Technical Coolant leak/oil in coolant

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Technical Coolant leak/oil in coolant

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I took my Stilo Multijet for a Terraclean Service on Saturday. Whilst it was being done the car sprung a coolant leak.
The leak was coming from the pipe leading from the expansion tank.
I took the car back today to have the pipe 'bodged' (cut a length of the pipe out and replace with copper pipe)
However upon inspection the pipe was gummed up with oil and had deteriorated due to the oil, causing the leak.

The garage said it's either a head gasket (they think unlikely as it's not using coolant, there's no 'mayonnaise and it's not overheating) or its the oil cooler.
I've checked online and can't find mention of the Stilo having an oil cooler fitted to this engine.

So my question is: do any of you know whether the Stilo Multijet has an oil cooler and secondly have any of you experienced the oil in coolant problem?
 

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mm from pics it looks to have been pinched also? or just illusion.
they did have oil cooler on some models
the 150hp is separate to coolant but the others should be like this
multijet oil cooler.png
there have been cases of egr cooler ruptures on vauxhaul forums , not seen any here.
this could throw a lot of heat into the coolant plus soot/carbon ?
also I suppose the oil cooler itself could leak ? contaminate coolant.
which pipe was it the lower one to rad area or the upper one from inlet manifold area.
worth doing a coolant flush and circulate just water see if it stays clean, before looking for the issue.
did your car overheat at all doing the terraclean? its sitting fast reving for some time ?
do your fans kick in ok when hot.
heres just the cooler/heat exchanger
multijet oil cooler. 2png.png
this thread has some actual photos of typical oil/ coolant coolers, not sure what yours will look like but its under the oil filter, garage may be able to pressure test off the car?
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-164-andamp-166/809186-how-to-remove-oil-heat-exchanger.html
heres one stilo
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Stil...740?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d320ec5d4
 
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Thank you for your reply Sussexa.

Whilst doing the Terraclean the car is held at 2000RPM for about 15-20 minutes. The temperature gauge didn't and never has gone higher than one notch below middle.

The pipe I'm talking about goes from the expansion tank to the head by the looks of it. The mechanic says by the looks of it the oil has been sacked up the pipe into the expansion tank (the inside of the expansion tank is oily) Where the pipe has leaked is at a bend in it. He said I might not have noticed it before as it only happens when pressurised and probably under load.

At the moment I can't afford to have anything done. Got to
keep my fingers crossed it doesn't go bang before I can afford to fix it.

The Terraclean has made a noticeable difference to the car. Much smoother, power delivery is lower down the Rev range and my MPG has increased from 44-45 to 52
 
if moneys tight I would consider bypassing the cooler by joining the 2 coolant hoses, then blow out the remaining coolant in the heat exchanger and then put a small hose loop across the 2 nipples.
the oil has nowhere to go? coolant is away from oil.
a length of hose, a joiner piece and some jubilee clips.
id be supprised if that style cooler does much cooling, probably more to heat the oil a little quicker ?
discuss over with the mechanic.
might be your thermostat is passing also they should be in middle of gauge once warmed up.
also whats the engine oil like? as black as in that hose?
 
That's a really good idea. I'll let my mechanic know and if he can't do it I'll find someone who can.

I've only had the car a month, when I bought it the oil was filthy and low so I immediately had it serviced. The oil in the coolant pipe was extremely thick and gunky. Another problem that arised from the leak was that it kept squirting all over my cambelt, so the cambelt is now compromised. I don't know the history of the car so i would have gotten it changed at some point anyway, just cant afford to do it all right now
 
Just a quick update. Went out to use the car today and most of the coolant had gone. Fiat want £572 for the entire coolant pipes and oil cooler!
Went to my local backstreet garage and the copper pipe the other garage put in yesterday had failed massively. They managed to put a new length of rubber pipe in that's the same size for £40! Problem solved in the short term, he said that there aren't any more leaks he can see and the other pipes aren't gummed up.
Means I can keep running it until I can afford to repair it properly
 
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The garage that spotted the leak cut a section of the hose out and put some copper pipe in its place.
That failed within 24 hours, the old rubber pipe couldn't seal to the copper due to how perished it was.
Went to the local garage and he replaced the entire pipe from the expansion tank to the join at the head.
Hope I've explained it better for you
 
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