I have a 2l Townie, 4WD, diesel auto and having spent hours browsing this great sight out of curiosity, I now need help it seems.

Oil level light was coming on for about 15 seconds on starting up, so checked oil level which was a bit low but due for a top up anyway. Noticed the water expansion tank was very full, less than 2 ins from top, pipe from lid had dropped off and floating around inside.Eventually retreived it, appears swollen and greasy, as does the rubber washer in lid. Water appears light brown and greasy but doesn't smell like oil. Water level in rad not visible by removing rad cap. Hasn't overheated as yet, but I'm aware the gauge probably doesn't show this until too late.

No signs of water in oil, dip stick and filler cap jet black, no signs of sludge.

Has the head gasket gone with oil getting into water? or is this something else (but what?). Any suggestions greatly appreciated before I throw myself on the mercy of a garage (in Bristol, anyone recommended?)

- (#5928) chris, 27 Oct 02

change the coolant, replace the rad cap, hope for the best!

- (#5929) david miller, 27 Oct 02

Surely the "water expansion tank was very full, less than 2 ins from top, pipe from lid had dropped off" explains it all. During warm-up water overlfows to that tank. During cool-down all its sucks back is air from the top of that tank, until you re-fit that pipe.

- (#5930) Dave Mason, 28 Oct 02

maybe, Dave, but the swollen and greasy bit worries me...
(Actually I read it and missed the bit about the pipe, just the rubber washer.)

- (#5952) david miller, 28 Oct 02

Yep I could say that Chris' description could have been about mine when I first got it. Maybe as a result of a combination of crap antifreeze, rad sealant/cleaner and a bit of rust for good measure. As has been recommended previously, clean coolant system out, remove rubber pipes and seals and give them and the expansion tank a good clean. If the pipe that connects to the inside of the cap and drops into the bottle, does not fit snuggly then replace with a bit of plastic pipe. If not air tight then it won't suck back as Dave said.

- (#5953) Ian Dunse, 28 Oct 02

I had the same happen on my Spacecruiser the pipe felt greasy and was swollen, would not stay on. I did not have any cooling problems once this was replaced.
The bit of pipe in the bottle needs to be able to withstand the suction (that's why it is of the bore it is). I did a quick fix cutting a length of window washer pipe only to find it sucked flat and stopped the flow, ended up buying a bit of small bore re-inforced water hose from local parts shop.

- (#5954) clive, 28 Oct 02

Sorry I should have said that the pipe dropping off explains why the water level in the radiator is not visible, not that it "explains it all". Yes, it sounds overdue for a good flush and fresh coolant.
My points were that coolant being displaced like that into the expansion tank does not point to the head gasket, and that it's essential to get that pipe to fit back on.

- (#5955) Dave Mason, 28 Oct 02

"Water appears light brown and greasy but
doesn't smell like oil."
Chris,
I have noticed this with many vehicles and, as others indicate, it should not be assumed that there are internal problems leading to oil/water crossover which, with the "blackness" of diesel engine oil, would likely to be much more messy than it already is. I think that neglect has a lot to do with it and this "gunge" is a result of stale antifreeze etc. It is not unknown of course that other fluids get put into the expansion tank. On my Daughter's car I am sure that a previous owner had added brake fluid to the adjacent coolant expansion tank. A good flush and a refill with a quality inhibiter/antifreeze, attention to the rad/filler cap and the integrity of the suction hose in the expansion tank, should be the first step.

- (#5956) John Davis, 28 Oct 02

I have a Toyota Lite-Ace Van - 2CT engine.
Having blown a head gasket a couple of years ago and seen the gooey water etc I thought I had done the same again recently.. This time I, with help, tackled the job myself..
Transpires the head gasket etc was OK. BUT the Auto oil cooler was INSIDE the normal radiator and there was a hole between the two. The brown gunge in the water was in fact Auto oil...
In the end we replaced the radiator without the Auto cooler and mounted a new, separate, auto cooler..
Now, if we can only get it started....

- (#6309) Ian Talbot, 7 Dec 02