Yup, got a bunch of oil in the radiator coolant. I pretty sure it's a bad/blown head gasket, but before I tear into the engine, could it be some *other* gasket? could another gasket failed and let some engine oil into the coolant system?

Here's the details:
The wife was driving the car a few weeks back while the temp was single digits out (I was on a business trip and her Torrent was in the body shop) and she called me and said the temp sensor was running "hot" but there wasn't any heat coming from the heater. She drove the car back home and parked it. I opened up the rad cap when I got home and poured in less than a cup of coolant. That's when I saw the oil too. Could the water pump have failed too?

Right now its just too cold outside (unheated garage) to go out and troubleshoot. I'd like to get an idea before I suit up and brave the biting cold.

THANKS!

stuck tstat?

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you sure its motor oil?

could be that the transmission cooler that is built into the radiator is leaking, a known problem.

check that out first and let us know, then we'll take it from there.

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'05 WRX STi - COBB Stage 2|Invidia DP|3" Borla XR-1|Coilovers|Camber Plates|Swaybars|Endlinks|Bushings|Braces|Anti Lift Kit|DBA4000s|SS lines|
Sold: 06 Cobalt SS/SC, 99 GTP 245WHP/326 Ft-lbs, 06 R6

A stuck t stat would not let oil into the coolant. A stuck t stat would either over heat the engine or not let it heat up at all.

I'm guessing its the Lim leaking

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Modded Like a Mother Fu**er and still gets 20+ mpg and runs 14's

if it was the lim the coolant would be getting into the oil. not oil getting into the coolant. think before you post man

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ALL GO, LITTLE SHOW

• 2004 Comp G - Modded Like A Mofo And Hibernating

• 1988 VW Jetta - Slammed Slow And Reliable

• 1994 Cadillac Eldorado ETC - Sold

Not everytime man I've seen it go both way it depends on were the lim goes out at.

I had a 2.2 cavi do the same thing as stated above by me and it had the lim go bad so I was right there and did the head also

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Modded Like a Mother Fu**er and still gets 20+ mpg and runs 14's

thats a cavi not a gp.

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ALL GO, LITTLE SHOW

• 2004 Comp G - Modded Like A Mofo And Hibernating

• 1988 VW Jetta - Slammed Slow And Reliable

• 1994 Cadillac Eldorado ETC - Sold

Thanks for the info guys (I"m assuming its all dudes that replied, appologies if not...).

Anyway, I replaced the radiator in August thinking the tranny cooler was leaking into the coolant. I was "concerned" it might be a HG back then, but replaced the rad thinking I would fix up the car regardless. so the rad is basically brand new.

I did check the dip stick very quickly, and it did look like motor oil. A little background here: the HG failed on the 400 in my '68 Catalina back in the '90's and most of the coolant leaked thru the lifter valley into the crankcase. I know what the "milkshake" oil/water mixture can look like. Anway, the level in the GTP was up a little I think. I should have wiped the dip stick off and see where it is with respect to the level marks, but didn't. I just looked to see if there was a massive leak into the crankcase. There is not. If it's possible that the LIM can cause the same problems (oil in water) then I will look a little closer. Regretfully I'm not that familiar with these 3800 SC engines as I'd like to be. I just ordered a used set of FSM from Evil-Bay. The guys lives in my hometown so maybe I'll get them a day or two.

Hey mike anything can happen with a car and my old gp did it as well right before I junked and it was a 92 with the vin t 3.1

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Modded Like a Mother Fu**er and still gets 20+ mpg and runs 14's

not saying it cant happen its just very unlikely

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ALL GO, LITTLE SHOW

• 2004 Comp G - Modded Like A Mofo And Hibernating

• 1988 VW Jetta - Slammed Slow And Reliable

• 1994 Cadillac Eldorado ETC - Sold

funny we just talked about that in school today

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Behold the majestic beast as it strides

whats school???

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ALL GO, LITTLE SHOW

• 2004 Comp G - Modded Like A Mofo And Hibernating

• 1988 VW Jetta - Slammed Slow And Reliable

• 1994 Cadillac Eldorado ETC - Sold

I know I know but if the trans cooler was leaking you'd either see shit floating in the coolant or the trans fluid would be pinkish in color. I had the same thing happen to my old 92 and it took out a trans when it did it.

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Modded Like a Mother Fu**er and still gets 20+ mpg and runs 14's

what didnt happen to your old car(s)

interested

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Looks like the outside temp will be above 32F this weekend. here in Deeetroit So I'll take advantage of that and go check out the GTP. I have a coolant system pressure tester, so when I go look at the LIM is there any place I should look at specifically?

Mine failed on the front bank, for cylinder 1 or 2, which ever cylinder is the first on the belt side. Problem is, you wouldn't ever have SEEN the leak. The LIM gasket can fail anywhere, so pretty much, you'll just have to look the entire engine over.

This might be where getting some coolant dye and a flourescent light would come in handy. Degrease the engine, put the dye in, run it for a while, and pressure test, and look for the bright spots.

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One Big Ass Mistake America

Usually the common place for gasket failure is in the corners. That would be a good place to look if you can't get a hold of any dye. Depending on how bad it is, you can actually see where the gasket is wet.

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'02 Galaxy Silver GTX Coupe. SLP Headers, SLP cat-back exhaust, SLP 1.8 RR, ZZP 3.4/3.25" MPS, SLP hood, SLP CAI, Overkill PCM, 180 t-stat, SSIC, S1 TB, AL 104's, F/R STB's, F-body calipers.