'84 Eldorado blown head gasket?

[NyoAZZ]

Hello, I have an '84 Eldorado and just recently replaced my radiator due to a crack in the old one. Soon after I noticed that my engine was not retaining any oil because it wound up in my radiator. I've been told by a couple of mechanics that I have blown a head gasket. From what I understand symptoms of a blown head gasket include smoking and smudge on the dipstick. I have neither problem. My problem is that after topping off the motor oil and driving my car a few miles my car begins to overheat, my engine has no oil and it seems all of the oil ended up in the radiator. What is wrong? What should I do? Help?

[zonie77]

There is no 100% symptom for a blown HG. It depends where it leaks. Oil in the coolant is only one possibility.

The best diagnostic test is a cylinder pressure test. You put 100-125 psi air into the cylinder with the piston on TDC and the valves closed. The air will indicate where the leak is.

I cannot fathom how all the oil wound up in the radiator in a few miles from a blown HG. Do you have a engine oil cooler built into the radiator? You will have a second set of metal lines going to the radiator if you do.

[NyoAZZ]

I just have one set of lines going to the radiator and I'm assuming those are for the transmission fluid. Would I be able to request a cylinder pressure test from a certified mechanic?

[zonie77]

Any mechanic should be able to do a cyl pressure test. A leak down test is very similar.

[caddyman2005]

there is an oil cooler on the right side of the radiator. that is the only way oil can get in the coolant. replace the radiator. as for the overheating make sure the air pump belt is tight. an easy test is to grab the alternator fins (with the engine stopped of couse) and try and spin the motor over if it spins freely the air pump belt is probably loose. look there first. maybe just too much oil in coolant. a