Stepdad

**wacoplan** · 02-21-2013

My stepsons 02 grand prix has oil in the coolant. What caused it and how to fix it. I have heard that the car has a plastic intake manifold and that could be the problem. What is the answer?

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 02-21-2013

Well you can't get oil into the coolant, unless the block cracked. We don't have a oil cooler.

You have trans fluid in the coolant from the side tank or its dexcool coolant sludge that looks like a oil.

And if the intake gasket were never done, it might be a good idea for a change and a coolant flush.

Also, where at in MN are you?

**BillBoost37** · 02-21-2013

I don't agree with Ox's info. Can't see how an upper intake that has no oil in it could contaminate it. Upper gaskets have no oil, coolant elbows have nothing to do with oil. Even lower manifold gaskets have no oil.

What color does the oil appear to be?
Has the cooling system been maintained properly?

If the oil is reddish in color, you have a trans cooler leak. The radiator would need to be replaced or the trans cooler in it needs to be bypassed and plugged.

**Oxfire** · 02-21-2013

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

I don't agree with Ox's info. Can't see how an upper intake that has no oil in it could contaminate it. Upper gaskets have no oil, coolant elbows have nothing to do with oil. Even lower manifold gaskets have no oil.

What color does the oil appear to be?
Has the cooling system been maintained properly?

If the oil is reddish in color, you have a trans cooler leak. The radiator would need to be replaced or the trans cooler in it needs to be bypassed and plugged.

Removed it. Didn't mean to misinform.

**wacoplan** · 02-21-2013

Grand Rapids MN Whatever is in the coolant is black.

**wacoplan** · 02-21-2013

The coolant looks black and thick. I am having it flushed tomorrow. but trying to figure out how it got contaminated.

**wacoplan** · 02-21-2013

He had the oil changed, a few days ago, and nothing was said about any antifreeze in the oil... so that really puzzled me. And if there is no ports in the intake manifold, the trans cooler in the radiator sounds like it could be the culprit. Then the transmission should be contaminated also.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 02-21-2013

Well if someone mixed green coolant with dexcool, it will turn brown/black.

**wacoplan** · 02-21-2013

I will have to check the trans level and see what color the fluid is, hopefully no green in it. but it would stand to reason that when he had the oil changed they would have checked the trans fluid and pointed out any problems.