83 528e Water mixing in oil problem

[BDSax]

1983 528e eta. having a major problem

when the coolant was full, it wouldnt drip on the ground, and it started being empty after each run. i was getting white smoke, and the oil was milky. so i thought it was the head gasket. but the head gasket looks fine. any ideas what it could be? i figures it would be a good time to replace all the old coolant hose and everything. it was a pain to get that head out. now i just need to find the problem.

[erik325i]

if the head gasket is fine, the head might be cracked.

Did you ever overheat the motor?

-Erik

[AdamF 88iS]

Cracked head or block. Send the head to a machine shop for pressure testing.

[HST]

Did you do a compression test to check the Head gasket?

[jnbroadbent]

Try some engine block sealant. People say it doesn't work but I was getting overheating problems with my e46 328i and a inexplicable loss of coolant but nothing visible in the oil. Used that and I'm close to 2000 miles on the repair with no signs of coolant loss or over heating.

[RobertK]

Try some engine block sealant. People say it doesn't work but I was getting overheating problems with my e46 328i and a inexplicable loss of coolant but nothing visible in the oil. Used that and I'm close to 2000 miles on the repair with no signs of coolant loss or over heating.

Using block sealant on a cracked head or block is like pouring peroxide on a stab wound and calling it a day. Sure it might tide you over but eventually the problem will come back with a vengance.

[AdamF 88iS]

Using block sealant on a cracked head or block is like pouring peroxide on a stab wound and calling it a day. Sure it might tide you over but eventually the problem will come back with a vengance.

Exactly. You treated the symptom, not the cause. Not to mention the fact that once you do finally fix it the right way you'll have tons of chemical build up and crud to clean out on top of the repair job.