the tank is full of oil what do i do

Call GM tell them to come pick it up and to send you a rental, too.

.

sounds like a head gasket, let us know what you find out.

well i talked to rick and it does not feel or smell like oil. it smells sweet but has a oil feel to it. I dont see any missing oil and there is no moisture on the cap. it is almost slimy and when it gets wet it gets tacky.

ok the oil is floating on the dexcool. any ideas on how it happenned. I am going to take it to my friends dealer on monday if they are open

Definitely get it to the dealer.

yup i hope they are open monday because of columbus day......i dont think my family will ever win with cars. i sold a F350 because a trans keep going and that is just the tip of it. I hope it is something dumb like they put the oil in wrong place. luckly enough oil floats on coolant. i think i am going to request a new motor though.

Remember to take of the blocker plate and finger stick before you take it in!

I would also let them send a wrecker for it so that can't claim you damaged the engine by running it like that!

Not the GM would EVER say anything was not their fault....):h

yup i hope they are open monday because of columbus day......i dont think my family will ever win with cars. i sold a F350 because a trans keep going and that is just the tip of it. I hope it is something dumb like they put the oil in wrong place. luckly enough oil floats on coolant. i think i am going to request a new motor though. good luck on the new engine idea. poss a cooler in radiator let go.

well my friends dad owns the dealer and he likes me alot. I am hoping they dont say i speed too much. this just drives me nuts

oh yeah the finger stick is out. they really have to look to find that i even touched it

Probably just soy sause, that stuff is every where......):h

well my friends dad owns the dealer and he likes me alot. I am hoping they dont say i speed too much. this just drives me nutsbuddies dad or not he wont take the chance with an $8 to $9000 engine job if you want a new engine make sure it grenades on the way over.

buddies dad or not he wont take the chance with an $8 to $9000 engine job if you want a new engine make sure it grenades on the way over.


His dad owes me big time for some stuff i got my friend out of.....besides i just want it fixed.....i am wondering if some ass before i got it put oil in the coolant like an ass

That would be my guess, but you still need to get it looked at. That way if something happens you have the problem on record.

I don't know how closely you've looked at the coolant before now (so this is a longshot), but I've had new motors that had leftover casting release oil that ends up in the coolant res. tank -- if they didn't wash the block well post casting.... Just hoping for something benign for you.... :o:

Those were all in Chrysler products, btw -- haven't seen the same in any of my Ford or GMs, (fwiw)...

Good luck...

no idea.....has any one actually seen this before. in either LLY or LB7 motors. it is about a 1/4 of a quart. not even enough to show on the dip stick. it could have been that way since i got it but i never took a good look. the easiest thing would be to empty the coolant and refill it. and see if it happens again. i have a feeling that is what the dealer will want to start with and see if it happens again. at least that is what i would do given the problem. The dealer i am talking it to sells a bunch of H1s with the new and old diesels so i am sure they can help. I know the service manager and the diesel guys good. i help plow the lot in the winter too.

the wierd thing is i dont think i have any of the problems that alot of guys are having....when towing my truck does not even come close to over heating. i heard that some guys where having some kind of noise from the exhuast. even a friend has the truck where it is having turbo bark or something. it just amazes me. my bro got a new mazada back in 03 and that thing went thourgh 2 motors when it was finally lemon lawed. i guess iwill see monday. i dont know if it will get towed or not though. that is going to be up to them. I just hope they have a loaner or something for me to drive for alittle while.

While I'm no expert here, it's certainly a lot better to have oil in your coolant than coolant in your crankcase oil.

I really hope you don't have coolant contamination of the crankcase oil...coolant in a crankcase can destroy things quickly.

Regardless, I'd send off an oil sample for analysis ASAP. It may not tell you squat, but for roughly $20, it's great ammo against GM in case of a warranty dispute. Most NAPA stores carry oil analysis kits for less than $20.

Good luck!

i know what it is at this point i just dont know how it got there

Maybe the engine oil cooler has a tiny pinhole leak or something. Seems like that would be the prime candidate for an exchange between the two, if there was one.

