oil in coolant

[Earl Jones]

The coolant is contaminated with oil and the coolant level was low.  The engine has been running great and I think I noticed this before seriously damaging the engine. I'm not sure where to begin to diagnose the problem.. The oil shows no sign of water contamination .  I'm wondering if its just the oil cooler leaking or something more serious like a cylinder liner crack or cracked crankcase  

The car is in great shape otherwise but replacing the engine isn't worth the cost. any suggestions?

[Earl Jones]

It's a 2001 996 Cab

[judgejon]

Head gasket?

[JFP in PA]

4 hours ago, judgejon said:

Head gasket?

 

Seriously doubt a head gasket as they are multi layer steel and acutally stronger than the heads or engine case.

[JFP in PA]

4 hours ago, Earl Jones said:

The coolant is contaminated with oil and the coolant level was low.  The engine has been running great and I think I noticed this before seriously damaging the engine. I'm not sure where to begin to diagnose the problem.. The oil shows no sign of water contamination .  I'm wondering if its just the oil cooler leaking or something more serious like a cylinder liner crack or cracked crankcase  

The car is in great shape otherwise but replacing the engine isn't worth the cost. any suggestions?

 

Two possibles: Oil cooler or cracked cylinder head.  Cooler can be removed and pressure tested easily, if it is sound, you have a cracked head.

[judgejon]

1 hour ago, JFP in PA said:

 

Seriously doubt a head gasket as they are multi layer steel and acutally stronger than the heads or engine case.

i really never knew that. Good info. I’ve been known to almost literally blow my gasket once in awhile, but only did that once in a car.  Pushing my hot Fiat 124 over a mountain years ago. Next rear car was the 911SC. Real car, not a toy car. Never looked back. Thanks, J

[Carlvs]

Well I went through something similar. Bought a 99;Cab with a coolant oil intermix issue. Rebuilt the engine and had the heads repaired. Cracked Rh cylinder head.
Your cheapest option is to find a used motor and have someone install it. Lots of unknowns going that way.

Have a shop pull the engine and just do the cylinder head repairs. 
Pull the engine and replace with a short block and repair the heads.

If you’re not attached to the car, Sell it as a roller and move on.

 

How many miles on the car and what condition is it in? Get some estimates on the various options and you’ll have a better idea on how to proceed.

 

Best of luck!

[judgejon]

Short block? I recall some posts from a fellow in Santa Rosa, CA, if I recall correctly, who actually put a Chevy 327, or possibly a 283, in his Porsche.  It fit, though tight.  He had to do some suspension work too I recall.  Check search engine, it’s probably in there somewhere.  How about a blower scoop coming up from the engine through the air grate?  Good luck. 

[JFP in PA]

14 minutes ago, judgejon said:

Short block? I recall some posts from a fellow in Santa Rosa, CA, if I recall correctly, who actually put a Chevy 327, or possibly a 283, in his Porsche.  It fit, though tight.  He had to do some suspension work too I recall.  Check search engine, it’s probably in there somewhere.  How about a blower scoop coming up from the engine through the air grate?  Good luck. 

 

We have a member here that has a 996 with a small block Chevy in it, he summed up the experience by saying he would not do it again...……………...

[Mark Benjamin Briscoe]

Just went through this on my 01.  Cracked cylinder head.  There is a shop in Georgia called Hoffman Automotive.  They rebuilt the heads to factory specs drilled and filled the crack and did stage 1 porting.  $2250 total cost for that repair.  Back in and running perfectly.