Volvo Penta oil disappeared in coolant

[Charris]

Hello,

I have a volvo penta md2030 and the oil is disappearing and is found in the coolant.

Normally is the opposite, water in oil. I have searched on the Internet but I haven't found anything.

I have replaced the main gasket and cleaned the cooler other than that I don't know what else to do. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Charris

 

[Plum]

Hello,

I have a volvo penta md2030 and the oil is disappearing and is found in the coolant.

Normally is the opposite, water in oil. I have searched on the Internet but I haven't found anything.

I have replaced the main gasket and cleaned the cooler other than that I don't know what else to do. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Charris

Where are you seeing the oil, in the header tank? How much oil are you losing from the sump? Is this happening when the engine is running and up to operating temperature?

 

[Charris]

Where are you seeing the oil, in the header tank? How much oil are you losing from the sump? Is this happening when the engine is running and up to operating temperature?

I'm losing a lot and goes to the header tank. Yes, when is the engine is running for about an hour or so.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Any history of overheating? Warped head which can't be solved by replacing gaskets?

 

[Charris]

Any history of overheating? Warped head which can't be solved by replacing gaskets?

No, never overheated.
It is very strange, looking all over the Internet I cannot find a similar case.

 

[ChromeDome]

Head gasket.

The compression in the cylinders is much higher than the pressure in the cooling jacket. Hence prevent water from getting into the cylinders while pushing oil into the coolant.

I'd expect traces of water in the oil before long.

Edit:

As per Volvo's Workshop Manual:


So if the head is flat, you may get away with replacing the head gasket + whatever is detected during the work.

 

[ChromeDome]

A read for you:

How to remove a marine diesel cylinder head step by step

 

[Charris]

I thought about the head gasket and is being already replaced and the cylinder head is flat
...

 

[ChromeDome]

Sounds good.

Would be a nice option to check other stuff in there. Valves, rockers...

 

[Mister E]

While the cylinder head is of get it pressure tested for cracks.

 

[nevis768]

From the small print on the diagram above, it is recommending changing the head if leakage is confirmed.

 

[Stemar]

Having had a few engines apart in my time, ISTM that the only place oil under pressure could get anywhere near the cooling system is between the head and the block. I suppose that a cracked block could do it, but that would normally require something pretty dramatic.

Open to correction on that...

 

[prestomg27]

Having had a few engines apart in my time, ISTM that the only place oil under pressure could get anywhere near the cooling system is between the head and the block. I suppose that a cracked block could do it, but that would normally require something pretty dramatic.

Open to correction on that...

Had a cracked blocked on a cast iron 2.0 litre triumph engine. The crack only opened very slightly when the block was warm allowing water and oil to mix very slightly. Was very hard to spot and no loss of compression.

 

[ChromeDome]

From the small print on the diagram above, it is recommending changing the head if leakage is confirmed.

To be precise, the recommendation is when the head has clear signs of blowing or lacks in flatness.

The OP stated that this had been checked and found not to be the issue.

 

[vyv_cox]

Having had a few engines apart in my time, ISTM that the only place oil under pressure could get anywhere near the cooling system is between the head and the block. I suppose that a cracked block could do it, but that would normally require something pretty dramatic.

Open to correction on that...

Many years ago I bought an Alfa Romeo that had been left over winter with only fresh water in the coolant circuit. It displayed the OP's symptoms. The block had cracked allowing oil in the camshaft feed to enter the coolant. The oil loss was considerable. I managed to sleeve the oil passage internally using bored out studding.