Oil in water but no mayo ???

[gumby6371]

I'm noticed a while ago a bit of an oily film when topping up the coolant on my D8 1.9td. A couple of weeks ago my throttle cable snapped and I had to tie the throttle open to get it home, after that big clumps of old oil were forced to the top of the coolant filler pipe (probably from the engine revving it's tits off at junctions ???).
Flushed the coolant through and everythings running fine but I'm starting to lose oil now and the coolant has nice fresh oil in it.
My mechanic mate said it wasn't the head it was leaking from the oil cooler, is this likely as the tell tell mayo is no where to be seen.

As I said earlier the oil level has dropped but still within the min-max on the dipstick. Power feels the same, had none before and it has none now !!!

[mjb]

If you're worried about your head gasket, a compression test will give you an answer, but the coolant system is pressurised more than the oil system so it's my understanding that any leaks, unless gaping, should be in the direction of coolant getting into the oil, not the other way around?

What I suspect (and I could be very wrong here) is you're just seeing a little contamination in the header from crud that's always been in the system, and you're either burning/dripping oil or more likely you're testing the level under different circumstances (not parking the car in EXACTLY the same place, testing in different engine or atmospheric temperatures, testing with weight in the car...)

I'm no expert on diesels though, so maybe someone else who is can ridicule the above

[Porkchop]

Just rectified the same problem on my 406. Gunky sh*t in the coolant system. Oil cooler is a common problem for these appartently.
I temporarily bypassed the oil cooler and flushed the coolant system. If the gunk returned then headgasket would be at fault. If it remains clear
then its oil cooler. thankfully it didnt return!

[gumby6371]

Funnily enough porkchop I've just been advised to do exactly that, just wondering how you plug the oil cooler if it is that ?
Have been looking at the stuff you pour in the coolant, ever tried it ?

[Porkchop]

I just pulled the 2 pipes off the cooler, and joined them together with a small piece of a narrower diameter pipe which i had lying around. Use 2 clamps or jubilee clips then to make sure it wont leak. I used a bottle of stuff which cost 25 quid, cant remember the name but they all do the same thing anyway. It brought a lot of sh*t out of the system but i had to repeat the process about 5 times with just water to get everything out.

[gumby6371]

Just been to a local breakers and picked up a replacement oil cooler for £15, she's due an oil change and obviously I need to flush the coolant so I figured at £15 for the cooler it was worth a punt as I'll be draining all the fluids anyway. Will update when it's done. Just need to get a free morning and access to my father in laws pit (I do like a bit of elbow room).
Any suggestions on a good coolant flush that isn't silly money ?

[gumby6371]

Just thought I'd give an update for anyone suffering from the same symptoms, Oil cooler now changed, coolant flushed and some nice fresh oil running around the engine. Engine running much better since the oil change and so far no oil in the coolant. I only flushed her with clean water as i didn't see the point on spending cash on cleaning agents until i knew it wasn't the head so thats a job for the future.
I'm rather chuffed with the outcome, it's all sorted for only £15 (not counting the cost of oil and filter as it was due anyway), hopefully it gives hope to other members panicking over the cost of head gasket repairs.