Oil in the coolant

Tiny
SWANY1962
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 CHEVROLET UPLANDER
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 17,600 MILES
Why does oil leak into the radiator reservoir?
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Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 AT 8:30 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
Is it motor oil or trans fluid? The trans cooler is an integral part of the radiator and can leak. Make sure there is no issue with the fluid in the trans and let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 AT 8:53 PM
Tiny
CAPTAINBROCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
No water in oil, does not overheat until running several minutes, however plenty of brown (not red) oil floating in water. Just had air intake manifold butterfly motor worked on by local mechanic (last week but not sure I can trust. Oil clear, transmission fluid clear
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Saturday, June 17th, 2017 AT 7:20 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,468 POSTS
Hello,

This means the oil cooler inside the radiator has gone bad and is leaking engine oil into the coolant. Here is a guide that will help you get the problem fixed.

Also see if there is an engine oil cooler by the oil filter which can leak too.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolantantifreeze-in-the-engine-oil

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-radiator

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, June 20th, 2017 AT 9:55 AM

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