Coolant leak into engine

[M11Merc]

Hi,

I don't see any forms related to this problem so hopefully it is a rarity and a simple fix.

Recently purchased a 2000 4.0 L XLT with 135,000 miles. The truck seemed to run fine. While checking the oil I recently noticed the coolant resevoir was empty. As a block heater had been recently installed the garage didn't think anything of it.

This morning there was no heat in the truck so I assumed there was a problem relating to the installation of the block heater. Took the truck back to the garage and was told that the anti freeze was going into the oil pan and was shown it on the stick.

Anybody ever been there before? Knowing what to do would be a real help.

Thanks,

Don

 

[mudnsnow]

Probably a bad lower intake gasket, i've seen this before on a lot of GM 3.1 engine. It could be a cracked head too, but it's very rare.

 

[MAKG]

On a 4.0L, cracked heads are NOT rare. Blown head gaskets ARE rare (at least in isolation).

Yes, it could be the lower intake gasket. As well as the timing cover.

 

[mudnsnow]

i know cracked head are not rare on 2.9/4.0 but it's rare that a huge amount of coolant go in oil that way. Majority of the time the coolant will burn and go out by the exhaust causing white smoke..

 

[M11Merc]

How bad is a lower intake gasket?

Thanks for the leads guys.

How big of a job is replacing the lower intake gasket?

Your sign off made me smile mud snow.

 

[woodyedmiston]

My smell tester just went off.

You had a block heater installed. You lost water. The guys that installed the block heater now tell you your truck is the problem. Am I the only one who finds that suspicious?