1996 Volkswagen Jetta Transmission Oil in Engine Coolant

Hello –

If you look at your radiator…….you will see transmission lines going to it. What appears to have happened is it is leaking inside your radiator, thus mixing that way.

You may need to replace your radiator…..then flush your cooling system really good and go back with Prestone green, 50/50 mix.

I you need to get back with me please let me know the size of your engine in liter and the 8th digit of your VIN. Also is your model a GL, GLS, GLX, GT, TDI or Wolfsburg Edition.

Today is the first day since you replied that I've had time to look at the car.
There are not any transmission lines going into the radiator. The radiator has only one line in and one line out.
There is a line going into what looks like a transmission cooler on top of the transmission and one coming out on the other end of it. I don't know if this could be the transmission cooler or not. I'm looking into that now.
There is no water in my engine oil, so I know it is not a cracked head.
But the coolant water is heavily contaminated with a brown oil, I believe to be transmission fluid. I have completely pulled the radiator and oil was in it and in the lines coming to and from it.
HELP;-)
If this is truly transmission issues, how do I clean up this mess and not lose the transmission in the process?

Hello - Thanks for the info but you forgot to answer my questions on my post. It sounds like you have engine oil in your coolant. I have attached a pic of an engine cooling system. Do you have a number 12? If so then this may be where the engine oil is coming from.

Did your transmission level ever go down or you engine oil?

Well, we pulled the owners manual and it is actually a 1997 instead of a 96.

2.0 Liter Engine and GL

VINis 3VWRA81H5VM002917

Hello - glad to hear back from you. Since it has been a while I will need an update and answers to the above questions but will ask again to save you time looking back. When you say the radiator only has one line in and one line out........I attached a pic....this is the inlet and outlet hose for the coolant items 7 and 8.....yes?

What did you find out about the transmission cooler? When you pulled the radiator you said oil was in it. I have attached the pic for your car. Do you have item 15 on your car?

This is an oil cooler. You may have the oil mixing with the coolant here. Is your oil level going down or your transmission level?

What would happen if I added too much engine oil? Would that have shown up in the coolant?
I was unable to find the oil cooler. Is it under and behind the alternator? If not, I don't think I have one.
Am I correct that the oil cooler will be between radiator and engine side, and not on back or firewall side of engine?
to answer questions below: Yes I have 7 & 8
Yes the radiator had oil in it
The overflow resivor has oil in it and I think it is engine oil - it is brown and frothy, not pink and does not smell like transmission fluid. When I pulled the dipstick, it appeared to be normal. No usual indications of water in the oil.
Thank you so much for all of your help.

Hello –

Too much oil……depends on too much…..for the most part it would push out of the dip stick.

The oil cooler looks like it should be on the left side if your pulleys are facing front or the front of the engine if they are facing to the passenger side.

I still wonder if you have blown head gasket. Are you having any white smoke out the tail at all? Does it run a little rough at all?

If not – then I would think it is coming from the oil cooler. Check all around the area there since coolant lines go through there.