98' Limited with 3.4 coolant mixing with oil.. Please help!!

[Jtp3600]

Went in for an oil change today and mechanic told me I had a quart of coolant pour out along with my oil.. He tells me that there's no real test for an internal leak so we need to just start taking stuff apart and hope it's only the intake gasket.. I've looked around and this doesn't seem common with these engines.. The truck runs excellent and has plenty of power.. There are no check engine lights on and it doesn't overheat.. No unusual looking exhaust smoke or funny smells.. Everything seems fine

Any information is greatly appreciated.. Thanks

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Went in for an oil change today and mechanic told me I had a quart of coolant pour out along with my oil.. He tells me that there's no real test for an internal leak so we need to just start taking stuff apart and hope it's only the intake gasket.. I've looked around and this doesn't seem common with these engines.. The truck runs excellent and has plenty of power.. There are no check engine lights on and it doesn't overheat.. No unusual looking exhaust smoke or funny smells.. Everything seems fine

Any information is greatly appreciated.. Thanks

Oil and coolant are close to one another in water jackets in the heads, water jackets in the block, water jackets in intake manifold, and the oil cooler. Only way mixing could happen is a leaking head gasket, manifold gasket, a seal in the oil cooler, or a crack in the metal of one of said components mentioned.

 

[4Runner-Dan]

Went in for an oil change today and mechanic told me I had a quart of coolant pour out along with my oil.. He tells me that there's no real test for an internal leak so we need to just start taking stuff apart and hope it's only the intake gasket.. I've looked around and this doesn't seem common with these engines.. The truck runs excellent and has plenty of power.. There are no check engine lights on and it doesn't overheat.. No unusual looking exhaust smoke or funny smells.. Everything seems fine

Any information is greatly appreciated.. Thanks

Get yourself a new mechanic.....pronto. He's a quack. Especially if he's telling you it's the "intake gasket". I hope he means head gasket. My gut tells me if there was "a quart of coolant" pouring out of the oil, then you would most certainly have a miss fire, white smoke, and a CEL. Honestly, what he is telling you sounds kind of fishy. But, I digress.

If you're not big on doing it yourself, I would go out and ask for a second opinion. Have a shop do a compression test. It's cheap and tells you a lot about the condition your motor is in.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Get yourself a new mechanic.....pronto. He's a quack. Especially if he's telling you it's the "intake gasket". I hope he means head gasket. My gut tells me if there was "a quart of coolant" pouring out of the oil, then you would most certainly have a miss fire, white smoke, and a CEL. Honestly, what he is telling you sounds kind of fishy. But, I digress.

If you're not big on doing it yourself, I would go out and ask for a second opinion. Have a shop do a compression test. It's cheap and tells you a lot about the condition your motor is in.

It could be the lower intake gaskets, the ones between the heads and manifold. It wouldn't make it run badly it will just destroy the motor internally. It would only run badly, CEL white smoke etc. if the coolant was leaking into the combustion chamber.OP, I hope your not driving it.

Honestly, your mechanic is right, but he may not know about the oil cooler on the driver's side of the motor, which is the easiest (although still a PIA) to check.

 

[Jtp3600]

Coolant mixing in oil

I'm not sure what to think.. I drive 100 miles or more a day and haven't felt any difference between the last few oil changes.. I picked it up today and drove home about 5 miles and everything feels/seems normal as usual.. I'm going to bring it into the Toyota dealership first thing tomorrow which is another 4-5 miles away and I'm hoping they can tell me more.. My mechanic is good and trustworthy but I still want a second opinion..

Any other recommendations or ideas are appreciated because I'm new to toyota trucks..

Also, if it does end up being a head gasket what is my best option going forward? As far as cost of rebuild vs swapping in a used motor? Or buy a used motor and rebuild then just drive this one until it goes?

 

[4Runner-Dan]

It could be the lower intake gaskets, the ones between the heads and manifold. It wouldn't make it run badly it will just destroy the motor internally. It would only run badly, CEL white smoke etc. if the coolant was leaking into the combustion chamber.OP, I hope your not driving it.

