Sometimes, when inspecting the level of antifreeze in the
system, the driver observes a change in the color of the refrigerant. If you
see bubbles, a brown tint, and there are traces of oil on the cork of the tank,
then congratulations, you have unpleasant problems. Antifreeze has gotten into
the oil. The problem has other symptoms, but it is important to know not only
this, but also what is the cause of the problem. For more references, check out: oil and coolant mixing
When I was faced with such a violation, the first thing that interested me was whether it was possible to drive a car. In general, if a problem does arise, the information presented in my review will be very useful.
Main signs indicating that oil has got into the antifreeze
The most important sign of the appearance of oil in antifreeze is a change in the color of the liquid. In addition, bubbles appear in the refrigerant. If traces of oil are clearly observed on the neck of the expansion tank, then we can say with confidence that oil has seeped into the antifreeze liquid. If these signs are not convinced, then there are other symptoms:
· the coolant level in the reservoir has dropped;
· white smoke began to appear from the exhaust pipe;
· the color of the oil on the dipstick has changed significantly.
The reasons for this situation
I must say right away that it is not accidental that oil gets into the antifreeze. The systems are completely unconnected and hermetic. If each is in good working order, mixing of liquids is excluded.
If a similar problem occurs, then there is a reason for that. Possible causes of the malfunction are:
· the appearance of cracks or corrosion on the cylinder head;
· malfunction of the oil cooler;
· pump wear;
· microcracks in the expansion tank;
· wear of gaskets in the heat exchanger;
· the pipes of the system or cooling system are out of order.
Oil getting into the refrigerant is very unpleasant. The consequences of such a violation can be very serious. In the future, serious repairs will be required and a lot of time will have to be spent on restoring the vehicle's performance. The consequences of the violation can be noted:
· fast and complete wear of bearings;
· seizure of the motor. Such a breakdown is often observed in diesel engines;
· contamination of the oil filter.
When oil is mixed with antifreeze, a reaction occurs between the substances. Corrosion appears in the motor, and the bearings begin to rub against other parts. A serious load on all elements of the system leads to a quick breakdown of the vehicle.
Soot can settle on the parts, which later gets into the filter, which also leads to breakdown. You cannot drive such a car, but it is better to do the repairs as soon as possible.
How do I fix the problem?
There are several ways to deal with the problem. Some manipulations are very complex and to solve them it is worth contacting a service station, and some are easy to perform on your own. The solution to the problem can be as follows:
1. A burnt-out gasket can be easily replaced. It is quite possible to do this at home. True, here you will have to remove the block head and have a torque wrench at hand.
2. Grind the block head. This is only available for minor deformations. If the cylinder head is seriously "led", then it will have to be changed.
3. Execution or replacement of the cylinder block.
