Antifreeze getting into engine oil

Among the frequent breakdowns of internal combustion engines with a liquid cooling system, drivers often find antifreeze in engine oil. What is the cause of the malfunction, we will decide together.

Causes of antifreeze ingress

The causes of failure can be different, so timely diagnostics will help to accurately determine. So, the ingress of antifreeze into the oil may be due to:

• cylinder head malfunction (gasket wear, hose corrosion, microcracks);
• mechanical damage to the oil cooling system;
• cracks in the expansion tank;
• wear of the gasket on the heat exchanger;
• pump failures;
• malfunction of the radiator pipes;
• deformation of the cylinder head;
• output of the operating state of the oil system pipelines.

The cause of antifreeze entering the lubrication system may be due to a mismatch of coolants. With a low level of already filled antifreeze, the driver tops up the first liquid that he finds on the meter.

The ingress of antifreeze into the engine can have irreversible consequences. If the products are incompatible due to various additives, an aggressive chemical reaction begins, leading to failure of the cooling system elements.

What could be the consequences

Since antifreeze is a concentrate with distilled water, adding it to the oil causes the lubricant to lose some of its properties. Performing a run on diluted oil causes rapid wear and makes it necessary to revise the internal combustion engine.

Antifreeze gets into the engine

Before you determine if antifreeze has entered the lubrication system, listen to the engine. If it quickly began to hit parts of the crankshaft liners, this is the first sign of a malfunction. Other consequences of antifreeze getting into the oil include:

• engine overheating due to ongoing mixing and formation of strong compounds of phosphorus, calcium and zinc;
• premature abrasion of the friction layer of the engine lining and the formation of wear marks on the metal surface.

How to identify the problem in time

Not only novice drivers, but also experienced motorists periodically think about the question of how to determine antifreeze in oil. Thanks to a number of signs, you can easily guess that the car needs a visit to the service station.

1. The appearance of an emulsion under the cap, around the neck. It can be white or yellow, visually reminiscent of mayonnaise.
2. Accelerated consumption of antifreeze in the cooling system. The sign is indirect, but if it is present, the diagnosis will not be superfluous.
3. Reducing the power of the internal combustion engine. The symptom is associated with the wear of lubrication and cooling systems.
4. The presence of a light shade of spark plugs.
5. White smoke from the exhaust pipe. The signal is not only for gasoline engines, but also for internal combustion engines running on diesel.
6. The formation of coolant smudges under the cylinder head gasket.

What do we have to do

We have already decided whether antifreeze can get into the oil. What to do if this problem occurs?

1. If the gaskets are out of order, the only solution to the problem is to replace them. The procedure is carried out by disassembling the block head. To tighten the bolts, experts recommend using a torque wrench.
2. If the block head is geometrically deformed at the bottom, it must be machined on a special machine and pressed in.
3. If the heat exchanger gasket is damaged, the element must be replaced. If the problem is directly with him, then you should try to solder it. True, it is not always possible to get a positive result. If the repair does not solve the problem, the heat exchanger will have to be replaced completely.
4. If the cooling system line is connected incorrectly, double check that the pipes are connected correctly and that the connections are even; especially for the collector.
5. If the cylinder block is damaged, which is the most complex technical malfunction, it will have to be disassembled. To solve the problem, you need to contact a car service, where the faulty element is drilled and a new sleeve is mounted in the resulting hole.

Flushing the engine

It begins with the drain of spoiled oil, in the impurities of which there is antifreeze. The system is then filled several times with flushing oil. Since a decent amount will be required, it is better to take a few liters of the cheapest option. After the lubrication system is completely cleaned of antifreeze that has entered it, new oil is poured into it. It is recommended to complete the cleaning by installing a good oil filter.

Remember: engine oil with an antifreeze mixture has a negative effect on engine performance, especially in the future. If you notice this phenomenon, immediately identify the problem and fix it.