What happened to your D3/D4 today?

Dear Friends,

I would welcome your advice with answers / recommendations, on the questions below and a suitable coolant system backflush chemical for this situation please?

In our other D4 (2012) that we have since acquired, with 280,000 km on the clock, the Coolant Light came on.
On immediate inspection, I found low level of coolant and an oil residue in the coolant reservoir (bottle.)

The Engine Oil Level is 3/4 full, with 8,000km since last oil change, which is in line with normal oil consumption for this vehicle.
The car was taken of the road immediately

From vehicle age, AULRO research and discussion, my presumption is that this is a failed seal on the Oil Cooler. I also presume (hope) that the bulk of the emulsified oil has floated to the top of the system in the coolant reservoir. Q1. Is the oil rising to the Reservoir Bottle a reasonable presumption?

The ACTION PLAN is to:

• Drain Water Coolant to waste
• Drain oil at sump
• Replace the Oil Cooler and associated seals with a new Nissens Oil Cooler
• Fit new Oil Filter
• Fill with fresh oil
• Fill Coolant System with water and run the engine to hopefully pick up residual oil
• Drain all the coolant
• Fill the Coolant system with a SUITABLE BACK FLUSH CHEMICAL to provide system with a proper clean.
• Drain the back flush and rinse with water
• Drain again and check top radiator hose for absence of oil.
• If OK, Fill with 50/50 Penrite Red Coolant

Q2. Is this is a reasonable ACTION PLAN please?

Q3. What backflush chemical treatment would you recommend to clean the oil out of the Cooling System?
Penrite make this Radiator Oil Remover. Any knowledge on suitability please?

Thank you in advance. Greatly appreciated,

Jeff

Plan is almost 100% sound.

Penrite radiator oil flush will do the job!

And you want Penrite BLUE coolant.

Change the coolant bottle also only after the multiple flushing process as they are unsavable after getting the high tide scum line. Not too expensive Meyle brand.

Make sure the vertical bolt holes on top of the engine have no fluid left in them or you will damage the block when reinstalling cooler.

Change the crossover in the valley if that’s not new and all o rings for intake Y.

Clean out EGR gunk.

May as well do it properly once.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PerthDisco

Despair after final diagnosis. What was the failure mode?

Was it overheating?

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Hi Perth Disco,
Not overheating, just running normal temp. After the event, no hot motor smell or anything unusual, Oil level that morning was full, as per usual. It's normal usage is about 1/2 -3/4 litre in it's normal oil change cycle.
In thinking back on the incident, which all happened in about 5 seconds, it felt as if it went into limp mode for a fraction of time, I glanced at instrument cluster looking for a warning, and as I looked the warning, "Turbo boost pressure low" flashed up and the red triangle came on.
By this time it was all over. I only hope that when my time comes it is just as quick.
My first thoughts were broken crank, but while we were waiting for a recovery vehicle, 3 hours in 39 degree warmth, I began to think it may have dropped a valve. Whatever the cause, it turned approximately $30000 into $10 worth of scrap.

The camshaft sprockets have been known to fail.

Thank you Tombie and Perth Disco.
All noted.
Greatly appreciated.
I will report in after the job.
best. Jeff

Thank you Tombie and Perth Disco.
All noted.
Greatly appreciated.
I will report in after the job.
best. Jeff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeffoir

I would welcome your advice with answers / recommendations, on the questions below and a suitable coolant system backflush chemical for this situation please?

In our other D4 (2012) that we have since acquired, with 280,000 km on the clock, the Coolant Light came on.
On immediate inspection, I found low level of coolant and an oil residue in the coolant reservoir (bottle.)

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I did a flush a couple of years ago using Cummins "Restore", which I found really good (recommended from here). Previously I'd used the Penrite flush and a fill with Penrite Blue coolant, but over a couple of years the colour had completely gone from the coolant. I did a serious flush with "Restore" and then put the Penrite Blue back in and a couple of years later it's still blue.

Frankly I'm not convinced the Penrite flush was much chop and following the instructions probably left some in the system which ended up taking the colour out of the coolant. I did correspond with Penrite to come to that conclusion. The "restore" wasn't cheap (about $70 for a gallon) but I only used about a fifth of it and the new coolant has been fine since.

A more simple question than some of you poor buggers on here, recently. [bigsad]

Starting a couple of months ago, my D3, when turning the ignition to 'On', is doing one sweep of the windscreen wipers and occasionally, on starting, will do another sweep. This can occur even after the vehicle has been sitting in the shed for a week and it's as dry as the proverbial 'Dead Dingo's'.

Anything to worry about, or just an idiosyncrasy?

Does anybody have some idea of what my disco might fetch at the wreckers. All VGC apart from engine.
Still mulling my best way out of this fiasco. Has anyone parted one out themselves and how long did it take.
Cheers
Les