got a major problem, noticed there is oil in my coolant system, not sure how to tell between engine and transmission (auto), i got the engine oil cooler apart and pressure tested and it was fine, next im going to get the radiator tested. any helpful hints and things to look for would be great i got no other vehicle so im tryin to fix asap!

 

The failure on the oil cooler is usually the o-rings that seal the end caps....2 big 2 less big.

your post says you " got the oil cooler apart and pressure tested it" so I am assuming that you removed the end caps and pressure tested for a leak at the exchanger.... the leak was or is most commonly the o-rings on the end caps themselves.

Testing the oil to water cooler in the radiator would be pretty simple...just block off one port and feed pressure in to the other side and see if it holds, it could even be done in vehicle using the rubber cooler lines and some hose clamps.

 

correct me if i am wrong, but oil in the coolant is generally from the injector cups. Coolant in the oil is generally from the oil cooler gasket failure. when i had coolant in my it was the oil cooler gaskets. Roy

 

how can u test the cooler for leaks while its on the truck or how do u tell if its the cooler leaking? im getting all new o rings and gaskets of coarse so after i get the rad tested as i dont have a compressore or gauges to do it should i reassembled and run it to see if those orings from the end caps was the problem or take it all apart and put in new head gakets?

 

My guess is a cracked injector cup as well. That's what I had...fixed it and solved the oil in coolant problem.

 

my "oil in coolant" issue was the oil cooler. The o-rings where so hard they broke like plastic when I tried to pry them down with my pick.

There is no way to test it on the truck....but I suppose a cooling system pressure test may show it, depending on how bad the leak is.

head gaskets rarely go on a 7.3, unless it has been REALLY hot even then it is rare.

Cracked injector cups usually show fuel in coolant and the oil cooler is pretty cheap and quick to re-seal (an hour or less) so that is where i would start. Heck, on your 02 those orings a 9 years old...they ARE going to be rock hard.

You will want to do an oil change as well as a coolant flush when you are done....if you have oil in your coolant there is probably coolant in the oil.

 

Make sure is is oil and not fuel. Fuel in coolant is a injector cup usually, but oil is most likely the oil cooler o-rings.

 

whats the colour difference between oil or fuel in coolant? is the smell totaly diff i cant say i know what i just am assuming its oil due to the lighter brown colour. can u change the injector cup with out remopving the heads? thanx for all the helpful tips i need this truck fixed asap im tryin my hardest to get er going

 

I would definitely go by the smell versus the color, my bet is on oil cooler if it is oil in the coolant, if it is Fuel then injector cups.

You can change the cups without removing the heads, with the proper tool. Clay has the tools and the cups at great prices.

Riffraff Diesel: Motorcraft 7.3L Injector Cup Kit

 

I would change the oil cooler gaskets and o-rings, flush cooling system and change the oil and see how that goes. Changing the injector cups is going to take some time and probably not needed.

 

alright thanx for the ideas, the engine oil cooler with the end caps off pasted test so today the radiator is getting tested. im going to put new gaskets and seals in the oil cooler and if the rad passes test install and drive it and see if it was those end cap o rings. what does fuel look like in the coolant just a clear film on top or does it go dark?

 

how hard was putting that cooler back togeather with new orings?

 

Cody had a nice write up about it, https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...e-of-year.html

 

I got nowhere using brute force (like Cody) to get the ends on the oil cooler. I used a bar clamp. Pipe clamp would work even better.

 

thanx for the links and picture i will be putting it back together tonight and im gonna run it for a bit and see if it was the o rings in the cooler, im sure hopin it was because i dont wanna do head gaskets or find out its a cracked head or block. wish me luck