.

make sense i will let the dealer play with it though. i want everything documented so there is no question what was and was not done to it under warentee. Is there any TSB i should know about and get that stuff done too

This nothing a quick pressure check can't answer. I would be interested to know if when you pull the oil pan drain plug after a night of sitting, is a little bit of coolant the first subsatnce out of the drain hole, then a steady stream of engine oil.

were you testing the BS Brian, did you ever get it installed?

i was going to install the stick when i found the oil in the coolant.

if there is coolant in the oil it would not sit...it would mix and turn milky. as for the stuff in the coolant what is confusing me is once the coolant and oil heat up together they tend to mix and cause a milky substance. this did not happen it is just floating. do you guys know if the coolant bottle has 2 parts or is just one

One piece, easy to remove. That is the first thing I would do. Dump it into a container to preserve it. You need to pull the airbox (easy) and air tube to make it easy.

Also drain a sample from the rad drain plug, lower pass side, and see what it looks like by comparison. If you have oil in your cooling system, there is more work to do. But before you take it to the dumb dealer, find out what you can. IMO

well at this point i am coolant container is now low. the level is about 2 inches from where it should be and the upper radiator hose is collapsing in on it self. I am not doing anything to it. because i know the dealer very well both owner service manager and alot of techs i am going to leave it and watch it tomorrow as they look at it. they know i am not some dumb person who does not know anything. I will try draining alittle out of the radiator to see but my feeling is that the coolant is not being sucked into the engine some where.

Brian, remove your cap. Does the hose fill up immediately

no

Many of our (if not all) systems are low. Nevermind the above post.

What is the condition of the cap? Gunked up? Can You pull air thru it with your mouth?

Ooops. If the hose did not fill immediately when you removed the cap, you have a clogged vent or suuply line from the tank.

(one or both of the lines that lead out from the tank)

Is it possible that someone topped off your coolant (with the wrong kind)? Have you ever had it in for service? You say oil (does it smell like oil), but dex-cool is notorious for having compatability issues. Ever add anything to the coolant, anything at all.

never added anything no service done todate. it smells like coolant but it is not interacting like coolant. like i siad it could have been there before but i am loosing it now and the hose is colapsing. it is strange

The hose is collapsed due to a clog. The system cooled, contracted, and the hose collapses when the coolant is trapped in the tank.

When I was researching Dexcool one article talked about Dexcool turning brownish. Apparently if it is exposed to air it turns corrosive, there are numerous lawsuits against GM for Dexcool for this reason. :o:

Take it to the dealer, let them flush the system and refill with new coolant. JJ :)

that is the plan

Please, please, get ahold of a sample of what is in there. Use the little woman's turkey baster if you have too.

On the small chance it is related to our cooling issues, it could help.

But once the dealer flushes, the evidence is gone.

http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04283.JPG
http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04284.JPG
http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04285.JPG
http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04286.JPG
http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04287.JPG
http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04288.JPG
http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04292.JPG
http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04293.JPG

this is what it looks like. i thought pictures would explain what i am talking about better.

OH MY GOD!!! :eek::drop_mout

That ain't right!

everything tells me that is oil but i have never seen it back up into the bottle like that before and i have seen a few blown head gaskets and other leeky coolant passages

Does it come out of your rad drain valve that way?

i have not tried that

http://bcaudio.com/stuff/DSC04295.JPG


that is what came out of the radiator

NOW THAT IS GOOD! but very strange. WOW

I am now guessing that your vent hose is complete toast, mush on the inside. Steam damage?

what i am starting to think is someone put oil in the coolant. it heated up in the tank and created a sludge. then the sludge clogged the lines. and is causing the collapse of the upper hose. that seems to make the most sense

what vent hose

The vent hose is the small one that leads from the rad to the tank, under the airbox tube.

Since draining some rad fluid, i am guessing the top hose is now inflated?

maybe i am not going to screw with it though

you said you have never had it in for service though right? anyone else ever touch your truck??

