Oil in my radiator, now what/\?

[jbrianyc]

I realize it means "not good", but would appreciate any sage advice on your experience with the appearance of oil in the radiator. Here's the background on my runner.

Wife was driving my 1st gen 4Runner when a hose busted last week. I let it cool down and drove it a mile home never going over 2K RPMs (it was a cool night). I fixed the hose but noticed a light oil smell in the fluid. Drove it a little this week and now I see oil floating in the reservoir and leaking from the radiator cap, which appears to be under more pressure than usual.

Head gasket? Water pump? It's the 1988 3VZE with 261K miles on it. Had the head gasket done once (don't know when but likely many years ago by the previous owner when recalled)

I don't see the usual water/antifreeze/oil froth yet in the oil cap that would indicate a head gasket, but I didn't drive it that much either before I noticed it. Oil appears to be just oil, for now. But like the radiator having only a little oil in it my engine may have only a little water in it.

Thanks in advance.
JB

 

[Jeff Kleb]

Oil In Coolant


My gut feeling is that you likely have a head gasket problem........but that is just strictly my own opinion and I am nothing close to being a mechanic.

Good luck trying to find the source of the problem, though.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I also would guess that it could be a head gasket problem.

 

[TechWrench]

You didn't mention if it is an automatic or standard trans. If it is an automatic, then the problem could be the trans cooler loop in side the radiator has sprung a leak and trans fluid is getting into engine coolant. If this is the case, then coolant will also migrate into trans which will cause trans problems.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Most likely a head gasket. The oil pressure will be 50 psi or more (probably) when it's running and it's seeping into the coolant. The coolant pressure is only 15 psi (or so) and not enough to seep back into the oil (yet) when the engine is shut off. Had that problem on my Mustang.

 

[toyotaIVrunner]

Same problem

I have the same problem but i have a 1989 22r 4runner and i have water leaking into the engine and oil in my radiator, have yet. My problem started with a really bad oil leak and timing chain jumped links. so i put a new timing chain and new crankshaft seal, water pump seal, oil pump seal, valve cover gasket, and the new timing chain and new timing gears, tensioner, and chain guides and put the whole thing back together and now there's water in the engine and oil in the radiator. any guesses?

 

[fourwd1]

Did you look at the Timing Chain cover when it was off?
If the chain had enough slack to jump it also may have worn a hole they the cover, which would let coolant into the oil.
Or possibly an error reinstalling everything.