Hey I have a 89 Mazda 626, Auto Tran, 2.2L-No Turbo. I bought this car and discovered oil in radiator...I assumed it was head gasket so I changed gasket, pressure tested head and put it back together ... even though I never had any water/coolant in oil, good compression and car actually ran quite well. So now I have a great running car, with new head gasket with oil in coolant. Big note here...the car runs good, temperature is steady, and there is NO coolant in oil...also the first time I discovered this was two days after completing repairs...the oil in overflow is NOT mixed or frothy...almost clean oil is coming out of the radiator overflow. I can hear the upper hose drawing fluid back to radiator and I think it is sucking oil back with the coolant as it cools. Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

 

Normally with automatic transmissions, the bottom part of the rad is used to cool transmission fluid. Maybe the barrier in your rad has disintegrated to where the 2 are mixing. You may be getting coolant in your transmission. Please check your transmission fluid. Your car is very old and a new rad may be required as well as tranny fluid!.

 

Tranny fluid is fine...and there is no tranny cooler on radiator...car is older for sure, but only has 111,000 miles. Radiator looks new.

 

So where else come oil galleys and coolant close together? In many cars it is the lower intake manifold gasket.

 

I was thinking about that, new gasket, but I think you are correct...the felpro gasket I put on looked like a piece of grey construction paper...I am going to pull intake manifold - anyone have a better way to make sure this thing seals, better gasket or some goopy crap ? I would love a great idea here.

 

I just noticed you had head pressure tested, but does that test also check for warpage?
A warped head would not seal properly.

 

I have a 96 3.1 chevy that had issue with anti-freezr in oil. Replaced lower intake gasket ect. I used felpro gasket. This gasket looked like it had red rtv in the lower section. This was a few years back, no problems since, BTW that gasket set was $40. If you suspect head gasket isn't sealing or warped head, take the head to a machine shop. They can put it on a surface plate to check for flatness. Might be a good idea to check it for cracks also.

 

Please what is warped head I don't have much experience om cars but I am using MazdaI