I think you should remove that overflow tank, drain it and re-attach it.. let it idle some more and if any more goes in there drain it as well. Sounds like its all in the overflow tank.

what i am starting to think is someone put oil in the coolant. it heated up in the tank and created a sludge. then the sludge clogged the lines. and is causing the collapse of the upper hose. that seems to make the most sense

You may be right, but that seems ...unlikely. Unless it smells like oil.

nope still flat and when i grap it i hear a clicking noise

The clicking is the ball bearing bypass ports in the rear thermostat. Normal.

Still flat. Not if you are rattling those balls. Just seems that way from being flat overnight, memory? Have you ever had this truck hot?

you said you have never had it in for service though right? anyone else ever touch your truck??

I think you should remove that overflow tank, drain it and re-attach it.. let it idle some more and if any more goes in there drain it as well. Sounds like its all in the overflow tank.

i am thinking it happenned when i got it. i never really looked because it was new no reason to.

i dont to touch it i will let the dealer do it and write it on the bill i dont want any questions about what happenned and the fixes for it.

i cant explain the smell. it is sweet, more sweet then coolant. but it is definitly oil because if i put some on my fingers it because tacky when it gets wet like sludge

hottest the gauge has shown was 210....it got flat this morning when i moved it in my drive to a better spot for it to get towed

Not oil. Or it would be in your radiator, unless your res alone was sabotaged. Does not compute. BTW, coolant feels just like oil in my fingers.

I had seen a photo of dexcool in one of those class action sites, looked just like what you have.

feels like oil but washes off. this oilly stuff acts like oil but does not smell right for the way it looks. i can start the truck and see what the hose does. if there is damage it is already done i dont think it will get worst

You have a sample of both, good and bad. Close your eyes and compare in each hand. Same feel?

I had seen a photo of dexcool in one of those class action sites, looked just like what you have.
looked like a black sludge?

I wouldn't start it without draining and cleaning the res. Your truck. Likely it is trapped in there.

You have a sample of both, good and bad. Close your eyes and compare in each hand. Same feel?

definitly not....dexcool is very thin water like. the black stuff is thicker and gets nasty when i rub it between my fingers

Yes, completely black.

That is one for the ages. How it got that way in your res, but not in the remainder of the system, stumps me.

so you have seen black dexcool crap....i have seen that in my 96 GP with 100k miles on it. but it was mostly residue

The clicking is the ball bearing bypass ports in the rear thermostat. Normal.

Still flat. Not if you are rattling those balls. Just seems that way from being flat overnight, memory? Have you ever had this truck hot?

Outside of the coolant being black I had the same phenom with my truck. I could have a flat hose, squeeze it and hear that rattle, have the coolant reservoir cap in my hand, hose still flat. :o:

It's almost as if that black stuff that floats around in the coolant somehow gathered right by the coolant return inlet and got sucked into the reservoir tank when the truck cooled down. If there is a glob obstructing the hose it could explain why it is flat. Just a "far out" guess. JJ :)

Not oil. Or it would be in your radiator, unless your res alone was sabotaged. Does not compute. BTW, coolant feels just like oil in my fingers.

If it is oil, it would not be coming out of the bottom of the radiator. Oil sits on top of water. If there is oil in the radiator, it would be on top......venting into and out of the overflow bottle. Everyone is all excited about having oil in the coolant. It got there by interfacing with the lubricating systmem. I would be much more concerned about water in the oil pan. Of course my statement is based on the assumption that the black material is motor oil. However, it certaintly looks like used diesel truck lubricating oil to me.

i was going to install the stick when i found the oil in the coolant.

if there is coolant in the oil it would not sit...it would mix and turn milky. as for the stuff in the coolant what is confusing me is once the coolant and oil heat up together they tend to mix and cause a milky substance. this did not happen it is just floating. do you guys know if the coolant bottle has 2 parts or is just one

Brian, it takes quite quite while to get the milky substance you speak of. I'm not trying to blow smoke up your arse. I used to wrench full time, I still wrench weekly. When ever I have a car that blows a head or cracks a block (situations that enable coolant to interface with motor oil....not saying you have a blown head or block) the fluid sitting directly ontop of the oil pan drain plug is engine coolant, and it comes out in a green stream. Even when it goes milky the oil will settle out. I'm not trying to be a PITA here, this is general concern. I don't like the idea of someone's oil pump pick up sucking up water. Especially in an expensive motor. I'm thinking your engine oil cooler has sprung a small leak.

