Does oil in coolant automatically mean cracked headgasket ?

[unitt01]

So about a week ago I picked up a early 325e and its been running strong with no hesitation. Last night as I was leaving work my coolant light came on as I got onto the freeway and I kept an eye on the temp gauge to see if it would start overheating. Luckily it was a cool night in SoCal and I made it home with the gauge not reacting at all.
This morning I went into my garage to add some coolant thinking maybe it just needs a bit since i've been running it hard these past few days and next thing you know the coolant in the reservoir is solid black with some milky fluid on the cap :( Having experience with a cracked headgasket before I quickly checked the oil cap and there was no milky fluid there.
So does that still mean i'm getting oil in my coolant from the headgasket ? Can it be any other problem then just a cracked head ? I was thinking of doing a coolant flush but then again I wouldn't want to find out that'll just get mixed with oil again and bmw coolant ain't cheap ! lol Any one else have a similar problem ?

[ahrensNW]

Nah, someone probably just poured oil in your coolant.

All's good in the hood.

[unitt01]

Nah, someone probably just poured oil in your coolant.

All's good in the hood.

I'm really starting to think that since I've hadn't had any overheating issues and I've been driving with my AC on full blast lol Always stays below midpoint on the temp gauge.

[MrBurgundy]

Compression test?

[unitt01]

Compression test?

Just got the kit going to do one tomorrow.. Anyone know what the specs have to be for a high mileage b27? Same as the b25? My 325e has about 170k+ miles with a broken odometer so its pretty high mileage.. so should I also expect lower compressions ?

[TobyB]

cracked headgasket

I had a headgasket crack once- it was an aftermarket brand, and it got brittle and just
pooped itself out the side of the head- block interface.

However, usually we say blown headgasket, because combustion pressure blows them
out, or cracked head, because aluminum doesn't like a high thermal differential across it
(what happens when you run out of water)

Look for milky brown/white goo on the dipstick, too.

The junk in the reservoir does sound like a failed headgasket....
it can fail so that combustion gasses get into the water jacket.
That often blows coolant out of the system, so you 'snort' out water from
the overflow...

sorry,
t

t

[unitt01]

I had a headgasket crack once- it was an aftermarket brand, and it got brittle and just
pooped itself out the side of the head- block interface.

However, usually we say blown headgasket, because combustion pressure blows them
out, or cracked head, because aluminum doesn't like a high thermal differential across it
(what happens when you run out of water)

Look for milky brown/white goo on the dipstick, too.

The junk in the reservoir does sound like a failed headgasket....
it can fail so that combustion gasses get into the water jacket.
That often blows coolant out of the system, so you 'snort' out water from
the overflow...

sorry,
t

t

Wow I didn't know there was a difference between blown/cracked headgasket, I thought it was the same meaning just different wording. good to know tho thanks for clearing that up. And also I checked my dipstick along when I checked the oil cap and its just straight oil.. Although its about 2/4 full (very chocolate brown too :?) i'm not sure when the PO did an oil change so if the compression test goes well (fingers crossed) i'll be doing an oil change and coolant flush. Then keep an eye on the oil and coolant afterwards making sure i'm not losing any fluids.

[mrsleeve]

Oil in coolant there is one of three things..... In order in likely hood

1) Failed head gasket

2) Cracked head

3) cracked block

[unitt01]

Started off on a good note then just went downhill..

Did the compression test and here are the results..

went from the front of the engine to the back (firewall side)

Spark plug one


Spark plug two



attempt number two on spark plug two..



Spark plug three



Spark plug four



Spark plug five



Spark plug six



So it looks like two, three and four are having issues :(

Sighhhhh.....

[unitt01]

And yes I rented a compression tester from autozone.. :?

[TobyB]

Brown oil's a sign of water in it-

you could do an oil change, take a long drive, and then do a leakdown test...

...but I don't want to get your hopes up, initial indications over the internet sound like
the headgasket's going south.

t