The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks oil in my radiator

So I am just about finished with new paint, and a complete new bed on my 63 c10, with a 230 in line 6 motor. My friend stopped by to check out the paint job, Red base coat clear coat. I opened the hood to show off the under hood detailing, and for some reason as we were talking, he opened the radiator cap...and said look, you have oil in here.
Sure enough, so I pulled the dip stick, the level was half way up the stick, not muddy looking, but def. not pure oil. I had just changed the oil a month ago, I have had the truck for 3 years, no engine problems, still runs great, although I only drive on weekends, and not in the last month since I have been painting and doing body work.
Now when I changed the oil in early September, all looked fine, but the guy at the parts store told me I should try a product called Sea Foam when I change the oil, just add it to the crank case to keep that classic running great he said. So I added half a bottle, still have the other half.
Could this have caused a head gasket failure somewhere so the water and oil mixed?
I am about to drain the crank case. and radiator, change the oil and add some Barrs stop leak when I fill the radiator. This may be to little too late, and I may half to pull the head.
I never had any oil burning, but now that I remember, in the last month , every time I start the engine, there is some blue smoke out the tail pipe, I thought I would have to rebuild the head at some point, new valve guides and oil seals, but maybe there is something more going on.
Any suggestions?

bars leak will not cure your problem.
ron

OK, thanks, where do you think it could be leaking? just a head gasket? do you think the Sea Foam had anything to do with it? I never drive the truck more than 20 miles once or twice a month, just to home depot or to a land fill.? Just curious what could have caused it to just start?

check the oil again and see if you can smell gas, that should also indicate a head gasket might be blown...

seems funny that this started after you put the other additive in it.. maybe you are actually seeing that stuff.... why not try
draining the coolant and oil. replace and without the stuff you added and see what you get... might be worth a try...

also if you have a blown head gasket, that booger should be running hot pretty quick, water out of the tail pipe, loss of coolant....I am far from being a mechanic but that would be what I would do or have a good mechanic you trust to check it out..

good luck, let us know what you find

Fred

I am headed out the door to change the oil now. But I only added sea foam to the engine, and oil or something like it is in the radiator, so it migrated over somewhere. But no white smoke out the exhaust like normally seen with a blown head gasket. I am draining the radiator also. Will post again later if any up dates. Thanks

unless you know what the problem is ,I wouldn't run it to much in case you get and water in the oil and I doubt that you would like the cleansing action that it provides.
pressure test your cooling system. that will help in finding where things are going and a compression test
ron

...lots of things to do. In addition to suggestions above I'd pull the plugs and take a good look at them, do a compression test on each cylinder while they are out and maybe pull the valve cover and look at the rubber valve seals to see if some of them are cracked.
Smoke on the initial start up and clearing up later is a sure sign of valve guide/seal problems.

Be sure to let us know what you find.

Oh, while Seafoam is good stuff beware that the parts counter guys are trained to "sell stuff" and there may have even been a program for them to see how many they can sell and get two dollars extra on their paycheck!!

I changed oil and drained the radiator, flushed engine,then let cool down. Compression tested all cyl. all good. Can pressure test the radiator tomorrow. I also ran motor for 5 min after new oil, topped off radiator, ran good. Some blue smoke for about a min, then cleared up. Also checked oil after 30 min, looked good. Not sure but oil migrated into radiator some how.

If it is an auto trans. it could be trans. fluid getting in from a cracked cooler in the radiator.
The early models of that engine had problems with the block cracking in the lifter gallery. That let oil get into the cooling system. It is hard to diagnose because it cant be seen without a complete teardown. There is no fix for it other then another engine. Keep up the diagnostic work, but if it continues I would be looking for a good 250 engine.

This truck has a 3 speed on the column, so no auto trans. The oil looked god today, but I only checked it one time, and did not start it or drive it. I will monitor it for a few days, then see what needs to be done. I like your statement, about " if it ain't broke...sell it and buy one that is" !

....and extended drive may be more "telling". If possible take it for a long cruise as one of your diagnostic test and then take another look at things.

might be a little more telling on your pocket book as it could come home on a hook.
ron

IMO - I don't think you can "fix" a problem like that with additives.
At best they will only put off fixing the problem and cost a few more bucks.

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