Brian, it takes quite quite while to get the milky substance you speak of. I'm not trying to blow smoke up your arse. I used to wrench full time, I still wrench weekly. When ever I have a car that blows a head or cracks a block (situations that enable coolant to interface with motor oil....not saying you have a blown head or block) the fluid sitting directly ontop of the oil pan drain plug is engine coolant, and it comes out in a green stream. Even when it goes milky the oil will settle out. I'm not trying to be a PITA here, this is general concern. I don't like the idea of someone's oil pump pick up sucking up water. Especially in an expensive motor. I'm thinking your engine oil cooler has sprung a small leak.

:exactly:

Just going off the description earlier I thought maybe oil cooler leak but after seeing the pics yeah, that is oil and more than likely oil cooler is the source.

Like I said earlier, call GM and have them come get that and tell them to bring a rental.

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i am going to do that all tomorrow....it would be nice if they get me a car too. i just hope it gets fixed quick....how often does that happen with the oil cooler and could it have gotten other places from there

Have you given any thought to the possibility that stuff might be a sealant. GM has some big pills they put in aluminum block/head engines sometimes to seal minute leaks but the service people tell you its a lubricant so you don't panic. I've seen some sealants that are black and just float in the water looking for minute cracks/holes to be pushed into and seal them up.Regardless of who does it, you will eventually need a flush and new fluid to determine for sure what you have. Good luck.

The intangible in this case is that the coolant in the engine is clean, it appears only the reservoir has this "crud" in it. Perplexing! I'd let GM sweat this one out. FWIW. JJ :)

yeah...my friends dealer is a bit flooded from all the rain we got so it will have to wait untill later today to go up

Sealant thought --

My 88 Caddy Eldorado requires that something similar to Alumaseal be added to the coolant system - (Caddy's factory service manual page 6B-3, part #3634621). Wifes dad bought this car new - lunched the motor with 73K miles when he didn't add the sealant at a coolant change (or 2), and sucked an intake gasket (so he says) - New factory long block at that time.

Long and short of it - the coolant tank in the caddy has similar looking crud in it - always has. I bought the car when that motor had 2K on it and the car now has 206K - 133K on the motor. (I faithfully use the Alumaseal - and Mobile 1). It's a sweet little car - as cars go.
:D

This thread has specific meaning for me, as many of us have been looking at the expansion tank (and cap venting) design to possible explain overheating in some vehicles.

What I want to know is if there is a clog in the lines to/from the tank. From what we know the system is designed to flow through when filled and unclogged. You should have that black stuff in the rest of the system.

I am hoping you will be able to reveal a defect. VS the usual BS that dealers come up with most times. They will not likely look deep enough. I wish you lived near me.

well i am going to ask them to look for clogs if it ends up being some kind of sealant. this would cause over heating if it clogs in the block. have anyone that has overheated flushed the coolant and see what happened

Well any news?...

not yet it didi not make it to the dealer until 2pm yesterday. i should know by noon today i hope

ok here is the deal. the oil cooler failed. The guy said that he has never seen one fail. He said that when i caught it it most likely just happened because it was just in the coolant and there was not much in there. They did not find any coolant in the engine which is good because that means there is no damage on that end of it. I am making sure everything is written down so if the engine goes because of coolant in the coil that is why not that i did anything. They are replacing the oil cooler, all rubber lines in the cooling system, and the radiator cap. they are also flushing the engine it self to make sure there is nothing in there and they are going to clean out the entire cooling system in the truck. He stated that if i drove it any more i would be looking at a new motor. It should be done and i should have it back next week some time.

I am getting loaner car to beat on while they are fixing it.

