Oil on coolant

1998 DODGE RAM

176,000 MILES • 8.0L • V10 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC

CHASEDCAS

MEMBER
1 POST

My truck listed above is a 2500. Have milky brown water In radiator it is engine oil since my oil level is low but oil on the dipstick has no water in it nice color not milky at all. Only getting oil in coolant and no water in oil. How is that possible?

Jul 28, 2018 at 11:11 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

✓Experienced Mechanic
110,248 POSTS

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.com.

A leaking head gasket can leak different ways. First, coolant can enter the engine and mix there with the oil. Second, it can simply be a loss of compression. Third, an intake gasket or head gasket can allow oil to enter the coolant. Additionally, if your truck has a transmission cooler which runs through the radiator, and most do, ATF can be mixing with the coolant. If your truck has an oil cooler which uses coolant to cool the oil, I have seen pin holes develop which allow oil to enter the coolant.

What I suggest is this. First, lets check for a bad head gasket. Here is a link which describes how to test one:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

Jul 29, 2018 at 2:17 PM

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Oil on coolant

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