Engine oil in coolant

[philh3379]

I have a 2003 passat 1.9TDI Yesterday the low coolant light came on but the temp gauge remained at 90. On removal of the expansion tank cap I found it to be full of engine oil, not cream just completley black engine oil/water. I checked the dip stick and found a small amount of oil left(it was full less than 2 days before as i checked it) It had an oil cooler 2 years ago but last time the coolant was cream. The oil cooler has been changed again now but the engine will not hold the oil. Does anyone have any idea's on next plan of action? could it be the head gasket, head or even block.

[sergiup]

I don't think this is a situation where remote opinions or diagnostics will help much - get thee to a garage and have it checked out, don't put it off...

[philh3379]

It is in a garage, I'm trying to find out if it is a known problem.

[sergiup]

Haven't got the experience to say, but I'd hope that it's the gasket, might be cheaper... then again, they'll probably need to clean out the engine properly anyway, so it won't be that cheap

[dib]

I would double check the oil cooler hasn't gone again.

[Eddie]

Had a mate who had this but his overheated as well it turned out the intercooler had gone

[philh3379]

Thanks guys, we did think the oil cooler had gone so fitted one this morning and it still won't hold it's oil. If we had run it any longer it would boil up but the intercooler would only cause loss of power. If the intercooler was passing oil then it would have to come from the turbo or manifolds. I have decided to have the head gasket changed as well as the head tested and skimmed. I can't find anything about blocks other than the V6. Hopefully it works.

[philh3379]

Well we had the head gasket changed and head checked and it's still doing it so looks like block is cracked.

[Panzerdriver]

Hi you said you had the head checked was this pressure tested or was it just the face of the head for any warp.

Cylinder heads have been known for going porous (vauxhall spring to mind) due to corrosion caused by not using the right mix of anti-freeze or none at all. Better the head than the block.