What happens when coolant mixes with oil?
- Posted on: Jun 1 2019
- By: admin
One of the problems you want to avoid when it comes to your car is having your engine coolant mixing with your oil. It can cause severe damage to your vehicle and you should immediately address the problem.
What happens when oil and coolant are mixed together?
Is there oil in my coolant?
If there is oil in your coolant or vice versa, it generally means there is a failure in one or more of your engine’s gaskets or seals. The engine was designed to have two systems.
One controls oil to lubricate your car and the other manages coolant to prevent it from overheating. Your cylinder head gasket (aka “head gasket”) is the part of your engine that prevents coolant or oil from leaking into one another. Your coolant and oil will start to mix if the head gasket is broken or damaged.
If your engine heats up, causing damage to the gasket or cracking the cylinder head, oil and coolant may also start mixing. Coolant and oil can mix if there is an accident that damages the engine block or cracks the head. This problem is something we hear from customers all the times.
Is coolant in oil dangerous?
We pointed out, and you can probably guess that coolant in engine oil is dangerous for your car’s health. In basic terms, your car’s engine oil is designed to lubricate the internal components of your car so that they operate smoothly rather than grinding each other up via heat and friction.
Coolant is also designed to keep your car cool and from overheating. The consequences of diluting either substance should be clear — but in case it’s not, the answer is that you can expect overheating and/or severe damage to your engine if you try to drive around with coolant leaking into oil or oil in the coolant reservoir.
How to Fix Oil in the Coolant Reservoir or Coolant in Your Oil
If you have oil mixed with coolant in the reservoir, you will notice a thick, milky or gravy-like substance that is a tell-tale sign that you have this issue. The reservoir should be cleaned thoroughly, and the radiator flushed with water. Check your oil dipstick for oil-coolant mixtures in your oil tank. You will need to change your oil if it is.
We recommend using quality products such as our Hy-per Lube Oil supplement when changing your oil or coolant. The Hy-per Lube Oil Supplement seals valve guides and piston rings, which can reduce or prevent leaking. It can increase oil protection, improve fuel economy and performance, and even extend oil’s service life by up to 50 percent.
Hy-per cool supercoolant may be a good option. It is compatible almost with all types of antifreezes and has been independently tested to lower engine temperatures to as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
These solutions have a limited life span depending on how severe the leak is. The key to repairing the leak as quickly as possible is the key. If you are dealing with a blown head gasket, a cracked cylinder head or a cracked engine block — and if the leak is too severe — you may have to have a professional mechanic have a look.
Most likely, the problem is minor and will resolve with the correct stop leak/chemical solution. If your vehicle starts to heat up quickly after the fix, you should immediately turn it off and take it in for repairs. You may have already damaged your engine. If it is, you will soon be.
What will it cost to fix coolant in my oil?
The temporary fix will only entail the cost of the replacement fluids and the stop leak products — it’s actually quite affordable. Your long-term solution for fixing the gasket or component that is causing the leak may be more costly. A crack in your engine block is the worst scenario. This is one that you will hopefully not face. The only option is to replace your engine. This usually costs between $4,000 and $8,000. This is the worst-case scenario.
It shouldn’t cost more than $400 to $500 to fix the radiator and the transmission. If your head gasket has been completely damaged and needs to be replaced, you could end up spending a few thousand dollars.
Hyper-Lube: Quality High-Performance Products for Your Car
If an accident damages your engine, there is little protection that proper vehicle maintenance can offer. However, high-quality additives and products can help prevent problems such as oil and coolant mixture.
If you’re looking for great products to help you get the most out of your oil and coolant, look to Hy-per Lube. Our experience with quality chemical additives for vehicle performance date back more than 60 years, to when Harold Hilton first formulated Hy-per Lube Oil Supplement back in the early ’50s.
We are constantly researching and perfecting our formulas, and today’s Hy-per Lube products are formulated with cutting-edge technology to maximize the benefits to your vehicle.
Hy-per Lube is the best choice for maximum protection and performance. We have a number of products to suit your vehicle’s needs. These products may provide additional life, performance, and fuel economy benefits which can far outweigh the price.
This convenient store locator will help you locate a Hyper Lube product close to you. You can also contact us online to discuss any product with a qualified expert.
Posted in: Blog. Coolant. Engine.
