Good evening focus friends

Tdci 1.8 2008

It’s not been long since my last post looking for guidance but I fear this one may be my last.

 

Recently I noticed over a few days that the car was taking a little longer to start than usual culminating in a puff of white smoke from the exhaust. 

 

I checked the oil and it was far from healthy looking (grey and looking like grease)

 

I also noticed the leak off pipe had popped off and it was spitting diesel. Not sure how long it had been like that but I don’t think too long as I’d not noticed the smell of any diesel. (I had the same leak off pipe pop off about a year ago and fixed it with a new o ring and clip, it’s been okay up to this point)

 

Generally the car only gets driven for 15mins twice per day. 
I read somewhere that condensation could possibly contaminate the oil. Thinking this could be possible due to the loose leak off pipe, I reseated the clip and took it for a longer drive (about 40 minutes) with the intention of getting rid of any sludge in the oil.

 

The longer drive didn’t fix the issue so I decided to do an engine flush and change the oil and filter. ( I last changed the oil about 6 months ago)

 

I also replaced the leak off pipe clip with a generic clip that I had from the previous time but it came loose again (it may have been one that i’d used prior)

 

After the oil change I wedged the leak off pipe in place and tie wrapped it temporarily in order for me to drive around the block (500 mtrs) and see how the car was running.

 

It’s since been stood for about a week while I waited for an official ford clip for the leak off pipe.

 

The clip came today, I fitted it and let it idle for about 10 minutes keeping an eye on the leak off pipe. The clip is fine and there was no white smoke on start up.

 

However, I checked the oil and it’s grey and grease like again! ( after only a 500mtr drive and some idling for 10mins.

 

Probably the baddest and most relevant info is that the coolant was a little low before I changed the oil so I topped it up with water. I’ve had to do this once (maybe twice) before in the 2 and a half years I’ve had it. No signs of any obvious leaking pipes that I can see (from above at least) 

 

I’ve had no overheating issues although as mentioned above the car doesn’t get driven much.

 

However I did notice a blob of red fluid on the underside of one of the bolts on the underside of the oil sump.

 

As an aside for info purposes but i’m sure irrelevant after I changed the oil I fitted a blanking plate on the EGR.

 

If anybody is still awake after reading that, whats the consensus?
The dreaded head gasket replacement job?

 

Picture of dipstick attached.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

 

Water in the oil im afraid. How its getting there obviously ive no idea. Could be any number of things.

37 minutes ago, LesFocus said:

The dreaded head gasket replacement job?

Very probably.

Buy a hydrocarbon test kit (about £16 on Amazon) and test for exhaust gases in the coolant.

Thanks for the advice….Is there any other possible reasons apart from the head/gasket?

12 hours ago, LesFocus said:

Thanks for the advice….Is there any other possible reasons apart from the head/gasket?

Oil cooler.

Thanks Tom

I’ve tested the coolant with a hydrocarbon tester and it’s given me the all clear with the fluid staying red.

I feel like thats a good thing as it strongly suggest no possible head/gasket leak

So now i’m thinking to replace the oil cooler. Am i right in that oil filter housing is the oil cooler? If thats the case there does seem to be quite a bit of oil residue/spray around that area and a tad on the ground.

Also in the same area but on the ground a few days ago there was a puddle of water (possibly coolant) although it appeared to be clear rather than red.

I’m still getting coolant on the underside of a couple of bolt heads on the underside of the oil sump (at the front left corner looking at it front the front ) just from the hydrocarbon test as I’ve not driven the car for a while.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks.