760GLE V6 Oil in Waterl!!!!!

Good day all, ...... hhhhheeeeellllllllpppp please!!!!

I have a 1988 model 760GLE V6 auto estate, B280E engine, whilst checking the
water I found a film of oil on the top, panic!
Any comments would be Greatly appreciated.

One, is it from the engine, head gasket, liner moved?
Two, is it from the gearbox where the cooler pipe goes through the radiator?
The scummy oil deposits on the side of the plastic filler tank look to have
a pinkish tinge, possibly gearbox oil? Has anyone had leaks in that bit of
pipe before, perhaps a piece of pipe could link the radiator out and see
what happens next.
Three, I have an oil leak from the distributor which drips onto the bottom
hose, is it leaking through the hose into the water, unlikely?
Four, I replaced the water pump a month ago, possibly grease from the
bearing, pretty unlikely as it's still turning ok and probably too much
anyway.
Five, anything else I don't know about????

Any thoughts will be gratefully received as I would hate to loose the car
just when I have started to like it!

Many thanks, Bob Green, UK.

 

I would suspect a failed head gasket / warped cylinder head.

Test it.

 

Or a previous radiator failure between coolant and oil parts of radiator.
The pinkish tinge suggests this. Replace coolant with full 50% mix and check
all hoses for leaks (heater turned to full when replacing/reverse flushing).

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).

 

If it is an automatic transmission, the problem is likely a failed
intercooler in the radiator. You can confirm this by looking at the
transmission fluid on the tranny dipstick - a milky appearance confirms the
failure. Repair is by replacing the radiator; when the intercooler fails the
rest of the radiator is getting ready to go anyway.

If it is a manual tranny, do the same milkiness check on the engine oil.
Normally more coolant will get into the oil than oil will get into the
coolant. That would be a worrisome sign, suggesting a head gasket failure.
But I'm betting on the radiator.

Mike

 

Good afternoon all,
Both engine and autobox oils look ok [brown and dirty but not milky!].
My local hydraulic men have just made me a superb braided hose and ends to
link out the radiator [in exchange for a small value bank note!], just
fitted it and have now to do a bit of a cooling flush out and await results.
Many thanks for the comments, I will post a result ASAP!!
Regards, Bob Green.

 

Last question for a while!
My owners handbook shows a drain tap on each side of the block, all I can
see, let alone find is one Allen headed bolt on the drivers side ahead of
the crossmember and as bottom hose removal only gets out a couple of litres
I obviously need more drainage!
Is there an exploded diagram of this engine [B280E] anywhere on the web as I
can't seem to find one?
Many thanks once again, Bob Green.

 

Even though there doesnt appear to be coolant in the autobox oil, i would
*very* strongly suggest you drain, flush and re fill it regardless.

Tim..

 

Hi Tim,
If I can just get some nice clean water flowing through tomorrow then it's
the very next thing to do!

 

There are indeed two taps on the block, I'll let you know when I've
successfully found the other one!!! either that, or my manual isn't telling
the truth!!

I have a B280F, with high mileage, great motor!! other than it is a pig on
fuel.

 

Found the drain tap behind the alternator, it's even got a hose outlet on
it, and it works!!
However I can find nothing on the other side of the block except masses of
fitments, would be nice to find one and open it as I've still got 2 or 3
litres to shift, looks like I might have to settle for several 75% drain
outs.

More to the point the water is now looking "much" cleaner!

As for fuel I am convinced that I am supporting a couple of small oil
companies personally!
Regards, Bob Green.