General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

radiator problems

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 3, 2009 | 11:26 AM
  #1  
Squidz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default radiator problems

so i noticed my car was smokin the other day. what i saw was white smoke so i knew it was anitfreeze leakin. i lifted the hood but i just couldnt really pinpoint the problem because the antifreeze was drying up to quick to even get an idea where it was coming from. so i left it alone and left it sittin for about id say a week and a half. well today i figured i should get off my lazy butt and fix the thing. when i pushed it out of the garage i figured i should fill up the radiator before i started.(duh) it was a little low but when it filled to the top i notice there was oil floatin at the top. when i cranked it i found a crack in the plastic part of the radiator, under the pressure cap. i need a new radiator for sure but can someone tell me why oil would be there. maybe a cracked or worn seal? please help guys. thanks
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2009 | 11:39 AM
  #2  
wrencher's Avatar
wrencher
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 2
From: Chicagoland
Default

Is it an automatic? did the oil look like trans fluid?
The trans cooler in the radiator could be seeping some into the cooling system.
Your gonna need a radiator anyways if it is cracked.
This is an LS1 car right? if it is engine oil that will be a problem then, it would have to be internal engine if it is getting into the cooling system.
Unless it is an eary LT1 or other that has an internal radiator mounted oil cooler.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2009 | 12:25 PM
  #3  
Squidz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

its a 99 z28 m6. i had a problem before where the power steering cooler went out and the power steering fluid and the radiator fluid keep leaking into eachother. but i checked that and thats ok. my engine oil is a little low, bout a little lower than half from the full mark. so since it dont have a transcooler or tranny fluid then what could it possibly be on the inside of the engine then?
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2009 | 12:56 PM
  #4  
wrencher's Avatar
wrencher
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 2
From: Chicagoland
Default

You z has a PS cooler?
well that could be the issue right there. You very well could have some left over PS fluid in there. I would bet that is likely the issue.
Not a common problem to get engine oil into the coolant w/ out some pre-existing issue. overheating running problem etc.
Otherwise head gaskets are the most common to cause this.
Not always easy to find the problem if it is internal engine. The oil usually has to have some pressure behind it to get forced into the cooling system.
I would repair the radiator problem clean the cooling system as best as possible & keep a close eye on it.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2009 | 01:04 PM
  #5  
Squidz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

i agree with you about the power steerin cooler leakin possibly, but ive already ruled that one out. when it went out last time the radiator was overflowing with powersteerin fluid and when i opened the cap to the ps it was yellow in cooler(tellin me that the radiator fluid seeped into it also). this time tho the ps fluid is fine and when i open the cap on the radiator its more of a brownish oil. im pretty sure its engine oil this time. i just am skeptical about replacin the radiator right yet before i fix the oil issue or im afraid that it will just happen again ya know
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 02:29 AM
  #6  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Squidz28
i agree with you about the power steerin cooler leakin possibly, but ive already ruled that one out. when it went out last time the radiator was overflowing with powersteerin fluid and when i opened the cap to the ps it was yellow in cooler(tellin me that the radiator fluid seeped into it also). this time tho the ps fluid is fine and when i open the cap on the radiator its more of a brownish oil. im pretty sure its engine oil this time. i just am skeptical about replacin the radiator right yet before i fix the oil issue or im afraid that it will just happen again ya know
I think its tranny fluid in the coolant. Most likely its getting in where you said you found a crack, thats exactly where the tranny line goes into the radiator for its cooling.

Get a new radiator, its cracked.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 12:31 PM
  #7  
Squidz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

the oil didn it look red tho it looked more like motor oil
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 01:53 PM
  #8  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Squidz28
the oil didn it look red tho it looked more like motor oil
When I had a cracked radiator under my pressure cap and I was getting tranny fluid in my coolant, I told everyone that I would bet my nuts it was oil.

It was tranny fluid. It gets dark and forms globs of it. It will stick inside your radiator cap too.

If you're radiator is cracked, you need a new one anyway. Get one and flush the coolant system BIG TIME to get it all out of the block.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 02:13 PM
  #9  
Viper's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 4,909
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, OH
Default

But he's an M6.....
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 02:35 PM
  #10  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Viper
But he's an M6.....
Didn't catch that.

I guess its not tranny fluid then

Power Steering fluid is more likely than oil, but you never know. Have to do some testing.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 02:37 PM
  #11  
wrencher's Avatar
wrencher
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 2
From: Chicagoland
Default

Originally Posted by Viper
But he's an M6.....
Ding! J/K

I really wonder if it was severly over heated. Because if engine oil is getting into the cooling system & not vise versa it is gonna be hard to find/confirm.
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 02:38 PM
  #12  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by wrencher
Ding! J/K

I really wonder if it was severly over heated. Because if engine oil is getting into the cooling system & not vise versa it is gonna be hard to find/confirm.
Can the PS cooler be taken off and checked for leaks?
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2009 | 02:43 PM
  #13  
the_merv's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (88)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,019
Likes: 893
From: The Beach...
Default

I would check the Power Steering Cooler again..
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2009 | 10:44 AM
  #14  
Squidz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

i will check it again, but im almost positive because i had that problem before. if that were the case, it would look like yellow oil when i opened my powers steering cap. i already had replaced the cooler and not just had it fixed. oh and it did not overheat. it was runnin at normal operating temperatures. bout 210 or just a hair past is normal for me. im thinkin my block might be cracked where the coolant flows through it at. but that would put water in my oil though. this is pretty confusin. i appriciate yalls help so far
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2009 | 03:49 PM
  #15  
Squidz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

does our cars have a crank case oil cooler by any chance? maybe that could have broken, leaking oil into the radiator?
Reply
Old Jan 6, 2009 | 08:57 PM
  #16  
wrencher's Avatar
wrencher
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 2
From: Chicagoland
Default

Originally Posted by Squidz28
does our cars have a crank case oil cooler by any chance? maybe that could have broken, leaking oil into the radiator?
Nope only the early LT1's did.
Reply
Old Jan 7, 2009 | 10:10 AM
  #17  
Squidz28's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Default

well damn, i dont know what else it could be. i guess im just goin to tell everyone that asks it blew up but still runs.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:31 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE