Good afternoon all. Looks like I got a pretty bad report for my first UOA. During this interval, the low coolant warning came up on the car twice. I topped it off both times and eventually had my mechanic replace a coolant union pipe behind the engine (a common point of failure on the 4.2 V8). This was done right before the oil change when the sample was taken. I thought this was where the coolant was leaking but now I'm worried it was instead leaking into the engine. Some research shows that the oil cooler seal can fail on these cars, as well as the PCV valve (which has a coolant pass-through, apparently). I don't think a failing union pipe can allow coolant into the engine. The engine has just under 130k on it. Since I have owned it, starting at 99k mi, I have done oil changes with a vacuum extractor via the dipstick. There is never any buildup under the filler cap and the oil does has never appeared milky. The car has never had an overheating issues and has no warning lights or drivability issues.
I also replaced the high pressure fuel pumps right before doing this oil change and sample. The car had an occasional rough warm start issue that can come from old, leaky fuel pumps. So hopefully that took care of the fuel contamination issue. The warm start issue has been resolved. However, the larger coolant issue is outstanding.
Finally, I used a bottle of Techron before the coolant pipe, fuel pump and oil change was done. How much trouble am I in? Should I stop driving the car or just carry on and send another sample in 3k miles as advised by BSL? I am going to change the PCV valve as it is relatively inexpensive and easy to do (knock on wood). I will also get in touch with my mechanic who did the union pipe on Monday. Thanks in advance.
I also replaced the high pressure fuel pumps right before doing this oil change and sample. The car had an occasional rough warm start issue that can come from old, leaky fuel pumps. So hopefully that took care of the fuel contamination issue. The warm start issue has been resolved. However, the larger coolant issue is outstanding.
Finally, I used a bottle of Techron before the coolant pipe, fuel pump and oil change was done. How much trouble am I in? Should I stop driving the car or just carry on and send another sample in 3k miles as advised by BSL? I am going to change the PCV valve as it is relatively inexpensive and easy to do (knock on wood). I will also get in touch with my mechanic who did the union pipe on Monday. Thanks in advance.