Coolant in the oil

On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 wrote:

> My 1991 Plymouth Sundance RS 2.5 TBI w/ 198,000 miles on it had a blown
> head gasket since this past summer. After it was comfirmed that it was
> blown, I continued to drive the car.

Not wise.

> A few months later, the oil started to look a bit funny.

A few *months* you drove it like this? Were you *trying* to kill your car?

> Thinking that my oil was dirty (it was in there for over six months)

This kind of abuse and neglect is a large part of how certain kinds of
cars get a reputation for being "unreliable".

> The oil resembled the appearance of chocolate milk !!! There were also
> white splotches inside the valve cover. Due to liability reasons, they
> wouldn't change the oil. They told me that the head gasket was beyond
> gone and said that I needed to get it Fixed ASAP!!! (why it needed to be
> done ASAP possible is beyond me).

Because when the head gasket fails, lots of bad things happen. Coolant in
the oil. Oil in the coolant. Coolant in the combustion chamber (bye bye,
O2 sensor and catalyst!) Combustion heat where it's not supposed to be.
This is not an optional, "When I get around to it" fix.

> Well, I took my car to the shop and got the gasket replaced and some
> head work done as well. Since I've had the car back, it seems to run
> fine as far as I know.

....which appears not to be very far beyond the tip of your nose...

> What do you think happened when I drove with coolant in the oil? I
> think I drove it like that for about 20-30 miles before I got it fixed.

You drove it like that for *months* before you got it fixed. Coolant is a
rotten engine lubricant when cold, even worse when baked and whipped with
hot oil. Your main bearings, cam bearings, big and small end rod bearings
will have suffered.

But that's OK, 'cause you obviously don't care.

Honestly, some people should just walk, take the subway or ride the bus.