Ok I noticed my raditator has been low on antifreeze latlty and was adding it while the engine was running....now it appears its mixed in with my engine oil since its high on the dipstick now (like 18")
what does this mean? cracked head? Blown head gasket? Could it be from running for a long time without the radiator cap because it really wasnt an issue till I did this I also changed the thermostat recently?



EDIT**** false alarm on antifreeze in the oil....just checked it again and I must have not wiped it after turning the motor off or something because the level is ok now.(very retarded of me)..but I still dont know where my antifreeze is going? I did the jack up the one side thing and let the air out and the level is low again and I havent even driven it? no puddles under the truck either?

 

What color is your oil? Honey or maple syrup color (normal) or choco milk creamy color (where your coolant is going)

 

Check your tranny fluid. See if its going there.


Josh

 

oil is not creamy looks normal (thats what threw me off to check it again)
will check tranny but did notice wet tailpipes and even water dripping from the muffler? I know a little is normal and its cold here so not sure if its normal...doesnt seem to be smoking really just normal for temps...I just added almost a half gallon to the rediator so...maybe I didnt get all the air out before?
also dont really smell a sweet smell in the exhaust.

 

I believe the muffler may be the problem if you see drips coming from it. Check the muffler to radiator hoses.








seriously dude, you've seen exhaust condensate before haven't you?

 

i bet the antifreeze gnomes are getting it.

 

yes smartass.... I mentioned I wasnt sure if it was more than normal I dont remember seeing it dripping out of both tailpipes and also form a puddle under the muffler before....No need to be a d#ck about it. I read in other threads that if the antifreeze was being burned it would result in excessive moisture in the exhaust so I mentioned it. Its got to be going somewhere I only drove it around the block since I filled it the otherday and it was a half gallon low again with no puddles under the engine.

 

When we think about the path that the antifreeze coolant must go we may be able to understand the issue at hand.

Coolant leaves the bottle and passes through the radiator, from the radiator it passes through the water neck, through the thermostat and through the block effectively cooling the block. From the block it passes through the radiator again and repeats.

You're supposed to mix coolant/water 50/50 so water may be burning off in the process of heat transfer (When the heat is absorbed by the coolant and then released in the radiator). How much are you losing per day approximately?

And a thought I just had: Check your transmission fluid Augie... remember radiators have an oil cooler and a transmission cooler too. One more thing, put a piece of cardboard under the engine bay and let it sit over night and check it in the morning. Just some ideas.

 

lol....check your overflow tank....drain it, top off the radiator, drive it, then see if it went into the overflow.

Not tryin to be a smartass but dude cmon. If you have a cracked head, water jacket, or blown head gasket you'd know. You'd either have white smoke, coolant in the oil, and most likely a fouled plug or plugs.

 

It didnt go into the overflow I've been keeping an eye on the pressure.

And the only reason I thought it might have been in the oil was because when I checked it it was waay up the dipstick but i forgot I started between pulling the stick out and wiping it off and checking it because i got detracted. Oil pressure has been between 40 and 45 and its stays at 185 with the new 180 state (yes I replaced the gasket as well)
I checked the tranny fliuld and its right at the full line and red. I did notice my passenger floor is wet again (not soaked but wet could this be from a leaky heater core? it doesnt look green and there at least 50% antifreeze I added water today because I didnt realize I poured pure antifreeze in the otherday (got a stockpile of it around) the carpet could also could be a leak in the weatherstripping although it looks fine.