Thread: Oil in my coolant? LIM? Need part numbers and what is best to get....

Well, in cleaning my car last night, and figuring out the po442 code, I checked the coolant level. Level is a little low, and it has a brownish black oily muck on the top of the coolant in the neck.

I am figuring that this is the LIM and that I am getting oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil.

What all do I need to replaced the LIM gasket? Anyone have a handy dandy part number and links?

How long does it take to do this?

I saw the link for the video, and I will watch it, but I also have to get the parts. Just want the best stuff I can get.

Thanks everyone.

have you checked your trans fluid??? ive never seen the oil mix into the coolant. im not saying its not possible but ive seen it alot when radiators go bad and mix the trans fluid with the coolant

^^^ that can happen, it was more common back in the day tho. I'm interested in knowing how you know for sure it is oil. Are you running Dexcool still? If so that could be your cruddy, oily, muddy residue of which you are talking about. I would suggest filling it up and doing a coolant pressure test.

only time i've seen oil in the coolent is when there was an oil cooler involved that become faulty....
otherwise coolent in the oil would mean a head gasket...check your oil cap or dipstick for a milky brownish color...

Well not positive that it is Oil in the coolant.

Yes the dexcool has been changed. The cooling system has been flushed this past spring.

Trans fluid huh? I understand that the tranny has a cooler in the radiator, but never heard of those failing before.

Is that common?

No oil cooler. THis is a stock 98 GTP.

Without having the coolant tested/oil tested, hard to say what the blackish oily stuff is in my coolant.

Yes, I know to check the oil cap and dipstick for coolant residue. No I do not have that. Super clean.

Any help with direction to go in?

THanks

Craig

could quite possibly be dex residue, it's a dark browninsh sticky substance, i've flushed twice (and switched to prestone extended life, yellowish) and still find it accumulating on my rad cap.....planning to install a coolent filter myself

Originally Posted by beastin1

only time i've seen oil in the coolent is when there was an oil cooler involved that become faulty....
otherwise coolent in the oil would mean a head gasket...check your oil cap or dipstick for a milky brownish color...

I've seen LIM gaskets leak oil into the coolant often enough. And vice versa plenty of times, too.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

I've seen LIM gaskets leak oil into the coolant often enough. And vice versa plenty of times, too.

thats a new one on me...seeing as though oil temps excel coolent temps the pressure usually goes outwards resulting in coolent leaking out not in... however on cool down i imagine that could happen.... although in all my experiences when oil is found in coolent, it is due to a faulty oil cooler, seeing as though his car does not have an oil cooler, my theory is lacking....
perhaps your right

Originally Posted by beastin1

could quite possibly be dex residue, it's a dark browninsh sticky substance, i've flushed twice (and switched to prestone extended life, yellowish) and still find it accumulating on my rad cap.....planning to install a coolent filter myself

Thats an interesting thought. Wondering if I should have it flushed again.

Originally Posted by hunter_alexander

Thats an interesting thought. Wondering if I should have it flushed again.

yea i would flush again...did you switch to (yellow) prestone extended life??? if not, i would, just get rid of the dex....then perhaps add a coolent filter, which is something on my agenda as well

I already got rid of the dex. When I had it flushed, they put in prestone (lime greenish).

Be nice to know that it was just the dex residue.