Oil in Coolant? Is this the forbidden cream?

[PontiacHO]

Engine to operating temperature, coolant system pressurized, pull spark plugs, turn engine over while you watch the spark plug holes. You will see which cylinder is getting coolant.

 

[ruhroh]

Thanks. I don't have a borescope or a leakdown tester, I'll try to find one.

I'll try that too, though by the time I get to the plugs, engine might be cool already. Some stuff to remove to get there. I can check each plug or valve for one that looks weirder than the rest, at the very least. I was already going to take the cams off to check rockers so a head removal isn't too much worse. This RWD V6 Engine bay has so much room.

 

[GMBoy]

I wouldn't trust that test.

I use the same method of testing for bad HGs it detects combustion gases pretty well in my experience. I am open to better methods though so what do you do and use?

 

[GMBoy]

I have seen only one JGC 3.6 with a blown HG. It was a 2018 and I knew right away as the coolant hoses were HARD as rocks under the pressure built up and the overflow had severe pressure and bubbling. The test proved it was a blown HG - customer wasn't having it so he traded it in....apparently he bled off the pressure down the road from the dealer and drove it in, traded and left in a new Traverse.

 

[someonesomewhere]

That happened to me. Car failed day 2. Sued the seller and lost. He put the magic words on the bill of sale: As is.

What state are you in? In TN, you don't have to put 'as-is' on the bill of sale for private sales (BoS isn't even required except sales by dealer, just the signed title). The 'as-is' is implied and understood, and the only thing that would need to be notated on a BoS is any type of warranty that was included. I thought most states were this way, but perhaps not!

The only time they require a BoS here for personal sales is to explain special circumstances, like an absurdly low selling price (parts car or restoration project), or transfers as gifts (usually between family members). Even then, they technically have official forms for those if you have a printer available. I got to avoid paying sales tax on my Mazda3 when I got it from my parents, as parent-child sales are tax exempt. Saved me $240 on my first registration, for a couple of stamps (we don't pay recurring yearly property taxes on cars here, just initial sales tax and yearly wheel taxes).

 

[The Critic]

I use the same method of testing for bad HGs it detects combustion gases pretty well in my experience. I am open to better methods though so what do you do and use?

Leakdown test, compression tester or....my favorite one, if I can get better at it:

 

[ruhroh]

I didn't do a leakdown test but I think the left head is the one with the coolant problem. I took out the spark plugs, the right bank is dark and oily, bad PCV on this bank, but two on the left bank are too clean. I took those two out first and I thought the previous owner did the 100K maintenance and changed the plugs... he likely did not.

Someone has also been in here before because I'm missing a few push pins for wire harness and the foam insert that supports the right side of the intake is missing.

I won't have free time to do more for a few weeks. For plugs, go with OE Champions or NGK Laser?

 

[John105]

What else should I do? I see oily layer on the walls of the coolant reservoir, small amounts of white smoke out the exhaust, depleting coolant with no visible leaks. No misfires yet.

Are you looking to drive this vehicle for a long time? Ever see a V8 BMW such as X5 or 7 series, where it's got white smoke coming out, and wonder why the owner doesn't fix it, it's a beautiful looking car? It's because the repair is ~ $10,000+. So cars can be driven for some time with a coolant leak and white smoke, but not forever. imho losing coolant other than a hose or radiator is a more serious problem than topping off oil or power steering etc. due to a leak. The coolant is going somewhere is my point. If you want to drive forever may as well find it and fix it now....

 

[John105]

What state are you in? In TN, you don't have to put 'as-is' on the bill of sale for private sales (BoS isn't even required except sales by dealer, just the signed title). The 'as-is' is implied and understood, and the only thing that would need to be notated on a BoS is any type of warranty that was included. I thought most states were this way, but perhaps not!

The only time they require a BoS here for personal sales is to explain special circumstances, like an absurdly low selling price (parts car or restoration project), or transfers as gifts (usually between family members). Even then, they technically have official forms for those if you have a printer available. I got to avoid paying sales tax on my Mazda3 when I got it from my parents, as parent-child sales are tax exempt. Saved me $240 on my first registration, for a couple of stamps (we don't pay recurring yearly property taxes on cars here, just initial sales tax and yearly wheel taxes).

long time ago in NYS which leans towards the consumer. But I also learned that to be able to collect on a small claims court verdict, one needs to know where the plaintiff works, or doesn't matter they won't pay. I sued a slumlord and won--he didn't pay. I found out where he worked and had the sheriff perform an income execution. Slumlords knew most tenants don't have the means to follow it through. I loved it I was about 22 and acted like Al Pacino, it was fun. I said this entire court is out of order and the justice (they didn't even have law degrees) was getting agitated. When we're young, life is fun.