thick black mayonnaise in header tank...UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by **oldiguana** » 09 May 2008, 12:53

eyup dudes,i modified the header tank last weekend to one with a screw darlek cap,come to check on it today and theres thick gloopy mayonnaise in the header tank...there was some in it last week(but not this much!),so i change the oil cooler for an old one i had lying around at the same time.but the gloopy stuff is much worse now,could i have replaced a knackered oil cooler with an absolutely shagged oil cooler or is it definately a head gasket situation,the missus reckons its not over heating and shes says shes been in a bit of traffic at the weekend.......so im baffled but dont want to rip the head off if i dont need to,as im absolutely brassy.....im a house husband now doing odd foreigners so moneys a lil' tight....

Post by **camper** » 09 May 2008, 13:16

This gloopy mayonnasie means oil is mixed with coolent.So it could be that an oilway is leaking through to the coolent on the head gasket.It dont overheat allways if you pull out the dip stick look to see for water or oil mixed.If you can get a leak down test done at a garage it might be more conclusive to find the problem.1y engine you have correct?.

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 09 May 2008, 13:27

Ow's foooked

Post by **toomanytoys** » 09 May 2008, 14:05

What engine??

Could be the oil cooler.. disconnect the coolant hoses and join them together bypassing it.. see what scum is in the cooler and run it see if oil comes out..

Not likely its a head gasket problem if its a waterboxer.. might be a base seal, but again this is rare and only likey if the heads ahve been off recently and the cyls were disturbed..

Nobody has done something silly like put water in the oil filler have they (its been known)

Change the oil and filter.. when was it last done?

Post by **oldiguana** » 09 May 2008, 14:51

......sorry guys its a 1y 1.9 diesel........................

Post by **Louey** » 09 May 2008, 17:25

could be head gasket or it could (most likely) the oil cooler - they sometime corrode and that is where you get the mix

Post by **oldiguana** » 22 May 2008, 15:49

yo dudes thanks to a little advice from some of you guys i tried the old "disconnecting the old oil cooler ploy"you know(sorry for the peter sellers bit!),and it seems to have worked,i disconnected the oil cooler for a few days-still loads of mayonnaise,cleaned out the header tank and let her run it all week and there doesnt seem to be any mayonnaise,just the coolant looks a lil'dark in the header tank,tank needs de-gunking i think,so im going to let her drive it around this weekend and if theres no change,i will order an oil cooler.gsf or genuine?........any ideas

Grumpy Midget · Post by **Grumpy Midget** » 22 May 2008, 17:50

You will find that the oil cooler is ok , The problem is inside the oil cooler after you have unscrewed and stripped it out inbetween the sandwiched cooler there is a circular rubber ring this is all that prevents the oil from mixing with the water, New one from GSF £1.50.
Believe me I had same problem on a SB 1.6 an was told head gasket had gone, took head off an fitted new gasket ,still oil in expansion bottle, just change the seal, cooler same size as 1.6