2003 V40 2.0 - where do I go from here?

[Joseph Martin]

Hoping it isn't the inevitable...

I've not long sourced and replaced the engine on this car, sourcing and having fitted a low mileage (75k mile) engine from an S40 about six months ago. When I had it fitted, i had a full service, timing belt, water pump etc. The car has done about 1,000 miles since and has ran really well. Engine has been quiet, drove as a V40 should.

On Saturday night, I drove approximately 35-40 miles. When setting off, I noticed the heater wasn't blowing hot - but as it was -3⁰ in Glasgow, I wasn't surprised. The heater never did get hot even on the long motorway run back home at 70mph.

The car ran as it always has on its new engine, with the temperature sitting at midway and no loss of power. Only change was the lack of heat. When I opened the expansion tank cap, it appears as if the oil and water have mixed in a dramatic way - thick mayo/cappuccino gunk which bubbled out. I've left the car as it sits just now due to my work this week and it hasn't been restarted

The car didn't show signs of head gasket failure, did not overheat, drove and performed as it always has done. The dipstick has the slightest signs of emulsification, the rest is clean oil. Under the filler cap is normal too.

Whilst a head gasket replacement will have a not unconsidered cost implication, I'd be keen to veer towards having this fixed.

Is it a dead cert the head gasket will have gone, and if so, is there likely to be any terminal damage - it appears that the cooling system is contaminated with oil, but the engine doesn't appear to have suffered any knock-on effects?

Any advice appreciated.

[irishcarfan]

I wonder does it have an oil cooler which has cracked?

[ITSv40]

I would check the oil cooler first. They are reliable but can crack and contaminate the oil. Cheaper than head gasket to start with.

[cogs]

I had the same problem with a Nissan Tino and it was the oil cooler leaking inside. You can take the oil cooler off and test it by bunging one pipe outlet and blowing air into the other. I used a rubber bung for this. drilled a hole through the bung and pushed an old tyre valve through it then blew air through it with a foot pump while the oil cooler was immersed in water, like testing bike inner tubes.

After fitting the new cooler I had a job flushing the water system clean of oil, then someone told me to add 10% washing up liquid to the flush water and it cleaned it out lovely but give it another flush with clean water after.

[Dippydog]

As others have said it sounds more likely to be oil cooler failure.If it does turn out to be this you'll need to flush the cooling system[possibly several times]to get the oil out of the system I've done this before[on my Omega]and I used laundry liquid.There is an argument that the rubber hoses [top/bottom radiator hoses etc]should be changed to to oil contamination but I didn't do this with my Omega and have had no ill effects] Once the car is restarted check that both heater hoses are getting warm,the lack of heat could be down to a blocked heater matrix.

[Joseph Martin]

Hello everyone, just to update you all, it was the oil cooler indeed. Now all replaced, have still to collect the car but have been told all is now good. I'll do a few coolant flushes in due course to keep it clean. Thank you again.

[Dippydog]

Glad it was nothing more terminal.