Coolant in Oil - What Now?

[SnowDrifter]

Smoke coming from the manifolds indicates a bad gasket, broken stud, or cracked manifold

You're doing to need to do some testing here one way or another. Pull the valve covers and rockers, put the cooling system under pressure. Watch for cracks seeping coolant around the pushrod tubes. If it's not that, then head gaskets are blown. If it is, then you need new heads

And not to sound like an ass, but you're going to need to do some investigating here soon before you default to rebuilding/replacing the engine. Get it done. Drop the pan, plastigauge and visually inspect bearings. Check oil pressure with a mechanical gauge. That'll give you a starting point to the minimum viable option for the repair.

 

[Justinj360]

You guys are right. I'll check the heads myself tonight. I'll pick up a coolant pressure tester after work.

 

[PatDTN]

Advance Auto or one of them will rent you a tester for free I think.

 

[Justinj360]

I was hoping I wouldn't find that logo when I took the passenger valve cover off... It also looks like I have cracks where everyone said they'd be. Do I even need to pressure test it? I didn't touch anything in there before I took the photos.

 

[Larryjb]

Are both left and right heads cracked? I feel for ya!

 

[Justinj360]

Are both left and right heads cracked? I feel for ya!

I didn't see any reason to check the other side after seeing the passenger side. Do I need to?

 

[Justinj360]

Have they revised the heads so they don't crack anymore in new engines?

 

[SnowDrifter]

Little difficult for me to see in the pics cause my screen sucks

If you can see they're cracked, it's decision time. The way I see it, you have 3 options if you want to keep the vehicle
1. Replace the heads, change the oil a few times, hope for the best.
2. Go a little more in depth. While you have the heads off, inspect the rest of the engine. Look at the cylinder bores for scoring or glazing (crosshatches should still be visible). Drop the oil pan and check bearing tolerances and visually inspect their condition. From there, determine if a rebuild is needed, and if so, if that's something you want to take on
3. Say F-it and swap a junkyard engine in there

As far as your question about revisions, I don't know, sorry. Will need someone else to chime in

 

[Justinj360]

Little difficult for me to see in the pics cause my screen sucks

If you can see they're cracked, it's decision time. The way I see it, you have 3 options if you want to keep the vehicle
1. Replace the heads, change the oil a few times, hope for the best.
2. Go a little more in depth. While you have the heads off, inspect the rest of the engine. Look at the cylinder bores for scoring or glazing (crosshatches should still be visible). Drop the oil pan and check bearing tolerances and visually inspect their condition. From there, determine if a rebuild is needed, and if so, if that's something you want to take on
3. Say F-it and swap a junkyard engine in there

As far as your question about revisions, I don't know, sorry. Will need someone else to chime in

I am almost certain those are cracks in there. Would the oil make that pattern for any other reason?
Would it be worth buying a coolant pressure tester to confirm? There isn't a place here I can rent one from so I'd have to buy one and they're not as cheap as I'd like.
I'm leaning heavily towards option number 3 but that will depend on prices. About how many bones would an L59 crate engine set me back?

A lot of questions, sorry. That's not even close to the amount that's running through my mind right now though...

 

[SnowDrifter]

If it wasn't pressurized, you'll need to do so. It's important to be certain before condemning an engine

Crate engine? 3 to 7k depending on a variety of factors.

Used one with 120-140k on out of a crashed rig from the local wrecking yard? ~1k. Call around some places local to you.

As far as what's the right choice? That's one you'll have to figure out. There a case to be made both ways, with the most appropriate one depending on nuance.