Antifreeze gets into the oil: possible causes and their elimination

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

The car engine is provided with a lubrication and cooling system. These are two indispensable components of any internal combustion engine. These systems use different fluids, which during normal operation of the motor should not intersect with each other. However, if any element fails, oil appears in the antifreeze. The reasons may be different. Well, let's take a closer look at this problem.

Signs

If antifreeze gets into the oil, how to tell? There are a few signs to look out for:

• Coolant level. On a serviceable engine, it should not change during operation. However, if the level, although slightly, decreases, this may indicate that antifreeze is getting into the engine oil.
• Exhaust gases. Exhaust becomes whiter and thicker. When the engine is running, a specific steam is generated. But you need to understand whatthe phenomenon is considered normal in severe frost. However, if the temperature is positive outside, this is a clear sign that antifreeze gets into the oil.
• Candles. The electrodes of the candles will be filled with antifreeze and emit a characteristic smell.
• Oil. In the event of antifreeze getting in, it changes its shade, as well as its structure. Usually the oil becomes almost white.
• Emulsion on the oil filler neck. It may resemble thick mayonnaise.

About white bloom on candles

If a white coating has formed on the spark plugs, the reasons may be different. First of all, this indicates problems with fuel quality. But if it is a rough white coating on the spark plugs, the reasons are the engine overheating. Also, a similar soot is formed if:

• The spark plug is not suitable for this engine (by glow number or other parameters).
• Intake pipe leaking. Air will be taken in from outside here.
• Bad ignition calibration.
• There is a problem with the cooling system (such as a malfunctioning radiator).

Why does coolant seep into the oil?

Specialists identify several reasons for this phenomenon:

• Deformation of the gasket that separates the block and cylinder head. This is the answer to the question of where does antifreeze go if it does not leak anywhere. The internal combustion engine has separate channels for the coolant. But their isolation is incomplete due to the presence of gaps at the junction of the block and the cylinder head. To provideseal, gasket is installed. This also prevents oil leakage. But if the cylinder head gasket has been pierced (the symptom is an emulsion in oil), then the antifreeze will penetrate into the lubrication system. Penetrates the element due to burnout. Also, if the cylinder head gasket has been pierced, the symptoms will be as follows: coolant level drop and characteristic white smoke from the exhaust.
• Defects on the cylinder head. The key role here is played not by the head itself, but by the area that is adjacent to the cylinder block. If there is deformation in one of the sections, the tightness of the gasket will deteriorate. Even if the latter is not damaged, due to insufficient sealing, antifreeze gets into the oil. This problem is complicated by the fact that it will not be possible to notice it immediately. Where does antifreeze go if it doesn't leak anywhere? It mixes in small volumes with oil. And it is possible to detect the deformation of the head only after troubleshooting. This requires a specialized tool. The head is placed on the edge and evenness is determined with a metal ruler. If a defect is found, the head is polished.
• Defects in the block body. This applies to sections of the channels where antifreeze circulates. This problem is the most serious, as the motor has to be removed from the car.

What to do if coolant gets into the oil?

So, having determined the cause of the problem, you can start repairing. The easiest option is to replace the head gasket. But this is done only in case of its burnout. To do this, the cylinder head is removed, the place is cleared of the old gasket, a new one is installed and the bolts are tightened withthe appropriate moment. As practice shows, antifreeze no longer gets into the oil. In this case, the cost of repairs will be minimal.

But the most difficult stage in the work is the removal and subsequent installation of the head of the block. In this case, you will need a torque wrench. Tighten the bolts in accordance with the diagram (usually crosswise). Tightening torque varies by vehicle.

Troubleshooting the head will be useful. If there are flaws on the surface, grinding will be required. But it is performed only on specialized equipment. Here you can not do without the help of a master. If the head "led" (for example, from serious overheating), then grinding may not help. In such a situation, only the installation of a new head is needed. The same goes for the block. If it has cracks, the block needs to be replaced.

