mighty690]

You know, I am not sure I am sold on Blackstone. I sent in my oil sample to them because I am losing coolant in my little Tacoma. They did the analysis, but they didn't find any coolant in it, just elevated levels of potassium and sodium, both of which they said "might" be from coolant. They told me to keep driving the truck and send in another sample later. Well, I am still losing coolant somewhere, but I am not sure if I can rely on their analysis to tell me whether or not I need to do a head gasket job on it. It seems like if the levels they found of the two elements are from the coolant, then there should be levels of whatever else is in coolant too. I am kinda confused by the whole thing, to be honest.

I like their conservatism. I thought potassium was only sourced from coolant. I might be wrong.
A number of years ago, with my first 80 series, they analyzed my sample and said that while I was getting coolant in my oil, it was not a catastrophic quantity. They advised more frequent oil changes and to monitor. I went ahead and did my HG not long after that. So glad I did it then and not later.

 

[Red Merle]

I like their conservatism. I thought potassium was only sourced from coolant. I might be wrong.
A number of years ago, with my first 80 series, they analyzed my sample and said that while I was getting coolant in my oil, it was not a catastrophic quantity. They advised more frequent oil changes and to monitor. I went ahead and did my HG not long after that. So glad I did it then and not later.

I would do the HG if I knew that was the issue. I just don't and it's a lot of work for maybe. I will do what they said and send them another sample, but given how much coolant I am losing, if it doesn't say that there is coolant in the oil, I am at a loss as to where it is going.

 

[Mighty690]

I would do the HG if I knew that was the issue. I just don't and it's a lot of work for maybe. I will do what they said and send them another sample, but given how much coolant I am losing, if it doesn't say that there is coolant in the oil, I am at a loss as to where it is going.

If you're loosing measurable coolant, the underside of your oil cap will speak to you, in addition to milky oil on your dipstick. Otherwise it's dripping somewhere. Do you have the I4 or the V6? (Hijack, I know.)

 

[Rivman1243]

What about sending in a coolant sample? I think @Mighty690 was getting at the idea here

Ah, good one. But, that coolant definitely is not cool. Blackstone surely had something to say...

 

[Red Merle]

If you're loosing measurable coolant, the underside of your oil cap will speak to you, in addition to milky oil on your dipstick. Otherwise it's dripping somewhere. Do you have the I4 or the V6? (Hijack, I know.)

2.4L I4. I know, that's what is so weird. The cap looks fine and so does the oil. There are no leaks that I can find and I even rented a pressure test kit for the cooling system and it hold pressure. I also replaced the radiator cap. I am still losing a measurable amount of coolant and it seems to be accelerating. I am not sure what I will do.

Sorry for the thread hijack...

 

[Mighty690]

2.4L I4. I know, that's what is so weird. The cap looks fine and so does the oil. There are no leaks that I can find and I even rented a pressure test kit for the cooling system and it hold pressure. I also replaced the radiator cap. I am still losing a measurable amount of coolant and it seems to be accelerating. I am not sure what I will do.

Sorry for the thread hijack...

So I'm with Blackstone; I'd change oil at 3K (good old dino oil) and let that 4 banger do the rest.