Water is getting into the oil!

[The4seeker]

My 1984 R4 GTL is dumping water into the oil, and quite a lot.
The car runs perfectly, does not over heat and a compression is good on all cylinders.
However if I fill up the expansion bottle with water and leave the car overnight, by the morning it is empty, and I have now discovered its mixing into the oil.
Anyone got any ideas or had a similar problem
Thanks for reading

 

[malcolm]

There are three things that can cause that. Head gasket, cylinder head crack, or cylinder liner seals to the block. The coolant is pressurised when it is hot so gets forced through even the tiniest gap.

If the car has been run with antifreeze then it is likely to be the head gasket. It is well worth having the head checked for straightness and for cracks while it is off, and skimmed if necessary. If there isn't antifreeze then all three are equally probable.

While the head is off for checks keep an eye on coolant level around the bores. If the coolant drains out then the liner seals will be the issue.

 

[The4seeker]

Thanks Malcolm, as it seems to drain water when cold then I guess its the linings Is this an engine out job?

 

[Edtom]

Ive heard you can change the cylinder liner seals with the engine in, but having just done it, I recommend removing thé engine...You really want to get every thing really perfectly clean...

 

[André4Renaults]

This subject has been discussed before but if you need the details of a good engine reconditioning company I can supply details. As per above, you're better off taking the engine apart to clean it properly before replacing the liners.

 

[malcolm]

An expansion bottle draining overnught is a lot of water. Is it all going into the oil? You should see a lot of water in the dip stick or completely emulsified oil if you have run the engine. Don't diagnose from the scum on the oil filler- we've all got that.

 

[mr-reno-139]

From experience but no doubt some will dissaprove
If the cooling system is NOT pressurising which would suggest head gasket cracked liner or head which will definitely involve stripping for investigation

I have on several occasions when liner seal problems suspected used a product called holts wonder weld
This will also work on cracked blocks or heads
I used some on a 4 van 2 years ago that the head gasket was replaced but the liners were disturbed accidently not by me
The van hasn't lost a drop of water since and the oil stays the correct colour
Bear in mind that if the engine is currently otherwise running well a strip down may reveal the block or base of liners corroded away which is a big expensive issue
So worth spending £10 or so trying it
You will need to follow instructions and also change oil and filter as water not a good lubricant

 

[The4seeker]

Yes, Malcolm its all going into the oil for sure as the as the oil level is about 5cm above the full level on the dipstick, and oil is all emulsified

 

[malcolm]

It's a big leak then. Normally it takes a bit of pressure from the cooling system to push water into the oil. When it happened could give a few clues about what is causing the trouble. Was it the first time out after winter storage?

 

[The4seeker]

Malcolm, no the car is in regular use. The car which we have owned for about 9 years has always used a bit of water. Probably goes from max level to min over about 600 miles or so, but the oil has never gone milky. I noticed a couple of weeks ago prior to doing a service the expansion bottle was empty, and needed about 1 litre of water to get to the max level. We then did a few runs in the car local probably about 10 miles and I re checked the water and it was empty, but no signs if a leak, so I re filled it with the aim to use the car the next day, the following morning the bottle was empty!!!. With no signs of a external leak, thinking the only way it can be is inside the engine I checked the dipstick. That was when I discovered where the 2 litres of water had gone. The car had a new cylinder head about 4 years ago so I am hoping its not this, and guessing liners. Might try the Holts stuff first, rather that engine out job. Maybe worth a try?

 

[mr-reno-139]

I have used holts wonder weld over the last 20 years with great success
There is a similar product called k seal which is probably better known but I have not personally used it