How does the gasket change?

Consider the replacement procedure using the example of a VAZ-2109 car. For this we need:

• Remove the air filter housing.
• Disconnect all fuel hoses and power wires.
• Drain coolant.
• Unscrew manifold.
• Disconnect high voltage wires.

Thus, we free the head from everything superfluous, so that nothing interferes with the removal. To unscrew the head itself, you need a powerful wrench and a hexagon. In total, you need to unscrew ten bolts. The latter are removed along with the washers. Then gently lift the head up. It is important not to distort it. The pad itself canstay on the head or stick to the block. You can remove it with your own hands or pry it with a minus screwdriver. The surface of the cylinder head is inspected for corrosion. If there is rust, you need to perform milling and grinding. If all is well, you need to remove traces of the old gasket. After cleaning the surface of its residues, degrease the place.

What's next?

Installing a new gasket. When installing, you need to pay attention to ensure that the gasket matches the guides that are on the corners of the block itself. Next, the block head is mounted. It is important that the gasket does not move. Next, tighten the bolts with a torque wrench in three stages:

1. 20-25 Nm.
2. 70-85 Nm.
3. 120 Nm. After tightening the bolts with a force of 140 Nm.

At the next stage, everything attached is assembled, and the car will be ready for operation. At the first start, you need to warm up the internal combustion engine to operating temperatures, and only after that make the first trip.

Flush features

If antifreeze gets into the oil, you need to understand that the engine will need to flush the systems. The first step is to flush the circle along which the coolant moves. To do this, you need a special solution that can be found in car dealerships. The agent is poured into the expansion tank, and the engine starts for 10 minutes. When the fan turns on, you can finish flushing.

After that, the old antifreeze is drained. Pre-preparing the containerat least five liters in volume. Next, you need to remove the oil cooler (if one is provided in the car). On different machines, it is removed in different ways. After dismantling, you need to thoroughly clean it and install new seals.

Next, the expansion tank is removed. It needs to be washed. Distilled water is poured into the motor, and the engine starts. After warming up the engine, you need to turn on the interior airflow. The stove should work for about 10 minutes. Then the engine is turned off. Drain the liquid. After that, you can already fill in fresh antifreeze. Sometimes an air lock forms in the system. To remove it, you need to open the cap of the expansion tank and squeeze the SOD pipe.

Please note that flushing the system is carried out after installing a new gasket. At the same time, the oil also changes.

The consequences of driving with a blown gasket

It is forbidden to operate a car where antifreeze gets into the oil. What is the reason? The liquid itself, despite its toxicity, does not harm the motor. But the danger is ethylene glycol, which is contained in the coolant. If it is mixed with oil, the result is abrasive particles. Because of this, there is a risk of scuffing.

What happens when antifreeze gets into the engine block? Further, it interacts with the oil, and deposits are formed in the form of an emulsion. This leads to a decrease in the diameter of the channels. Grease and antifreeze are not able to circulate normally. As a result, the engine runs with insufficient oil pressure and overheats. Also pollutedessential oil filter.

The oil itself, diluted with coolant, loses its lubricating and protective properties. This reduces the resource of the internal combustion engine and threatens with high repair costs.

Summing up

So we figured out why antifreeze gets into the oil. As practice has shown, this problem can be determined in time by the car owner. The main signs are a characteristic white exhaust and a drop in the level of antifreeze in the tank. If the liquid penetrates the oil, the latter changes its structure. This is determined by the probe. In addition, suspicions can be reinforced by a wet electrode on candles and the characteristic sweet smell of antifreeze on them. We looked at the causes of antifreeze in oil. Do not continue to operate such a car. Such an engine overheats easily. In addition, he will work with bad oil, which has lost all its positive properties. The cost of repairs will depend on the nature of the problem. It can be a gasket, a head or a block. In the latter case, the cost of rebuilding the engine will be the most significant.