Is this normal?

[Hutchy-SKO]

please check out this picture of my coolant and tell me what you think https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s8j3Hz0mdTWOqjTexD64A3lahlw2rs0l/view

 

[mmoore6856]

looks like oil but you need to have your coolant analyzed to find out for sure because if it is you need to take immediate action to prevent major failure of the engine

 

[mmoore6856]

oil coolers have been known to spring leaks into the antifreeze on cumming engines.

 

[Hutchy-SKO]

looks like oil but you need to have your coolant analyzed to find out for sure because if it is you need to take immediate action to prevent major failure of the engine

I will look into it I am low on tranny fluid so I was thinking it might be that? the oil is still full after driving 620 miles home 2 weeks ago. I will call around this week I want to get the oil analyzed too.

 

[mmoore6856]

If it is the tranny oil you can put a external cooler on the tyranny oil. clean the old cooler in the radiator and plug it off rather than replace the radiator

 

[Hutchy-SKO]

If it is the tranny oil you can put a external cooler on the tyranny oil. clean the old cooler in the radiator and plug it off rather than replace the radiator

what if it is engine oil, what is the solution in that case?

 

[fo4imtippin]

I have same engine in mine. There's a few common causes on this engine. I would have a pro diagnose this if you don't want to just throw parts at it.. get the oil or coolant tested.



1. Head gasket is weak on the 24v. Seems to last about 150k-250k. Fix requires pulling the head, possibly having it machines, and replace every gasket on the top end. 8-16hours labor and $400 hard parts.
2. Air compressor leak. It uses oil and coolant and could have a bad seal. 4-8hrs

3. Oil cooler leak. Replace oil cooler. 4hours


A pro would probably be much faster, but those are my labor estimates knowing what I have to move to get at all these parts.

 

[Hutchy-SKO]

I have same engine in mine. There's a few common causes on this engine. I would have a pro diagnose this if you don't want to just throw parts at it.. get the oil or coolant tested.



1. Head gasket is weak on the 24v. Seems to last about 150k-250k. Fix requires pulling the head, possibly having it machines, and replace every gasket on the top end. 8-16hours labor and $400 hard parts.
2. Air compressor leak. It uses oil and coolant and could have a bad seal. 4-8hrs

3. Oil cooler leak. Replace oil cooler. 4hours


A pro would probably be much faster, but those are my labor estimates knowing what I have to move to get at all these parts.

is it even safe to drive it 20 or so miles to a mechanic if I make sure all the fluids are topped off?

 

[fo4imtippin]

We don't know that it's even oil. Could be drops from a funnel used to add coolant. You just drove it 600 miles home, 20 more should be fine. I have a weird coolant problem on mine and was nervous to drive it 2000 miles home, but the mechanic said Cummins checked it out and it has chooched along for 11k miles with the symptom and no issues.

 

[mmoore6856]

Oil in the water is a minor issue the real problem is when the water gets into the oil. When you shut it off the oil pressure drops to zero but the hot radiator still has pressure for hours and can force its way into the oil.

 

[Hutchy-SKO]

Oil in the water is a minor issue the real problem is when the water gets into the oil. When you shut it off the oil pressure drops to zero but the hot radiator still has pressure for hours and can force its way into the oil.

I think it's probably tranny fluid, the oil is still full and didn't lose a drop on a 620 mile drive home but the transmission is low on fluid. Also after that drive only a few drops of something was on the asphalt the next day. My plan is to change the oil, then fill the transmission and see how much was missing, drain and flush the radiator then refill and see how it acts. Does that sound ok?

 

[magnakansas]

hutchy

if you have a filter for the cooling system.... replace that. i think that would be a good idea.

my bluebird has transmission oil/engine coolant heat exchanger that could be your failure point.

mine is not part of the radiator.

william

 

[mmoore6856]

watch for the antifreeze in both the engine and tranny oil when you change them but a oil analysis would catch that if it is getting contaminated. i would flush the radiator, drain a bit of oil from the oil pan (after it sat before starting as water will settle) then run it and see if it returns. if you have a water filter cut it open and do a good look inside it

 

[TheHubbardBus]

Oil in the water is a minor issue...

A mixing of oil & coolant could result from - and become the cause of - any number of mechanical problems, ranging from relatively minor & easily fixed to catastrophic engine / transmission damage. Aren't many scenarios where it's only going to be a one-way exchange. Just because you can't see coolant in the oil (since it drops to the bottom) doesn't mean it's not there.

If it were me, I'd absolutely, positively find and address the problem before running the bus any more than necessary. Ideally, not at all.

 

[Hutchy-SKO]

watch for the antifreeze in both the engine and tranny oil when you change them but a oil analysis would catch that if it is getting contaminated. i would flush the radiator, drain a bit of oil from the oil pan (after it sat before starting as water will settle) then run it and see if it returns. if you have a water filter cut it open and do a good look inside it

how do you get the fluids analyzed? I never heard of that until getting a bus

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

go online and look up
BLACKSTONE LABS.
they will send you sample bottles and directions of how they want the samples taken.