oil in the coolant and vise versa.. :( - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Eastcoastmod · 05-28-2018, 04:53 PM

Had an oil change done three weeks ago. Dumbasses put in too much oil. The first time I put the pedal down and brought the revs up. Poof white smoke. I assumed the Air oil Separator must have some how self destructed so ordered a new one. While I waited I continued to drive the car but like an old geezer. A few days later my coolant light came on and the car got hot. Put in some coolant and tried to diagnose.

Here is what I found.
Oil in the coolant reservoir...chocolate milk and a lot of it.
Drained the oil...chocolate milk as well and this oil was only a couple of weeks old.

Is it possible that having too much oil ...say half a liter to a liter extra could have somehow damaged the AOS and the oil cooler at the same time?

Or is it more likely that the AOS was slowly starting to go but the extra oil caused it to rear its ugly head and the extra oil pressure blew the oil cooler?

I'm hopeful that this will be an easy fix.

I'm terrified the extra oil pressure may have somehow blown a head gasket.

2001 boxster S still runs and idles fine..only has issues if |I try to bring the revs up under load...reving in the driveway for example does not produce any smoke.

mikefocke · 05-28-2018, 05:06 PM

Several things come to mind.

They put oil in the coolant tank.
The oil cooler is a known failure point.
The AOS has no connection to the coolant system.

My bet is the oil cooler. Could it have been just coolant added to oil because of a coincidental failure?

How do you know they put too much oil in?

What do the plugs look like? All 6 the same?

Eastcoastmod · 05-28-2018, 05:15 PM

After driving and getting the large poof of white smoke I parked the car to do some research. That's where I read about the AOS and decided to order one.
The next morning I checked the oil level like I always do after a change just to be sure it was at the correct level. It was reading too full. All the lines were lit up. I also did the test of running the car while trying to pull of the oil cap. I didn't have any suction when doing this but still ordered a new AOS.

Oh and I changed the plugs...all the ends looked great but...there was plenty of oil in the sleeves around the coils

While nothing is impossible, I doubt my guy put coolant in the oil or the other way around.

Eastcoastmod · 05-28-2018, 05:30 PM

here are a couple of pics of the oil

here is the dreaded sludge

This oil is only a few hundred kms old.

I tried to make a shadow so you could see it better.

rexcramer · 05-28-2018, 07:37 PM

IMHO, I seriously suggest that you don't run it anymore until you find out WTF is going on. You may make a minor problem something considerably worse.

thstone · 05-28-2018, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

Is it possible that having too much oil ...say half a liter to a liter extra could have somehow damaged the AOS and the oil cooler at the same time?

Not likely that your car suffered two simultaneous independent failures. Also, extra oil shouldn't damage the oil cooler.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

Or is it more likely that the AOS was slowly starting to go ...

Yes, this is possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

...and the extra oil pressure blew the oil cooler?

No. Extra oil shouldn't damage the oil cooler. The oil pump creates the oil pressure which is (generally) independent of the total volume of oil in the engine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

Is it possible that having too much oil ...say half a liter to a liter extra could have somehow damaged the AOS..

Yes, this is possible. But only the AOS would be affected and since the AOS is not connected to the coolant system, there is no way that an AOS failure can result in coolant in the oil.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

I'm hopeful that this will be an easy fix.

If the oil cooler is the only failure, then yes, it will be fairly simple. If not the oil cooler, then you likely have a very serious problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

I'm terrified the extra oil pressure may have somehow blown a head gasket.

No, extra oil would not affect oil pressure. But you still might have a blown head gasket for other reasons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

2001 boxster S still runs and idles fine..only has issues if |I try to bring the revs up under load...reving in the driveway for example does not produce any smoke.

Never operate an engine with oil/coolant intermix until you know the cause.

I'd do a coolant system pressure test. This might help point you in the direction of the coolant leak.
If not, then I'd remove and pressure test the oil cooler.
If the oil cooler is ok, then I'd do a compression and leak down test on all cylinders.
Once you've got this far, you should have found something that points you in the right direction to find the problem.

The Radium King · 05-28-2018, 09:20 PM

perhaps related you your ticking noise ...

IMS or something else?

tonythetiger · 05-30-2018, 06:01 AM

I suggest you read flat6innovations write up ( google intermix 986 boxster) and click into article. compare your symptoms including what happened up until seeing the intermix issue.

