blackoil residue in cooling system?

[hadleigh1]

Have 1.6 diesel t25 westy
taken off water fill tank cap and there is black oil residue in see through reservoir.
With engine running and reving a mist is seen in top of reservoir
coolant pipes do not seem unusually highly pressurised
temp of coolant on guage sits in the middle (cant remember if this is right or not)
anyideas?
not sure if head gasket?
cracked block?
there is a coolant pipe going into the oill filter housing....is this possibly a place oil could come from?
no white scum seen so far on dipstick or on oil fill cap.
Help!
is it time to scrap engine and attempt AAZ conversion?

[Red Westie]

The oil cooler attached to oil filter housing can internally corrode but normally results in oil contamination rather than coolant....but this is a diesel and my experiences have been with petrol VW's when this happens. It is possible to block or even connect the two coolant feeds to this housing...at least this way you could check if the problem stablizers which would prove it is this.
It won't make much difference to oil cooling at this time of year .
Martin

[hadleigh1]

by passed oilcooler .no evidence of leak . can contamination take place though water pump?
what is evidence of a cracked block? apart from my wallet opening !
maybe head gasket ......oh what to do?

[Red Westie]

No contamination cannot take place through the water pump.
Cracked block!! that would be a first.
Head gasket..always possible.

Martin

[hadleigh1]

took oil water heat exchanger to work an px tested it........failed
at least that resolves!!!!!!
need to get another and flush system
40 quid for new one or down the scrap yard.......
are they a common part?
anyone know

[Grumpy Midget]

The problem that occurs with the oilcooler is there is a rubber circular O ring which acts as a seal between oilcooler and the oil filter head which is on the block. Then the oil filter screws onto the threaded tube. At the top of the threaded tube is a thin flat nut, ( You already know this with taking it into work) The O ring is to seperate the oil from the coolant, you can buy just the O ring £1.35 From GSF or Replace complete for about £35.00 from GSF,
Make sure you ask for 80-90 Discount at GSF (10%)---------------------------------