Coolant in Oil sump TD5

[haggs]

Hey guys, new here and just wanted to ask you all for some help!
I was changing the oil in my MY01 TD5 (defender) and as I was undoing the sump plug coolant started dripping out.. there was perhaps only 50mm or so of coolant in the bottom of the sump before oil started coming out. The oil wasn’t cloudy in colour at all (the car had just been driven and was hot) and other than the small amount of coolant in the oil the car otherwise has no other obvious issues. It doesn’t overheat, it starts easily when cold and otherwise drives like normal. It does sometimes blow a small puff of grey smoke when taking off from idle at traffic lights etc. but not what I thought to be a concerning amount for a motor with 300k+..
Could this be a simple oil cooler issue as I know they usually do the opposite with putting oil in the coolant not the other way around as mine seems to be doing? Praying it isn’t a head-gasket or something more sinister but just wanted to see if anyone has any experience with this issue and can point me in the right direction! Cheers

[shack]

Could this be a simple oil cooler issue as I know they usually do the opposite with putting oil in the coolant not the other way around as mine seems to be doing? Praying it isn’t a head-gasket or something more sinister but just wanted to see if anyone has any experience with this issue and can point me in the right direction! Cheers

It could be the oil cooler, but extremely unlikely, as what would need to happen is oil would be going into the coolant when running, and coolant into the oil when off.

If it's not doing that, look elsewhere.

[laney]

When the car is running is there bubbles in the coolant reservoir tank or is it pushing coolant out the over flow.

[haggs]

It could be the oil cooler, but extremely unlikely, as what would need to happen is oil would be going into the coolant when running, and coolant into the oil when off.

If it's not doing that, look elsewhere.

So is the oil at a higher pressure than the coolant and so wouldn’t allow coolant in when running?

[haggs]

When the car is running is there bubbles in the coolant reservoir tank or is it pushing coolant out the over flow.

No doesn’t produce any bubbles in the expansion tank which makes this issue a bit more difficult to pinpoint as a head-gasket or not… 🧐

[shack]

Yes, with engine running, oil pressure is higher than coolant, and vice versa with it off.

Usually if the oil cooler let's go on most engines, it's oil in the water, to get water back in the oil seems to take a much worse failure, although....I guess it could simply be evaporating off and owners not notice it, just that they need to chuck a bit of coolant in from time to time.