Went to get my oil changed today, and was told "I can't change it. There's no oil in the engine, it's all in the radiator."

So, it's at the shop next door having a compression/leak down test done.

I've heard a ticking the past day from the engine, just sounded like the fan blade was occasionally hitting the radiator. Checked, and I had oil this morning before I left for work, so this is all a new thing.

What are the chances all I've done is blow a head gasket?

John

 

Is there water in the oil? Are you blowing smoke?

 

No, and no. (There's no oil left TO check at this point, but this morning when I checked the dipstick, there wasn't water on it.)

John

 

Well, I don't understand how all your oil could be in your radiator.

 

Erm, I would think along the lines of headgasket develops a small leak under pressure, lets oil out into the coolant, gets taken to the radiator, and the pressure is high enough/leak small enough that it doesn't get back in once it goes to the radiator.

John

 

There's no way all of your oil can be in your radiator, and nothing be in your engine. Your cooling system is normally sealed, and aside from maybe a little extra room in your overflow tank, it is completely full. There is no way that 4 quarts of oil is going to fit into an already full cooling system, and have nothing in your engine.

 

If you have oil in coolant you have a blown headgasket or a crack in the block. I bet that its just a headgasket.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There's no way all of your oil can be in your radiator, and nothing be in your engine. Your cooling system is normally sealed, and aside from maybe a little extra room in your overflow tank, it is completely full. There is no way that 4 quarts of oil is going to fit into an already full cooling system, and have nothing in your engine. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Hrm. good point. doh!

Well, if it's screwed, then I guess I do the b20 swap much earlier than I wanted...

John

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aodhan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Went to get my oil changed today, and was told "I can't change it. There's no oil in the engine, it's all in the radiator."

So, it's at the shop next door having a compression/leak down test done.

I've heard a ticking the past day from the engine, just sounded like the fan blade was occasionally hitting the radiator. Checked, and I had oil this morning before I left for work, so this is all a new thing.

What are the chances all I've done is blow a head gasket?

John</TD></TR></TABLE>

sounds like the shop next door is trying to scam you out of some money.
first off, unless you are doing some serious, hard driving, you headgasket just doesn't blow on your way to work.

most of the time it is something that starts to go slowly then speeds up.
there are symptoms that occur before the headgasket is gone. smoke coming out of your exhaust, lost of power, sluggish acceleration can all be signs of a bad headgasket.

now, yes oil and coolant is another symptom and having said that, there is no way on earth that your oil is all in the radiator. there is no way they can't change your oil, beacuse the gasket is "blown".

all this sounds too fishy! IMO, i would call them up and tell them to stop touching you car. when you get there inspect everything yourself. if you are unsure, you should take it to a respectable shop, or even the dealer.


Modified by philosofy1 at 4:40 PM 10/24/2007

 

Wow yeah reread the post i missed that a shop told you that I only really caught the statement of oil in the radiator. It really does sound fishy. If I where you I would do what philosofy1 said and double check everything. I would even make them rerun the comp test while you are there.

 

Yeah, what philosofy1 said. If the shop told you this then they're either idiots or trying to pull a fast one on you. Either way I'd get it out of there and to someone that knows what they're talking about. And I think there'd be a lot more going on then a little tick if there was absolutely no oil in it. Fill it back up and let it run and watch what happens.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by instructor74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> If I where you I would do what philosofy1 said and bouble check everything.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

HAHA, bouble check, or bubble check! LOL!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philosofy1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

HAHA, bouble check, or bubble check! LOL! </TD></TR></TABLE>

HAHA that will teach me to proof read and check my spelling even on the quick replies

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philosofy1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
sounds like the shop next door is trying to scam you out of some money.
first off, unless you are doing some serious, hard driving, you headgasket just doesn't blow on your way to work.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

110k on the car, original headgasket, and lately I've been going on the freeway and hard accelerating down the on ramps, nearly hitting redline, and practicing rev matching on downshifts when cruising on the freeway.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
most of the time it is something that starts to go slowly then speeds up.
there are symptoms that occur before the headgasket is gone. smoke coming out of your exhaust, lost of power, sluggish acceleration can all be signs of a bad headgasket.

now, yes oil and coolant is another symptom and having said that, there is no way on earth that your oil is all in the radiator. there is no way they can't change your oil, beacuse the gasket is "blown".
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not so much that they couldn't, they just didn't want to until I fixed whatever was causing the oil to mix with the coolant. The radiator overflow was completely filled, the dipstick was clean when it came out of the engine. The acceleration has been sluggish, and lately the car has been idling very low and occasionally almost dying at stoplights.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
all this sounds too fishy! IMO, i would call them up and tell them to stop touching you car. when you get there inspect everything yourself. if you are unsure, you should take it to a respectable shop, or even the dealer.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

They're supposed to call me anytime now with the compression test results. I'll see what they say.

John

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aodhan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

110k on the car, original headgasket, and lately I've been going on the freeway and hard accelerating down the on ramps, nearly hitting redline, and practicing rev matching on downshifts when cruising on the freeway.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

110K on a motor doesn't necessary mean the gasket is bad, but describing the way you drive, it doesn't help the situation. besides, a 40 year old shouldn't be driving that way.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aodhan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Not so much that they couldn't, they just didn't want to until I fixed whatever was causing the oil to mix with the coolant. The radiator overflow was completely filled, the dipstick was clean when it came out of the engine. The acceleration has been sluggish, and lately the car has been idling very low and occasionally almost dying at stoplights.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

having the radiator overflow filled with oil is also a indication that the oil is mixing. proper maintanece checks will had verified this for you a while ago. well, if you gasket is bad, then be prepared to pay a hefty price. well, unless you do the work yourself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by instructor74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

HAHA that will teach me to proof read and check my spelling even on the quick replies</TD></TR></TABLE>

that's OK man. just thought it was funny. i mess up all time. edit is my best friend!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philosofy1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

110K on a motor doesn't necessary mean the gasket is bad, but describing the way you drive, it doesn't help the situation. besides, a 40 year old shouldn't be driving that way.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You're only as old as you feel, and my wife is 24, so...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
having the radiator overflow filled with oil is also a indication that the oil is mixing. proper maintanece checks will had verified this for you a while ago. well, if you gasket is bad, then be prepared to pay a hefty price. well, unless you do the work yourself.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just got the results of the test. It's the headgasket. He's supposed to call me back with an estimate. I'm stuck paying for it, since at the moment I have neither tools, space nor expertise.

John

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aodhan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You're only as old as you feel, and my wife is 24, so...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

actually, i was being sarcastic about the age. if you really are 40, didn't mean to offend you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philosofy1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

actually, i was being sarcastic about the age. if you really are 40, didn't mean to offend you. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Not offended at all. I AM 40.

John

 

$700 just to change the headgasket!!?????????

Fack me. I can buy a new engine for that....

John

 

I did a head gasket and water pump change myself after swapping a motor into my car. It's not too hard, just time consuming. After I was done, I respected why the shops charge that much.