Welp, got the Blackstone analysis back. (see below...'94 FZJ80, ~85k miles, RHD Aussie import). Analysis points to a coolant leak. I noticed what appeared to be the dreaded "milkshake" in my coolant reservoir, so did an analysis to be safe. (The reference to WD-40 is because I had recently lubed the pump I used to extract the oil for the sample, and I noted that when I sent the sample in.)
Is a failing head gasket really the ONLY thing that would cause coolant in oil/oil in coolant? 85k seems way early for a failing gasket...but then again it's a 27 yo vehicle, so maybe it's just age.
I am not losing a noticeable amount of coolant or oil yet, BTW. Levels have been steady for about three weeks driving the truck about every other day. No other performance issues whatsoever (other than a starter I'll be replacing tomorrow).
Do I preemptively have the gasket replaced before things get "bad?" Do I do nothing now, change the oil, drive it for a while and send another analysis to see if the results are the same or worse?
Could there be coolant showing up in the oil (and vice-versa) left over from before a previous repair? I ask this because the engine is very clean, gasket looks in good shape (as much as you can see with the engine intact, and most hoses appear new, suggesting the possibility that the job was done before. Of course maybe an unscrupulous PO cleaned it up and replaced hoses for that very reason: to make it appear all was well. Unfortunately with it being an import, I don't have great records from any PO. Just the equivalent of a carfax showing no wrecks, clean title, never stolen, etc. Maintenance history is anyone's guess.
Would it be worthwhile completely draining/replacing the coolant as well as the oil prior to another analysis? Would that limit the possibility of any "false positives?"
Sorry if some or all of these questions are dumb and/or answered elsewhere...I'm no mechanic, but I'm learning a lot from this forum and I'm loving having a vehicle I actually enjoy wrenching on! Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Is a failing head gasket really the ONLY thing that would cause coolant in oil/oil in coolant? 85k seems way early for a failing gasket...but then again it's a 27 yo vehicle, so maybe it's just age.
I am not losing a noticeable amount of coolant or oil yet, BTW. Levels have been steady for about three weeks driving the truck about every other day. No other performance issues whatsoever (other than a starter I'll be replacing tomorrow).
Do I preemptively have the gasket replaced before things get "bad?" Do I do nothing now, change the oil, drive it for a while and send another analysis to see if the results are the same or worse?
Could there be coolant showing up in the oil (and vice-versa) left over from before a previous repair? I ask this because the engine is very clean, gasket looks in good shape (as much as you can see with the engine intact, and most hoses appear new, suggesting the possibility that the job was done before. Of course maybe an unscrupulous PO cleaned it up and replaced hoses for that very reason: to make it appear all was well. Unfortunately with it being an import, I don't have great records from any PO. Just the equivalent of a carfax showing no wrecks, clean title, never stolen, etc. Maintenance history is anyone's guess.
Would it be worthwhile completely draining/replacing the coolant as well as the oil prior to another analysis? Would that limit the possibility of any "false positives?"
Sorry if some or all of these questions are dumb and/or answered elsewhere...I'm no mechanic, but I'm learning a lot from this forum and I'm loving having a vehicle I actually enjoy wrenching on! Thanks in advance for your thoughts.