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05-26-2018, 11:13 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 16
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Found coolant in my engine oil. Please Help!
Hello everyone. I was doing a oil change and when I loosened the drain plug about a 1/4 cup of clear liquid drained out before the oil drained. I'm assuming it's coolant. I took the RV to the Ford dealer and they're telling me nothing is wrong with the motor. Anyone else experience this problem with the Ford V-10?Any advice would be helpful. Thanks! My rig is a 2016 Sunseeker 2290S on a Ford E-350 Chassis with about 28000 miles on it.
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05-26-2018, 11:48 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texas Coastal Bend
Posts: 844
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Was the engine cold when you drained the oil? It's always a good idea to drain oil when it's warm and thinner so more will drain out in a given time. If the engine was cold and hadn't been run for a long time, I guess it's possible for some condensation to have formed in the block, but I've never heard of that large an amount.
Coolant is rarely clear, it's usually green or yellowish in color. The main way it can get into the oil is through a bad head gasket or cracked head, both usually the result of serious engine overheating. You'll have other symptoms like white smoke from the exhaust and coolant loss.
Big question here is if the vehicle was stored for a long time, like months. If it was run recently then there is some real troubleshooting in your future, pretty strange problem.
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05-26-2018, 11:58 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Carlisle, Arkansas
Posts: 1,387
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If you drained anything but oil from the oil pan You have a Problem, Yes it is engine coolant. cant be anything else. Is your oil milky or better yet the dipstick will have a milky crud on it.
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05-26-2018, 12:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,502
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Send a clean sample to blackstone laboratories for an oil analysis. They will tell you if it is coolant.
If you do a lot of short trips, it is possible that it is condensation that didn't get burned out.
Worst case, blown head gasket.
Good luck but def get that oil analsyis.
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05-26-2018, 01:21 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 16
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Thanks for the replies!
I changed the oil right after coming back from a long trip about 2000 miles. Always checking oil I never saw it appearing milky on the dipstick so it was a surprise to find something other than oil coming out of the drain plug. Hopefully it is just condensation, I guess I'll put some miles on it and check and see what comes out of the drain plug. I'll check out Blackstone Laboratories and send them a sample. Thanks again for the responses! Have a great weekend!
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05-26-2018, 02:48 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texas Coastal Bend
Posts: 844
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnbronco
I changed the oil right after coming back from a long trip about 2000 miles. Always checking oil I never saw it appearing milky on the dipstick so it was a surprise to find something other than oil coming out of the drain plug. Hopefully it is just condensation, I guess I'll put some miles on it and check and see what comes out of the drain plug. I'll check out Blackstone Laboratories and send them a sample. Thanks again for the responses! Have a great weekend!
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How long did it sit without running before you drained the oil and what was the environment like during that time? Although my first guess would be coolant, it shouldn't be clear. I definitely agree with having the oil tested if it's not too late. Hopefully whoever said your engine was OK did a cooling system pressure test, this can help pinpoint any leaks in the system. If you're not sure you can get a tester on loan from most major auto parts stores. The test is very easy, especially with good ol' YouTube around.
If it turns out to be water from condensation, you might want to check your other fluids, as in the tranny and rear end, to make sure they didn't pick up any water as well.
Good luck!
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05-26-2018, 05:03 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 16
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It sat for a couple of weeks before I changed the oil and I warmed up the engine before draining the oil out. The weather was highs in the 40's and lows in the teens. I can't say for sure that the liquid was completely clear, I know the coolant is light yellow so I might be wrong there. I'l look into the coolant pressure test and check the tranny and diff as well. Thanks DavidBo!
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05-27-2018, 01:26 PM
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#8
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Too old to be too smart
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: La La Land
Posts: 439
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A quarter cup is a LOT of condensate, so it's unlikely to be that simple.
Blackstone will let you know if it's glycol, and if it is, get it fixed! Glycol is he!! on bearings!
Unusual to hear of this, as those V-10s have been pretty reliable powerplants.
Pop
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05-27-2018, 02:34 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,485
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Following. Let us know.
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2014 Sunseeker 3170 DSF
Dorothy, Garrette and Miss Bella.
Retired and having fun.
