Blown head gasket or ?

[Robert]

This morning I went and unscrewed the radiator cap to discover what appeared to be brown droplets floating in my coolant, rubber gasket on radiator cap was greasy.

I am running Red line fatty acid coolant additive.

I have not seen any coolant loss though at all - - over weeks of multiple coolant checks.

Guess I need to drain my oil and inspect it carefully.

Question:

1) What are the probable <further> damages if I continue to drive it as is ?

2) Is it possible to not have a blown head gasket, but somewhere else that water and oil can cross-contaminate ?

 

[2old2fast]

An intake gasket can let water into oil , usually not vice-versa , look at your plugs , if you have 1 that is really clean , that's a possible head gasket problem , but again , usually it's water in oil , if you're running a radiator w/ an internal tranny cooler , that would put oil in the water ... just some thoughts..
dave

 

[bobs66440]

You can pressurize the cylinders one at a time with each piston at TDC on compression stroke and see if you get bubbles out of the radiator. The last time I had a head gasket leak, I was losing coolant pretty fast. Also, If I started the engine with the rad cap off, the coolant came shooting out of the radiator like a geyser!

 

[RPM]

Just from the little bit of info you gave. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
A few drop of oil in the radiator my just be from when the engine was assembled. If you have not lost any coolant and the oil is not milky, no steam coming from one or both headers. I think you are fine.
To answer your question about oil getting in water. Yes it is possible, to have an internal crack from a water jacket to an oil passage. The water is under about 16psi while oil is 50 or more psi. I have only seen this twice. The oil being higher pressure pushes through into the water.

What engine are you working with?

 

[Keeper]

My wives 87 Corvette has had oil seeping into the coolant for at least 17 years, and its still fine...lol

If you do not notice any white smoke, or any water in the oil, I personally would not worry to much. Though I highly recommend keeping a real close eye on things.

If you see any water in the oil, then its time for a tear down to find the issue.

 

[Robert]

An intake gasket can let water into oil , usually not vice-versa , look at your plugs , if you have 1 that is really clean , that's a possible head gasket problem , but again , usually it's water in oil , if you're running a radiator w/ an internal tranny cooler , that would put oil in the water ... just some thoughts..
dave

Hmmm, I just recently took the trans fluid lines off the radiator and routed them through an independent trans cooler . . .

 

[Robert]

Just from the little bit of info you gave. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
A few drop of oil in the radiator my just be from when the engine was assembled. If you have not lost any coolant and the oil is not milky, no steam coming from one or both headers. I think you are fine.
To answer your question about oil getting in water. Yes it is possible, to have an internal crack from a water jacket to an oil passage. The water is under about 16psi while oil is 50 or more psi. I have only seen this twice. The oil being higher pressure pushes through into the water.

What engine are you working with?

350 Chevy, unknown build as I bought it used. I think I have an carb gasket leak (dual carbs) as when I spray carb cleaner in between the 2 Edlebrocks I get a higher idle (but no higher idle when sprayed anywhere else).

 

[Robert]

My wives 87 Corvette has had oil seeping into the coolant for at least 17 years, and its still fine...lol

If you do not notice any white smoke, or any water in the oil, I personally would not worry to much. Though I highly recommend keeping a real close eye on things.

If you see any water in the oil, then its time for a tear down to find the issue.

OK, I will now check the oil very carefully.

 

[Robert]

OK guys, I drained the oil and checked it carefully - - no sign of water or milkiness anywhere.

Will check sp. plugs next.

 

[Keeper]

Thats a good sign!