I've seen a few people say that oil can't get into the coolant. What about exhaust from the cylinder leaking into the coolant? That would make the coolant turn to crap wouldn't it?

Again anyone use the Felpro 519SD head gasket?

 

The only good way to test for that is this:




If there are any exhaust gasses, the fluid turns yellow.

 

It looks like accumulation of mud and gooey materials out of liquid.. your vehicle just need a speedy flush activity to clean each nut and bolt!!!

 

I think you are thinking a Chevy type rocker lubrication scheme where the lifters pump oil through the lifter tubes and that's all they get.

Unless the new gen 318/360 head/rocker design has changed the rockers are lubed through the rocker arms shaft that receives oil through an enlarged hole for one of the rocker tube hold down bolts... pumped through a main bearing through a cam bearing up into the head...

see photo attached, may have to repost, had to compress it a bit to meet file size constraints.

 

It would contaminate the coolant but it would also make itself obvious by bubbling up through the radiator cap opening.. and a significant leak would also cause cap to release pressure and blow coolant out the overflow/pressure release, that's always an early clue. When engine is blowing steam (white smoke) out the tailpipe at that point it's a totally blown gasket, never mind coolant has some pressure behind it, the engine helps suck it in on the intake stroke.

I can't say I have used that specific head gasket but FWIW I have always used Felpro head gaskets without any problems. Felpro is one of those get it done right the first time manufacturers.

 

Someone mentioned auto transmission... if your's is an automatic and has a trans cooler inside the radiator that could be a possible source for oil, but that would only contaminate the coolant and not cause your engine to run rough as you noted in your first post.

 

Sir that is old school La motor not a Mopar Magnum motor, these motors do indeed oil just like a C**** does.

Magnum rocker train Sorry I don't have a pix of the stock set-up.

 

Appreciate the update, was thinking re my 1975 360, so source for oil in the coolant back to being a mystery to me as well. 210k+ miles and I haven't had need/urge to pull my 98 apart yet.

 

i would do a flush then a cyl leak down test and watch for any bubbles coming out of the rad. the tester that gd has works ok sometimes but i found a leak down tester is a better test if you have a small leak

 

By any chance did you put regular tap water or from the hose? That exact thing same thing happened to me when i added regular water. Flushed it out and to top off i use distilled water. I run my own mix tho.