2001 Ford Excursion OIL IN THE RADIATOR

TOLLESON

MEMBER
2001 FORD EXCURSION
5.7L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
235,000 MILES

Hello,
I have a 2000 ford excursion with the 5.4l engine and I have oil in the radiator. The overflow is full of oil, I checked to see if the oil had coolant in it but found none. It also has a crack in the intake manifold, which was easy to diagnose but I can't figure out where the oil in the radiator is coming from. Every internet search that I have tried has come up with one of two causes. 1. Oil/transmission lines running through the radiator (I checked, no lines run through the radiator) 2. Blown/leaking head gasket. Any help would be appreciated. I own 3 fords, all with 5.4l engines and this problem is in 2 out of the three.

2 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

If it were trans fluid your transmission would be low on oil or have traces of water in it. To find out what it is pressure check coolant system as It may be head gaskets more so than trans fluid. If it is trans fluid then the coolant line for trans has broken inside radiator and is leaking. Btw you Do have lines going to radiator then to possibly a cooler. If you don't have lines going to rad and bypassed them then you already answered your own question as it would be motor oil.