Engine Coolant in Oil, 2013 Journey 42E

[P and D]

Has anyone experienced Coolant in engine oil? Got back second oil analysis from Blackstone labs of levels of Sodium and Potassium high again. History around 2 years ago we had issue with Coolant puking out the overflow hose at a slow seep, so we replaced the radiator cap (It was definitely bad) and no issues for 4-5000 miles, then it puked some more coolant out a couple more times, then it stopped.
On the last trip out West in high temps and big hills, no issues at all, does not get hot and runs great. Then on trip home from Lincoln, NE to Arkansas it did it again and it was a cool day and no hills so no rhyme or reason.

Reading shows could be anything from cracked head, head gasket or other things, I don't think its a cracked head or gasket since it runs good and not running hot, but worried need to address sooner than later but we are headed out on 3 month trip today.
Also our Winnie has 115K miles

Any thoughts appreciated

2013 Winnebago Journey 42E

 

[bigb56]

What were the potassium numbers and how many miles were on the oil that was tested? 6.7? What about the oil cooler?
Since you are headed out today about all you can do for now is keep the oil changed often, depending on how fast the potassium builds up of course. If you need a Blackstone report in a hurry just overnight the sample and they will automatically get back to you the following day.

Some folks have been known to run straight distilled water to keep the corrosive coolant out of the oil but then you are not protecting your cooling system. Others have tried a stop leak product which can stop some internal leaks but probably not oil cooler seal leaks, then you have all that stop leak crud floating around in your system. Might be OK if you've written off the engine but I would be reluctant to do it in something I wasn't ready to write off as on it's last legs.

The PPM is going to make a difference, was it trace or was it in the hundreds/thousands?

 

[Morich]

My experience was with a small car but coolant loss was not noticed by a daughter until it got really bad. By the time she mentioned it and we found it in the oil, the engine was gone!
It was going into the oil and boiling off but if we looked at the oil soon after running we could see bubbles.
We never tried to trace where it was crossing but on a small car there were no good things to consider fixing!
Do you get white fog instead of black smoke coming out the tailpipe? Antifreeze and water come out white when it boils off in the cylinders!
I swapped cars and drove it to work for several months before it seized!
If it runs okay, the leak is likely between an oil and coolant channel, not one that feeds directly into the combustion chambe where it fouls the mix. But the point it that your lube is being mixed with water and thins out to leave the lube no good.
At some point all the parts that need lube are scored and it is time for a new engine. If the engine has that much mileage, I would begin shopping! A rebuild on that one doesn't sound like a good idea!

 

[P and D]

What were the potassium numbers and how many miles were on the oil that was tested? 6.7? What about the oil cooler?
Since you are headed out today about all you can do for now is keep the oil changed often, depending on how fast the potassium builds up of course. If you need a Blackstone report in a hurry just overnight the sample and they will automatically get back to you the following day.

Some folks have been known to run straight distilled water to keep the corrosive coolant out of the oil but then you are not protecting your cooling system. Others have tried a stop leak product which can stop some internal leaks but probably not oil cooler seal leaks, then you have all that stop leak crud floating around in your system. Might be OK if you've written off the engine but I would be reluctant to do it in something I wasn't ready to write off as on it's last legs.

The PPM is going to make a difference, was it trace or was it in the hundreds/thousands?

The last oil sample was 965 Miles on oil sample and potassium was 19 and Sodium 54
The one in December before annual oil change had 12,454 miles on oil sample and potassium was 71 and sodium 180
We have an appointment at Winnebago to look at but wont be until May 19th and about 2500 miles so will keep monitoring.
Today she did great, 350 miles, no issues so keeping fingers crossed we make it back to the factory
Thanks
Paul

 

[P and D]

My experience was with a small car but coolant loss was not noticed by a daughter until it got really bad. By the time she mentioned it and we found it in the oil, the engine was gone!
It was going into the oil and boiling off but if we looked at the oil soon after running we could see bubbles.
We never tried to trace where it was crossing but on a small car there were no good things to consider fixing!
Do you get white fog instead of black smoke coming out the tailpipe? Antifreeze and water come out white when it boils off in the cylinders!
I swapped cars and drove it to work for several months before it seized!
If it runs okay, the leak is likely between an oil and coolant channel, not one that feeds directly into the combustion chambe where it fouls the mix. But the point it that your lube is being mixed with water and thins out to leave the lube no good.
At some point all the parts that need lube are scored and it is time for a new engine. If the engine has that much mileage, I would begin shopping! A rebuild on that one doesn't sound like a good idea!

Nope have not noticed any color smoke at all or white fog, just checked and no bubbles in oil and no usage of antifreeze, has same amount from this morning when we left

 

[bigb56]

The last oil sample was 965 Miles on oil sample and potassium was 19 and Sodium 54
The one in December before annual oil change had 12,454 miles on oil sample and potassium was 71 and sodium 180
We have an appointment at Winnebago to look at but wont be until May 19th and about 2500 miles so will keep monitoring.
Today she did great, 350 miles, no issues so keeping fingers crossed we make it back to the factory
Thanks
Paul

That's not too bad, I've seen much worse, in the 1,900 PPM range. Change the oil sooner rather than later.

 

[P and D]

Update - We changed our mind and headed back home to Arkansas, and after a couple of attempts to get looked at at Freightliner and getting the run around, I called the Springdale Cummins shop, they got me in this morning and by 11 am they diagnosed that there was moisture in the EGR Cooler and that was the root cause of the issue, so waiting on parts and will get back on the road.