How do they know that? And how did they determine it is oil?

ok here is the deal. the oil cooler failed. The guy said that he has never seen one fail. He said that when i caught it it most likely just happened because it was just in the coolant and there was not much in there. They did not find any coolant in the engine which is good because that means there is no damage on that end of it. I am making sure everything is written down so if the engine goes because of coolant in the coil that is why not that i did anything. They are replacing the oil cooler, all rubber lines in the cooling system, and the radiator cap. they are also flushing the engine it self to make sure there is nothing in there and they are going to clean out the entire cooling system in the truck. He stated that if i drove it any more i would be looking at a new motor. It should be done and i should have it back next week some time.

I am getting loaner car to beat on while they are fixing it.

Whoop! I nailed it back on page 1 and 2.

:muahaha:

Do I get a prize? :rolleyes:

.

Whoop! I nailed it back on page 1 and 2.

:muahaha:

Do I get a prize? :rolleyes:

.

yes, a new fan.

Jim

How do they know that? And how did they determine it is oil?

well that blew my theroy all to he!!. I thought was your black flecks finally disolving. :D

Jim

yes, a new fan.

Jim

How did you know about that?

.

I am not thinking of trading it in for a 06 because i dont to have to worry about anyhting.

they took the oil cooler off and it was all messed up inside. has anyone every seen this

pics? messed up=?

I am a pest!

pics of what

The cooler. Pinholes by chance?

I have been trying to home in a boiling sound in the motor when it is shut down. I wonder what the temp of the oil is going into the oil/coolant heat exchange, and if the coolant is boiling within the cooler..

i will ask tomorrow i will try and get the part and have them show me where. I want to know if it was something i did or just a defect. maybe poor casting.

I have been trying to home in a boiling sound in the motor when it is shut down. I wonder what the temp of the oil is going into the oil/coolant heat exchange, and if the coolant is boiling within the cooler..

I think in the egr blocking threads it was decided that was the sound of the turbo spinning down. You might search the thread by Max Power or one of the others to follow.

Jim

I took the blocker out and i dont think it is going back. it did not really do anything and there was not that much stuff on it.

The residue that actually ends up on the plate, is not indicative of the progressive situation that arises when a flow exist.

yeah but i did not see any difference except more smoke out the back

I think in the egr blocking threads it was decided that was the sound of the turbo spinning down. You might search the thread by Max Power or one of the others to follow.

Jim

In the upper hose, it feels like.. perculating. The best i can describe. Wouldn't doubt that the turbo jacket is boiling

yeah but i did not see any difference except more smoke out the back

bingo. That more smoke out the back is what was going into the engine. -:t

The point of the blocker plate and stick was not to make a performance difference, but to make a crud in the intake difference.

Jim

Whoop! I nailed it back on page 1 and 2.

:muahaha:

Do I get a prize? :rolleyes:

.


You do realize you will have to share:D

You do realize you will have to share:D

Hey you were way late with your answer! ):h We were both right on but I win! I promise to let you look at my prize every now and then. :muahaha:

.

the price is you know that if you have oil in your coolant dont drive it and the oil cooler took a dump

the price is you know that if you have oil in your coolant dont drive it and the oil cooler took a dump

Hold up now, jholly said the prize was a new fan. I already picked it up, do I have to take it back?????

.

Hold up now, jholly said the prize was a new fan. I already picked it up, do I have to take it back?????

.

send it to me, I'll take it back for you ;)

Jim

OK guys - help my rain soaked brain just a smudge - where is the oil cooler located? I take it - we are talking an water (coolant) / oil heat exhanger.. Do we have more parts here than just an "in the radiator heat exhanger"?

Haven't had my DMax long enough to know all the pieces and parts - and you know what they say - parts is parts...

Thanks...

http://www.duramaxdiesel.com/01_features/index.htm

this is a great site for the cooler. it is in the back bottom where the filter is

http://www.duramaxdiesel.com/01_features/index.htm

this is a great site for the cooler. it is in the back bottom where the filter is
I like the interactive guide - much good info - Thanks!
:cool2:

http://www.duramaxdiesel.com/01_features/index.htm

this is a great site for the cooler. it is in the back bottom where the filter is

Somebody needs to tell the DMAX team to update that site.:eek: All the specs, pictures, etc are from the LB7 era....... 300hp and 520 torque?? That's what my 02 has.