Oil in the Coolant Resevoir

txcaddycat · #1 (**permalink**) 07-26-06, 04:13 PM

I have a 99 catera with about 60,000 miles on it. I noticed today when I checked my coolant resevoir that there was oil in it and some white sludge build-up.

But there is no sludge under the oil filler cap. My coolant level stays the same so there's no coolant leak. My car has also been leaking oil but I don't where it's coming from.

Does anyone have an idea of what problem could be and if so, how can I fix it?

Thanks alot

bengsxr · #2 (**permalink**) 07-26-06, 04:39 PM

well the problem is your oil cooler is leaking. there use to be a sticky about it but i looked and I don't see it there any more you can try to reseal the cooler which is under plenum and intake or just replace it cost for the cooler I think is around $200 or you can have a shop do it for alot more. oh wait I looked and the sticky is still there http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...lant-leak.html (Catera coolant leak) this will show you what the oil cooler looks like and where to find it. but the oil is in your coolant reseivoir because you have higher oil pressure the you do coolant pressure.

txcaddycat · #3 (**permalink**) 07-26-06, 09:10 PM

thx bengsxr, is it a bad thing that my oil pressure is higher than my coolant pressure?

bengsxr · #4 (**permalink**) 07-28-06, 01:04 AM

no your oil pressure is suppose to be higher. you really should not drive the car much till you get this problem fixed because the coolant will get into your oil when you shut the car off then you will be useing an oil coolant mix to lubricate your engine and well that will not work so well.

txcaddycat · #5 (**permalink**) 07-29-06, 09:00 PM

Well, I finally finished up resealing my oil cooler, changing my spark plugs/oil, and flushing my system. It took about 4 hours. The hardest part about the job was getting those two oil line nuts under the car.

When I went to refill my coolant just a minute ago, I think I noticed a little oil in it.

I'm hoping that this is just leftovers from before.

How many times should I flush the system? I was wondering since it takes a while for the rtv silicone to form into a gasket if this is a minor, one time thing, leak? Well cars run good as of right now. And oh yea, I used the bosch +4 and they work fine.

Thanks again

bengsxr · #6 (**permalink**) 07-30-06, 12:43 AM

well you did all that work in 4 hours holy smokes thats fast. I flushed my several times to get all the oil out of the coolant system also use water start car let it heat up then drain. now if you keep getting oil in the coolant you might have to buy a new oil cooler. due to a fin failure. well good luck and nice work.