Why is my coolant WHITE!?

[Pawnshop]

The coolant in my Deuce has turned a milky green/white color. It tested good to -25, and felt like the correct viscosity, just went milky. It was bright and clear for the last two years, this is a new development, and YES my oil is still black. Any ideas?

 

[Blood_of_Tyrants]

Milky whit is usually oil that has gotten into the coolant from a leaky head gasket.

 

[armytruck63]

Old-school: My dad adds water soluble oil to the coolant on his GPW for water pump lubrication.

If you haven't added any oil, then like blood says, it's probably coming from somehwere.

 

[bratpackdad]

Yep, I vote for oil in the coolant. Hope you didn't blow a head gasket.

 

[mcmullag]

bummer

yuppers. oil in the coolant usually looks like a milkshake.
head gasket time?

 

[DieselBob]

Maybe the oil cooler and/or seals ?

 

[Pawnshop]

It does not look like a milkshake and there was no opalescence on the ground when I drained it. looks like watered down milk. This is a krappy cell phone photo I took after the coolant drained out and I was flushing it with the garden hose. It took a while to get the water to flow clear, I think it was something that had built up in the radiator, looked like hard water deposits.

 

[pctrans]

Or you could have a hole in a cylinder liner.

 

[crasheej]

Like Diesel Bob said I would check the oil cooler first.

 

[rosco]

I vote the Oil Cooler!

 

[roger-wilco-66]

You might also want check the color of your motor oil. (edit: sorry, I saw you confirmed that already)

In regard of checking the oilcooler, what can be checked there, and how can oil enter the water system from there? Just wondering.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Ferroequinologist]

In regard of checking the oilcooler, what can be checked there, and how can oil enter the water system from there? Just wondering.

If there is a leak in the cooler, and your oil pressure is higher than the coolant pressure. Most systems are designed to do this- oil in the coolent isn't nearly as detrimental as coolant in the oil.

 

[WillWagner]

Or you could have a hole in a cylinder liner.

The multi is a dry liner engine.

 

[Bill W]

Put some of the emulsified coolant in a container and let it settle for a day or so and see if any oil is floating on top

Changing the oil cooler gaskets/o-rings ( 2 o-rings & 2 gaskets ) was the first thing I did on my deuce when I got it being it was as simple as changing out the thermostat... which I did next .. after doing the waterpump also

 

[stumps]

I vote you don't dump your used coolant on the ground. Be a little responsible and take it off to recycling. Do this if only to save your own pets. Dogs and cats love the taste of antifreeze (it's very sweet), and it takes very little to kill them (one small saucer). It causes total kidney failure... probably the most painful way to die... ever had a kidney stone? This is worse!

-Chuck