Hi All,

I have a 2007 ford fiesta 1.4 duratec with +- 115k km on the engine. Yesterday I found a lot of oil in my coolant container, but no white spots on my dip stick or oil cap. the car has not over heated.

Could anyone assist me in attempting to identify the problem? I would greatly appreciate it.

Regards

Mawande

When the head gasket goes it doesn't always put coolant into the oil. It can just put oil into the coolant. You need to get it checked but it does sound like the head gasket is failing.

Sent it in, thank you. read somewhere that when that happens it could also be transmission oil. have you heard anything of that kind?

Sent it in, thank you. read somewhere that when that happens it could also be transmission oil. have you heard anything of that kind?

This issue was seen with cars which used to run a combined cooler (possibly Valeo?), think it was a bog-brush type transmission oil cooler that was water cooled and these used to leak internally. Just can't find detail on the web probably as I'm not putting right search words in. Don't think the design is used these days and possibly mainly used on auto's in any case.

More likely I'd say head gasket, combustion pressure plus leaky gasket allowing water to be forced into the oil circuits which run through the gasket.

Typical I've now found bit of history on the issue I mentioned above

Issue was with combined radiator/transmission oil cooler.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/126736-e270-cdi-2003-gearbox.html

Not unique to MB, Valeo supply OEM to lot of different manufacturers.

The engine oil is under a lot of pressure when the engine is running, the water less so, so it is the case that oil can go into the water without water getting into the oil. It depends on the leak, of course.

If a compression tests reveals that one cylinder is down on compression, then it is a reasonable guess that this cylinder is sealing badly.

Valeo do supply a lot of manufacturers, mainly Southern European (French and Italian), but I wouldn't say the problem is restricted to just them. All manufacturers will have this problem, to some extent. Some will be worse than others, of course...

Typical I've now found bit of history on the issue I mentioned above

Issue was with combined radiator/transmission oil cooler.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/126736-e270-cdi-2003-gearbox.html

Not unique to MB, Valeo supply OEM to lot of different manufacturers.

Thank You will Have a look at this. the mechanic said my car doesn't have an oil cooler though.

Thank You will Have a look at this. the mechanic said my car doesn't have an oil cooler though.

If your mechanic is right, than that simplifies the issue: if there is no transmission oil cooler, then the oil can't be leaking from there, if there is no engine oil cooler, the oil can't be leaking from there, so that cuts down the possibilities.

If, as you originally say, there is a lot of oil in the coolant, can you see the engine oil level going down? That would be a clincher.

If your mechanic is right, than that simplifies the issue: if there is no transmission oil cooler, then the oil can't be leaking from there, if there is no engine oil cooler, the oil can't be leaking from there, so that cuts down the possibilities.

If, as you originally say, there is a lot of oil in the coolant, can you see the engine oil level going down? That would be a clincher.

Hi

The oil level was fine, when i pulled out the dip stick, the oil level warning light didn't come on either

The cylinder head gasket has gone, maybe between an oil gallery and water gallery, not necessarily between cylinder and oil gallery., that's why oil level doesn't drop dramatically.

Only cure is a new head gasket and a good flush out of cooling system ( if that's not done then you will still have contamination in the expansion tank , giving the impression of a blown head gasket).

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