Honestly, your mechanic is right, but he may not know about the oil cooler on the driver's side of the motor, which is the easiest (although still a PIA) to check.

Fair enough. That is true. I hope that's not the case. Worrying about HGs is enough for everyone!

I'm not sure what to think.. I drive 100 miles or more a day and haven't felt any difference between the last few oil changes.. I picked it up today and drove home about 5 miles and everything feels/seems normal as usual.. I'm going to bring it into the Toyota dealership first thing tomorrow which is another 4-5 miles away and I'm hoping they can tell me more.. My mechanic is good and trustworthy but I still want a second opinion..

Any other recommendations or ideas are appreciated because I'm new to toyota trucks..

Also, if it does end up being a head gasket what is my best option going forward? As far as cost of rebuild vs swapping in a used motor? Or buy a used motor and rebuild then just drive this one until it goes?

I say let them give you the second opinion and cross that bridge when you get there. I know there are plenty of threads asking that very same question. A quick search should return a bunch.

Let us know what they say; we're a curious bunch.

 

[Jtp3600]

Thanks

Thanks will post more later today

 

[Sculsz]

Thanks will post more later today

So what did they say??? As mentioned before, we are a curious bunch here :sad:

 

[Juanito]

I'm sorry how does a quart of coolant drain with the oil..and not mix in the pan ,giving you a chocolate milk color ..... ?? How did he know it was a quart ?.. oh lets start taking things apart even though it runs fine....?? Sounds like bs

 

[BlackCat914]

I'm sorry how does a quart of coolant drain with the oil..and not mix in the pan ,giving you a chocolate milk color ..... ?? How did he know it was a quart ?.. oh lets start taking things apart even though it runs fine....?? Sounds like bs

Oil and water (coolant) don't mix naturally, so if it's leaking internally, it separates in the pan and comes out separately when drained.

 

[Sculsz]

Oil and water (coolant) don't mix naturally, so if it's leaking internally, it separates in the pan and comes out separately when drained.

Absolutely right!!!

When you pull the drain plug, water shoots out first then oil.. ask me how i know:rant: My previous truck was a Chevy ZR2... blown head gasket!

 

[Juanito]

Oil and water (coolant) don't mix naturally, so if it's leaking internally, it separates in the pan and comes out separately when drained.

The more you know .... :nod:

 

[Jtp3600]

Update

So I did about 1400 miles in the past 10 days.. Lots of highway.. I decided to bring it into the dealership a little early to see what they'd say.. I did mention tht my other mechanic had seen some coolant pour out before the oil.. So they came back and told me the oil was clean.. Now I don't know what to think

 

[Run 4 Fun]

So I did about 1400 miles in the past 10 days.. Lots of highway.. I decided to bring it into the dealership a little early to see what they'd say.. I did mention tht my other mechanic had seen some coolant pour out before the oil.. So they came back and told me the oil was clean.. Now I don't know what to think

I recommend you think about getting a new mechanic because you have confirmation that nothing is wrong and that mechanic is a BS artist at best.

 

[Koko4]

I recommend you think about getting a new mechanic because you have confirmation that nothing is wrong and that mechanic is a BS artist at best.

I agree - that sounds SHADY to me. Just keep an eye on your engine oil and coolant levels (it sounds like you already are, though). I check my coolant and oil at every fill-up, in both of my vehicles. Good practice, and lets you know if / how much oil you're losing.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Wtf????

Ok one run a CO test. Takes 10 minutes. You will know if the head gasket is blown. Do this test at the radiator.

After that go from there. What a bunch of crap. It's customers like you that come into our shop that piss me off because someone tried to take you for a ride. ALWAYS TEST do not guess.

Blue

 

[derecbass]

I have posted this on other threads but haven't got a response. Anyone have any ideas on what could be causing oil and coolant to mix instantly? Its as if I have a coolant hose feeding directly into an oil passage on the block.