IHADAV8.com - Turbo Buick Tech, and Nonsense

Tech Area => General Buick Tech => Topic started by: gordyzx9r on February 27 2009, 10:02:44 AM

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 27 2009, 10:02:44 AM

So...I have that transmission leak to contend with still.  I bought some Lucas stop leak for it, kinda hoping that sitting for 4 years the seals/gaskets just need some love and that will put an end to it (but I doubt it will).

I see a glob of transmission fluid beneath the front right of the car, I look underneath and  I see a drop of fluid coming off of the pep cock of the new radiator.

Oh crap...

But, it's pure transmission fluid and not mixed with the radiator fluid.  I get a flashlight and I see that the bottom line (it's always gotta be the one you can't get to easily) coming off of the front of the radiator for the tranmission is seeping transmission fluid.

Is there an easy way to get to that fitting/line?  Or am I gonna have to drain the radiator, ripoff the radiator hold down plate, and disconnect everything else to get to that one fitting?



So, since I'm looking at the radiator I decide to pop the cap off and there is a small ring of what looks like oil floating at the top.  Looks like it was hugging the cap.  The fluid is still bright green, the reservoir bottle doesn't have any oil in it that I can see.

I soaked up the oil with a shop towel, and cleaned up the cap.  

Keep in mind, brand new aluminum radiator, all new rubber hoses for the entire system, a new water pump, and new braided lines to the oil system.    

Is it possible this might have been a preservative of some kind when any of those things were shipped?  

Where else should I look for tell tale signs that I'm screwed?

When oil gets into a radiator how does it usually look?  Like I described or something else?  

The car is running fine, I don't see any issues.  Yet.

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: Steve Wood on February 27 2009, 11:00:25 AM

Not sure how you have it plumbed, but, other than being a pain in the neck, I never had to take stuff off to get to it.

At this point, I would not worry about what looked like oil in the radiator.  If it is mixing oil with coolant, it will turn the coolant to a nasty spoiled milkshake appearance.

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: gordyzx9r on February 27 2009, 11:19:48 AM

Quote from: "Strawdawg @ Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:00 am"

Not sure how you have it plumbed, but, other than being a pain in the neck, I never had to take stuff off to get to it.

At this point, I would not worry about what looked like oil in the radiator.

Title: Re: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: gordyzx9r on April 01 2009, 10:19:49 AM

Haven't had anymore issues with it since then, I had dabbed a paper towel and cleaned up the ring.  Maybe just something from when it was manufactured or shipped?

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: Steve Wood on April 01 2009, 10:56:47 PM

Let's hope so :)

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: gordyzx9r on April 02 2009, 08:50:01 AM

Quote from: "Strawdawg @ Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:56 pm"

Let's hope so :)

That wasn't very reassuring...

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: Steve Wood on April 02 2009, 12:17:44 PM

things don't get better if there is a problem....the y get worse

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: gordyzx9r on April 02 2009, 12:30:12 PM

Quote from: "Strawdawg @ Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:17 am"

things don't get better if there is a problem....the y get worse

Well, I'm hoping there was/is no problem...but with my luck who knows.

Title: Re: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: The Radius Kid on December 17 2010, 01:31:00 PM

I'd be more concerned about rad' fluid in my trans'.

Title: Re: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: gordyzx9r on December 17 2010, 02:13:21 PM

Forgot about this thread...got all the issues taken care of awhile ago.

Title: Re: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: SuperSix on December 17 2010, 02:52:15 PM

Details, man - how did you fix it? What was the problem?

Title: Aw crap...say that ain't oil in my radiator
Post by: Steve Wood on December 17 2010, 03:10:31 PM

fixed the bad oil cooler in the tranny?