I just drained coolant for some maintenance work, and found that it is contaminated with oil. The coolant has been in there since Fall of '99 (two years), and is due for a change and flush this fall anyway.

I hate to say this, but the terrible feeling in my gut, after all of my discussions about the virtues of synthetic oil (Amsoil H.D. Diesel), is that I think the oil is getting past the head gasket. I do not have ANY symptoms of a blown head gasket....no steam from exhaust, no water/foam in oil, no performance problems, and the car does not consume oil or coolant. My estimate is that there is about one tablespoon of oil in the whole system.

I hate to say it, but I think I am about to go back to conventional oil (Rotella 15w40) and 3K mi. oil changes for a year and see how much I get in the coolant a year from now.

Does anyone have any other suggestions on what to do, or where the oil may come from. One option is to continue with synthetic oil, live with it, drain coolant & flush each year. Oil in the coolant does not help with heat exchange, but I have not noticed any tendency for the car to run hot even in 100 degree weather with AC on.

I may put in a little metamucyl or sawdust to see if I can seal things up!!!

Thanks to all
Mark