Oil mixed in coolant

chinko · 10-03-2015, 10:37 AM

Car is 2008 335i e92 manual rwd.
My indy said I have oil in my coolant and also coolant in my oil and not to drive the car.
About the 2nd part though, not sure how can he determine that without a proper test? It's also really scary to have coolant in the oil. I read milky oil cap can be from condensation and from what I read with all the additives and detergeant in the oil, it's very hard to notice presence of glycol (coolant) in it.
Now he was saying it's the Oil cooler gasket and while at it I should change the ofhg as well. But I had those changed 6 months ago, he then said he would still start there as the most probable cause and cheapest option. Otherwise it might be a craked head or head gasket, but if the engine never overheated it should be a problem.

What else can cause this issue and what would you do? I have both oil and coolant low level warning 2 days before. I also don't have any noticeable white smoke.

matthewo · 10-03-2015, 11:05 AM

with most cars coolant in oil and vise versa is likely a head gasket, but with all the places that the oil and coolant go on this car, like the turbos and the oil cooler. its likely not the head gasket.

I am not going to say there is no way it is, but there are very few reports of head gasket problems with these car even when people start to make a lot more HP. with this being a turbo car from the factory I am sure BMW made sure the head gasket wouldn't be an issue.

regardless its something that does need to be taken care of, who did the Ofhg last? it shouldn't last only 6 months, maybe it was not done correctly?

chinko · 10-03-2015, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewo

regardless its something that does need to be taken care of, who did the Ofhg last? it shouldn't last only 6 months, maybe it was not done correctly?

It was done by a local racing forum member, he often does walnut and gaskets on the N54 and locals swear by him. I also watched while he was doing it and he's very meticulous and treats the car as its own. That been said, it could be something overlooked as well, hopefully it wont be something else, car is well taken care of and I dont really push the car. It's stock but I had a COBB stage 1 93oct on it while running 94 oct before deciding to put it up for sale. He agreed to take a look and do it for free if the gasket was improperly installed or pinched. What else should I ask him to take a look at?

N54Bob1988 · 10-03-2015, 11:53 AM

check your oil filter housing gasket, oil and coolant both flow though there, could be the cause. maybe it was a faulty new gasket?

glachhman2 · 10-03-2015, 12:58 PM

could be oil filter housing gasket

335coupepr · 10-03-2015, 02:42 PM

Oil filter housing gasket or blown head gasket. Do a compresion test

MDORPHN · 10-03-2015, 02:57 PM

An exhaust analysis -- a simple test that can be done my most shops -- will determine whether there is coolant in your exhaust.

Neil

theweebabySeamus · 10-03-2015, 03:50 PM

Just did this a few weeks ago, it was definitely my OFHG. Replaced the OFHG and oil cooler gasket and then we suctioned all the fluid, both oil and coolant, out of the expansion tank and then pulled it and cleaned it. Most of the oil was sitting on top of the coolant so it wasn't that bad.

Then drained it and added some Zerex coolant flush and ran it over night. Then drained and filled until the water was clear and put coolant and water in. Keeping an eye on it to see if more oil pops up and will suction that out, but so far so good.

chinko · 10-03-2015, 05:22 PM

Thanks for all the replies, I will have the OFHG and OCHG changed with complete coolant flush and oil change. I guess that's the first step then see from there, hopefully it'll be it. Really doubt head gasket as the engine was never overheated and from what I read bmw did those well

theweebabySeamus · 10-03-2015, 05:34 PM

Just make sure you get the coolant warm and maybe flush a couple times at least so the oil has a better chance of leaving anywhere it might be stuck too. GL

chinko · 10-03-2015, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theweebabySeamus

Just make sure you get the coolant warm and maybe flush a couple times at least so the oil has a better chance of leaving anywhere it might be stuck too. GL

Will do, I also bought prestone coolant flush. Direction says to run it a couple days... Not gonna happen. Is it required or can we just run it around 5-10 mins? Or just dont use it?

theweebabySeamus · 10-03-2015, 06:58 PM

Haven't tried the Prestone but the Zerex had two, one was 10 minutes and one was 6hrs. I used the 6 hour. I imagine running it a short period of time would be better than nothing though?

chinko · 10-05-2015, 12:43 PM

I had it done this weekend and when looking at the oil and the coolant, it wasn't as dramatic as reported by the indy... There was a bit of oil in the coolant, but nothing visible in the oil (wasn't milky nor sludged). We still went ahead and changed both gaskets, full flush with detergent and oil change. Not sure why the indy gave me the impression it was something big and not to drive the car anymore...

The Prestone full flush one has both options as well, you can use it for 10 mins or 3-4 days. I opted for the 10 mins one. There was a bit of oil left in the reservoir and we took some cotton swabs to wipe it off.

theweebabySeamus · 10-05-2015, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinko

I had it done this weekend and when looking at the oil and the coolant, it wasn't as dramatic as reported by the indy... There was a bit of oil in the coolant, but nothing visible in the oil (wasn't milky nor sludged). We still went ahead and changed both gaskets, full flush with detergent and oil change. Not sure why the indy gave me the impression it was something big and not to drive the car anymore...

The Prestone full flush one has both options as well, you can use it for 10 mins or 3-4 days. I opted for the 10 mins one. There was a bit of oil left in the reservoir and we took some cotton swabs to wipe it off.

Sounds good. Mine was similar, it looked like solid oil but when we pulled the fluid out it wasn't that much. Glad it worked out for you. Now change your serpentine belt!

chinko · 10-08-2015, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theweebabySeamus

Sounds good. Mine was similar, it looked like solid oil but when we pulled the fluid out it wasn't that much. Glad it worked out for you. Now change your serpentine belt!

Serpentine belt? I replaced it last year, are you saying the oil damaged the belt or the tensioner?

Oldtech · 02-21-2022, 04:11 AM

I just bought the car and found oil in coolant reservoir. Replaced reservoir,AT cooler,F.A.gasket, I now believe that the adapter is cracked. I don't want to waste any more time if someone knows anything else could do it besides head gasket. It's running good and no overheating. If It was a hg I wouldn't be able to drive it like I do. And I heard a lot about testing hydrocarbons for exhaust in coolant? Well it's going to test positive because OIL is in what you will be testing. You can only use the test if the system is sealed and clearly not.

Oldtech · 02-21-2022, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theweebabySeamus

Haven't tried the Prestone but the Zerex had two, one was 10 minutes and one was 6hrs. I used the 6 hour. I imagine running it a short period of time would be better than nothing though?

You can use a low suds soap. I'm guessing laundry detergent but I need to go back and find the info I found on it.

Dave92N54 · 02-21-2022, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldtech

I just bought the car and found oil in coolant reservoir. Replaced reservoir,AT cooler,F.A.gasket, I now believe that the adapter is cracked. I don't want to waste any more time if someone knows anything else could do it besides head gasket. It's running good and no overheating. If It was a hg I wouldn't be able to drive it like I do. And I heard a lot about testing hydrocarbons for exhaust in coolant? Well it's going to test positive because OIL is in what you will be testing. You can only use the test if the system is sealed and clearly not.

Can you elaborate on how you know there is oil in the coolant system?

Riptidez · 02-21-2022, 03:39 PM

Well like a bunch of ppl said the most common problems are them oil filter/ oil cooler housing gaskets but of you want to be extra safe replaced the actual housing as well. But also if you want to check for head gasket issues, the easiest test is to buy a funnel with adapters and slap it on top of your coolant reservoir, fill it up and look for bubbles, if u get bubbles that smell like exhaust then yea, there's a problem.

10-03-2015, 10:37 AM	#1
chinko First Lieutenant 48 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: May 2013 Location: montreal iTrader: (0)	Oil mixed in coolant Car is 2008 335i e92 manual rwd. My indy said I have oil in my coolant and also coolant in my oil and not to drive the car. About the 2nd part though, not sure how can he determine that without a proper test? It's also really scary to have coolant in the oil. I read milky oil cap can be from condensation and from what I read with all the additives and detergeant in the oil, it's very hard to notice presence of glycol (coolant) in it. Now he was saying it's the Oil cooler gasket and while at it I should change the ofhg as well. But I had those changed 6 months ago, he then said he would still start there as the most probable cause and cheapest option. Otherwise it might be a craked head or head gasket, but if the engine never overheated it should be a problem. What else can cause this issue and what would you do? I have both oil and coolant low level warning 2 days before. I also don't have any noticeable white smoke. Last edited by chinko; 10-03-2015 at 10:56 AM..
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10-03-2015, 11:05 AM	#2
matthewo First Lieutenant 58 Rep 319 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SC iTrader: (2)	with most cars coolant in oil and vise versa is likely a head gasket, but with all the places that the oil and coolant go on this car, like the turbos and the oil cooler. its likely not the head gasket. I am not going to say there is no way it is, but there are very few reports of head gasket problems with these car even when people start to make a lot more HP. with this being a turbo car from the factory I am sure BMW made sure the head gasket wouldn't be an issue. regardless its something that does need to be taken care of, who did the Ofhg last? it shouldn't last only 6 months, maybe it was not done correctly?
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10-03-2015, 11:53 AM	#4
N54Bob1988 Private 10 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: WI iTrader: (0)	check your oil filter housing gasket, oil and coolant both flow though there, could be the cause. maybe it was a faulty new gasket?
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10-03-2015, 12:58 PM	#5
glachhman2 Banned 45 Rep 303 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (0)	could be oil filter housing gasket
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10-03-2015, 02:42 PM	#6
335coupepr US Navy Veteran 22 Rep 104 Posts Drives: 2007 3351 coupe Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Puerto Rico iTrader: (0)	Oil filter housing gasket or blown head gasket. Do a compresion test
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10-03-2015, 02:57 PM	#7
MDORPHN Colonel 297 Rep 2,898 Posts Drives: AW 1M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wash, DC iTrader: (0)	An exhaust analysis -- a simple test that can be done my most shops -- will determine whether there is coolant in your exhaust. Neil
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10-03-2015, 03:50 PM	#8
theweebabySeamus Major 426 Rep 1,013 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Just did this a few weeks ago, it was definitely my OFHG. Replaced the OFHG and oil cooler gasket and then we suctioned all the fluid, both oil and coolant, out of the expansion tank and then pulled it and cleaned it. Most of the oil was sitting on top of the coolant so it wasn't that bad. Then drained it and added some Zerex coolant flush and ran it over night. Then drained and filled until the water was clear and put coolant and water in. Keeping an eye on it to see if more oil pops up and will suction that out, but so far so good.
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10-03-2015, 05:22 PM	#9
chinko First Lieutenant 48 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: May 2013 Location: montreal iTrader: (0)	Thanks for all the replies, I will have the OFHG and OCHG changed with complete coolant flush and oil change. I guess that's the first step then see from there, hopefully it'll be it. Really doubt head gasket as the engine was never overheated and from what I read bmw did those well
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10-03-2015, 05:34 PM	#10
theweebabySeamus Major 426 Rep 1,013 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Just make sure you get the coolant warm and maybe flush a couple times at least so the oil has a better chance of leaving anywhere it might be stuck too. GL
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10-03-2015, 06:58 PM	#12
theweebabySeamus Major 426 Rep 1,013 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Haven't tried the Prestone but the Zerex had two, one was 10 minutes and one was 6hrs. I used the 6 hour. I imagine running it a short period of time would be better than nothing though?
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10-05-2015, 12:43 PM	#13
chinko First Lieutenant 48 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: May 2013 Location: montreal iTrader: (0)	I had it done this weekend and when looking at the oil and the coolant, it wasn't as dramatic as reported by the indy... There was a bit of oil in the coolant, but nothing visible in the oil (wasn't milky nor sludged). We still went ahead and changed both gaskets, full flush with detergent and oil change. Not sure why the indy gave me the impression it was something big and not to drive the car anymore... The Prestone full flush one has both options as well, you can use it for 10 mins or 3-4 days. I opted for the 10 mins one. There was a bit of oil left in the reservoir and we took some cotton swabs to wipe it off.
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02-21-2022, 04:11 AM	#16
Oldtech New Member 5 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Nashville Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [0.00]	06 325i oil in coolant I just bought the car and found oil in coolant reservoir. Replaced reservoir,AT cooler,F.A.gasket, I now believe that the adapter is cracked. I don't want to waste any more time if someone knows anything else could do it besides head gasket. It's running good and no overheating. If It was a hg I wouldn't be able to drive it like I do. And I heard a lot about testing hydrocarbons for exhaust in coolant? Well it's going to test positive because OIL is in what you will be testing. You can only use the test if the system is sealed and clearly not.
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02-21-2022, 03:39 PM	#19
Riptidez New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 335i M-Sport E90 LCI Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Well like a bunch of ppl said the most common problems are them oil filter/ oil cooler housing gaskets but of you want to be extra safe replaced the actual housing as well. But also if you want to check for head gasket issues, the easiest test is to buy a funnel with adapters and slap it on top of your coolant reservoir, fill it up and look for bubbles, if u get bubbles that smell like exhaust then yea, there's a problem.
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