94 explorer oil in radiator

[gdaustn]

My 94 Explorer 4.0 engine has oil in the radiator . checked No water in the engine oil and none in the transmission. Still runs good... leaking gasket or possible crack in heads or block... what do you think

 

[86ford]

pressure test it. my first GUESS is bad lower intake gasket. or take the redneck approach and drive it til its oblivious whats wrong with it and hope you dont do irrepairable damage. (only works if you have other vehicles!)

86

 

[gdaustn]

Thanks 86... I just got my hands on a pressure tester earlier today. I will be checking it tomorrow. My luck has always been a cracked block. Didn't know if others had run into this same problem before and found other things causing it.
I won't use the redneck approach as I always get on my kids for using it... I guess you could say " I ain't that ignorint" Thanks again

 

[86ford]

i have a driveway full of beaters that the family uses so i always have another set of wheels to get around. if the block is cracked it sounds like an excuse for a 302 swap! the 4.0 and 2.9 are both prone to cracked heads. just keep in mind that many motors such as a few 2.9s i have worked on have run OK with cracked heads. if you just want to extend the time before you need to rebuild or swap the motor use BARs stop leak/headgasket repair. i have a friend who is now on month 4 or 5 of running his 2.9 with BARS and so far so good. another way to prolong the life of the motor is run deisel oil. the oil is thick as mudd and will not pass through the small cracks and holes as easily. my brother also uses 5w50 in his mustang to help it with stand the beating of nitrous and drag racing. best of luck and happy thanksgiving bud

86

edit
test the motors vaccum too so you can establish its over all expectancy. motors nothing more than an air pump and if it has low vaccum then its dieing or have a leaky vaccum line.