Head gasket?

Tiny
AHARTLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 OLDSMOBILE 88
  • 3.8L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 201,000 MILES
This car has been sitting since January.
I went out and pulled the dipstick, the oil was milky.
In the past when I was driving it at least weekly when not daily there would be some condensation in the oil cap, but never in the oil.
The upper plenum has been replaced around 150,000.
On the engine between the upper plenum and the valve covers there is some oil and or coolant. It's very thin, taste a bit sweet.
The car starts just fine. I let the fuel pump run, then turn it over, and it starts in a "New York Minute". It runs as well as I'd suppose it will.
The engine is a bit "ticky" on start-up, tick in the backside, by the firewall. It doth calm after idling.
A bit of condensation from the tailpipe, very faint white smoke.
I had removed the radiator cap, started the car, let it run awhile. There was no bubbling at all. The antifreeze is clean, however I do have to "make sure" it's full so it doth lose some.
The engine has yet to overheat. It stays at the temperature it has since I bought it in 2020.
Head gasket? Manifold gasket?
Below the thermostat housing, maybe on the thermostat housing, down to the temperature sensor there is noticeable wetness. I've thought of replacing the thermostat gasket.
If this is the head gasket or the manifold gasket I need to prepare to "break it down" I'd guess.
Saturday, April 29th, 2023 AT 5:23 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,310 POSTS
Hi,

If you change the oil, do you see the same creamy moisture in it after it runs a bit? I don't know where you are located, but there could have been enough moisture to cause what you are seeing.

On the other hand, these engines are known for intake issues. If they leak, coolant can mix with oil. So, the best thing I can suggest is this. You can perform a compression test to see if there is a low cylinder compared to the others. That may indicate a head gasket issue.

Here is a link that explains how it's done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Other than that, you would need to remove both the upper and lower intake manifolds to see if there is evidence of a leak.

Let me know your thoughts and what I can do to help.

Take care,

Joe

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Saturday, April 29th, 2023 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
AHARTLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
Okay.

Replaced the upper intake in 2020, so, I'd guess the lower could be an issue.
I am located in the more northeastern section of Missouri, near Hannibal if that tells you anything.
I change the oil on a regular basis, about 3,000 miles. I've seen "pudding" on the oil cap but never on the dipstick until now.
If I would not have seen that I would never have known anything was wrong with the car.
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Saturday, April 29th, 2023 AT 8:29 PM
Tiny
AHARTLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
There is no "check engine" light coming on.
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Saturday, April 29th, 2023 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
AHARTLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
And while there is a very faint blue from the exhaust it does go away. I've only started the car twice since I've noticed the "milk shake".
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Saturday, April 29th, 2023 AT 8:35 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,310 POSTS
Hi,

If there is coolant mixing with the oil, don't run it with that oil in it. It will damage the bearings.

Also, I had a 3.1 apart about a month ago for a similar problem. It was the head gaskets on that one. The original gaskets had literally deteriorated at every water port. It was a mess. But it ran great again once together.

Since you are indicating it runs well, I have a feeling (theory) it is the intake. The vehicle I had in ran poorly.

BTW, the light blue smoke that goes away is likely valve seals.

Let me know what your plans are and if there is anything I can do to help.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, April 29th, 2023 AT 9:19 PM

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