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05-27-2018, 02:43 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 477
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Following this to see resolution . . . .
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McCormickJim
2017 GT 31L5
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05-27-2018, 04:06 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 242
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head gasket
If ya found coolant in the oil that's usually a blown head gasket...
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Save a beer for me!!! Happy Trails....Be Safe....
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05-27-2018, 04:07 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 16
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Yes, this is unusual. I'm not trusting what the Ford dealer is telling me so
I'm gonna get a second opinion from another mechanic. It's slim pickings when it comes to mechanics that can work on RVs in the Denver area especially when your trying to get warranty work done. If anyone has any recommendations for a mechanic in the Denver area please let me know. Thanks!
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05-27-2018, 05:14 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 42
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Sunnyinfla is most definitely correct. A head gasket has failed between the coolant water jacket and the oil lines in the block. Since coolant pressure is greater than oil pressure, water/antifreeze will seep into the oil. If your oil is milky off-white then there is a failed gasket. There could also be a cracked block or head but this is much less likely and would be MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE.
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05-27-2018, 06:36 PM
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#14
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Bene Gesserit Rule
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 846
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mtnbronco
Hello everyone. I was doing a oil change and when I loosened the drain plug about a 1/4 cup of clear liquid drained out before the oil drained. I'm assuming it's coolant. I took the RV to the Ford dealer and they're telling me nothing is wrong with the motor. Anyone else experience this problem with the Ford V-10?Any advice would be helpful. Thanks! My rig is a 2016 Sunseeker 2290S on a Ford E-350 Chassis with about 28000 miles on it.
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Water in the oil usually means a leaking head gasket. The coolant is under pressure and is forced into the cylinder then flows down into the oil pan. Get it fixed immediately or the repairs will be even worse.
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05-27-2018, 06:45 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 477
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mtnbronco, Try Rush Ford in Commerce City: 303-291-6330. I haven't used them but I've talked to them and they will do warranty work on Ford powered RVs. Another one I've verified will do warranty work on RVs is Interstate Ford in Dacono: 303-833-6700.
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McCormickJim
2017 GT 31L5
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05-27-2018, 06:46 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Carlisle, Arkansas
Posts: 1,387
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Oil pressure is always higher than coolant pressure, If not you have a major problem. go to a Cummins or Cat dealer and buy an oil analysis kit and have it checked. then worry about a Ford mechanic
__________________
2005 Cedar Creek 30RLBS/TrailAir Hitch/ MORryde 7K IS/Disc Brakes/ PI PT-50 EMS/ RV Flex Armor Roof
2015 RAM 3500 DRW 6.7 Cummins 3.42/ Garmin 760RV
40 Gal TransferFlow fuel tank/ TST 507
Amateur Radio W5CI 2019 Days Camping 25
2020 Days Camping 7
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05-27-2018, 07:07 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 321
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Found coolant in my engine oil. Please Help!
Simple compression test should tell you without the need for a laboratory.
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05-27-2018, 07:36 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texas Coastal Bend
Posts: 844
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carlsbad
Simple compression test should tell you without the need for a laboratory.
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Not if the leak isn't in to the combustion chamber. It's possible for the gasket to have failed at a point that allows coolant into the valley pan area which leads to the oil sump. This is very rare, but possible. The intake manifolds on older V-type engines used to have integral coolant passages, which could be another source of a leak, but that has become less common. I have no idea on this engine.
I'm interested in the results of the cooling system pressure test, this could tell a lot. There's also a test for exhaust gasses in the radiator, which also works well, trust me (long story ).
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05-27-2018, 08:46 PM
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#19
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Recently new!
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Arizona, in The Land of Scorch!
Posts: 1,206
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Does the V10 Ford use the oil cooler at the base of the oil filter? I have had to replace 2 on different Triton motors. Both were older ones with very high miles tho.
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05-27-2018, 08:52 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texas Coastal Bend
Posts: 844
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulie1138
Does the V10 Ford use the oil cooler at the base of the oil filter? I have had to replace 2 on different Triton motors. Both were older ones with very high miles tho.
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I was wondering about that too, but wouldn't the higher pressure of the oil system mean oil would force it's way into the coolant? Still could be a possibility, I've seen stranger things.
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