Is My Car Totaled if Motor Oil Gets Inside the Engine Coolant?

Motor oil and engine coolant are two of the seven essential vehicular fluids. Motor oil lubricates the engines internal workings, while coolant manages the internal engine temperatures. Although both fluids are vital for all vehicles, they can also be harmful under certain circumstances. You see, if motor oil leaks into the coolant, it can be highly damaging to an engine. In fact, it is among the most damaging circumstances a vehicle could face internally.

Continue reading to learn why motor oil can leak into engine coolant, how to identify signs that suggest this type of damage, and whether or not it means the end for your car.

Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188
Indianapolis Junk Car Buyers 317-608-2188

Motor Oil Engine Coolant Damage

When oil and coolant mix, it forms a viscid milk-like substance that closely resembles a melted chocolate milkshake. This combination is problematic because coolant contains glycol, which will not boil away and disintegrate. It stays in the oil and forms organic acids that turns the oil into a thick, viscous substance. This, subsequently, reduces the oils ability to disperse itself through the engine. Not only does this cause internal engine corrosion and damage, it effects other areas of a vehicle as well.

Causes

The most common cause of finding oil in engine coolant is a blown head gasket. A blown engine gasket can create an internal leak that is unnoticeable to a driver until it’s too late and damage has already been done. A less likely cause could be a cracked cylinder head or engine block. A crack in the cylinder head can occur between the oil galleys and coolant passages, thus allowing oil to leak inside the coolant.

An internal crack in the engine block is an even less likely cause of motor oil leaking into radiator coolant. There could be several other reasons as well, including poorly sealed or stripped head bolts, oil cooler leaks, water pump defects, and more.

The Forecast for a Car With Severe Engine Damage

When a vehicle has a blown head gasket or cracked engine block, the repairs are typically very high. On average, a person can expect to pay around $2,000 for a blown head gasket. For cracked engine blocks, repairs are not usually possible. Instead, engine replacement would be necessary, which can be even more expensive than a blown head gasket repair.

For these reasons, often times, a vehicle is deemed totaled by the insurance company since the cost to repair is worth more than the current market value of the vehicle. If this happens to you, sell your totaled car to a local Indianapolis junk car buyer for instant cash profit.

Sell a Junk Car For Cash in Indianapolis Today!

Call GC’s Junk Cars at 317-608-2188 to sell a junk car in Indianapolis, today! We have been buying junk cars throughout the Central Indiana area for several years and make the car selling process easy. You will get the best price for your car because you are selling directly to the scrap yard! There is never a middle man, which means you walk away with more cash in your pocket. We buy all types of vehicles in all types of shape, running or not, and offer free towing and pick-up.

GC’s Junk Cars
GC’s Junk Cars 317-608-2188