I doubt it is the AOS or the oil cooler, or a blown head gasket. Boosters don't blow head gaskets very often.
I don't know the mileage but hope it isn't the dreaded cracked head. Oil reads high and coolant disappears. Does the temp light flas slowly now?
Let us know.

Eastcoastmod · 05-30-2018, 04:50 PM

Sorry was away for a bit.
Parked the car.

Yes coolant going somewhere but no visible leaks.
Yes oil reads high...even after I flushed it myself and only added 7 litres of oil.
Read very low at first which it should. A coulple of drives later and it now reads high.
Can't notice any symptoms on the dip stick.
Coolant was vanishing at an alarming rate though.
Will do a bit more research before I send it to my guy for a barrage of testing.

Thanks to everyone who is responding. I fear the end may be near for the motor.

As for the ticking I posted a long time ago, a clip on the from bumper had come loose. Slowing from highway speeds it would start banging in the wind. fixed the clip and the issue went away.

thstone · 05-30-2018, 09:03 PM

My most recent engine failure went like this...

Losing coolant.
Continued to drive the car.
Replaced coolant tank. Still losing coolant.
Continued to drive the car.
Tightened all coolant connections. Still losing coolant.
Continued to drive the car.
Coolant system pressure test fail. Still losing coolant.
Continued to drive the car.
Compression/leakdown test. Leakdown test fail.
Continued to drive the car.
Engine stumbles once and low oil pressure light on intermittently.
Engine back to running fine. Continued to drive car. Low oil pressure light on solid.
Continued to drive car. Engine stopped running. Won't start or run.
Installed replacement engine.

I hope that your situation works out better than mine did.

Eastcoastmod · 06-25-2018, 08:56 AM

The new oil cooler should be here tomorrow. While I have everything apart, is there anything else I should be looking at or cleaning?

Starter986 · 06-25-2018, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastcoastmod

The new oil cooler should be here tomorrow. While I have everything apart, is there anything else I should be looking at or cleaning?

Be sure to install new o-rings.

BIGJake111 · 06-25-2018, 05:19 PM

I had similar symptoms. Car is currently parked until I have a chance to check if it’s the oil cooler but I’m just accepting that’s it’s by and large a cracked head and it’s time to start saving for a 3.4 liter swap...

I swear we didn’t see intermix issues here a few years ago and now there is a thread every other month.......

thstone · 06-25-2018, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGJake111

I swear we didn’t see intermix issues here a few years ago and now there is a thread every other month.......

The age and mileage of the 986 "fleet" continues to increase each year. Thus, a lot of engines are reaching the end of their useful life.

This is normal, expected and it will get worse as the fleet continues to age and add mileage.

Brian in Tucson · 06-26-2018, 05:57 AM

I am predicting it's not the oil cooler.

I would have the poor thing towed to a shop and have the coolant system pressure tested. My gut feeling is that you have a cracked head, when the engine gets hot, the pressurized coolant is being pushed into the oil galleys and ends up in the crankcase. Which is why your coolant goes down and your motor oil goes up.

It doesn't look like you have that much oil in your coolant tank, when the coolant cools it's probably sucking a little oil into the cooling system.

Eastcoastmod · 06-27-2018, 05:55 AM

Thanks for the info guys. Cooler got delayed but I'm starting the teardown today anyway. Hopefully it shows up today so I can finish the job and get back on the road. I am praying that it's not the head.

Eastcoastmod · 06-27-2018, 08:13 AM

Thoughts? pic of the oil cooler removed.
Oil cooler or head?
It appears that sludge is only on the coolant side in the pic.

Eastcoastmod · 06-27-2018, 08:15 AM

Name: oil cooler removed.jpg
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Thoughts on the pic of the oil cooler removed

911monty · 06-27-2018, 08:52 AM

Pressure test the cooler.

brianmch · 06-27-2018, 10:04 AM

No surprise you have chocolate milk in the oil cooler which contains the same oil that's in the pan.

I'm betting your motor has an internal issue causing the intermix.

I would have it hauled to a real mechanic who can determine the exact issue. Your local POC members should be able to provide you leads to a competent wrench unless you're comfortable dropping and rebuilding yourself.