I got my oil changed today at one of the 10min oil change places and the tech seems to think I have oil in my coolant he sucked some out and it was dirty brown he was giving me the ( you poor bastard your screwed look and said it might be a head gasket) now I have 2 questions how :screwed am I? and what are some of the things I should have a real mechanic check when I bring this car in to have it looked at?

I so bummed out right now, here is a pic of my baby
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p99/bigblklincoln/8.jpg

Have you looked into the coolant tank? Is the "oil" floating on top?

If not, you may have dirty coolant that hasn't been flushed out of the reservoir. (looks like brown crud on the bottom of the tank)

If so, then a compression test is in order to locate and verify the leak. Most head gasket issues that I have played with involve a lot of white "smoke" pouring out the exhaust.

If you do have a leak, maybe just a head gasket swap, if the head isn't warped. A trusted shop ought to be able to diagnose this pretty quick for you.

Watch your oil too. If it starts to get milky colored thats also a sign of a head gasket or something else leaking into the wrong place .:eek: :eek:

Good luck ..;)
Cool lookin car..:cool: .:cool: .

Do a compression/leakdown test and/or have the coolant checked for exhaust gasses in it..

oil filter adapter gasket..........

oil filter adapter gasket..........



Yup, Check that.




Any shop with a gas analyzer can check for a head gasket leak. Should'nt take longer than a few minutes.


Mike

In addition to those above:
Suggest removing radiator cap - when engine is cold - fill with coolent to top, start engine, watch for "bubbles, etc" a simple check for leaking head gasket. If OK, I would then DRAIN OIL and CHANGE FILTER (vs the "quick & dirty" oil change method) and monitor dip stick regularly for a few days before spending the "big bucks". Good luck.

youre not :q:q:q:qed but youre in for some work. the oil filter adapter gasket is a pain.

I agree with oil filter adapter gasket, $35. Its common failure. Where the oil filter screws onto is an adapter plate, which the lower radiator hose also connects to the engine on that plate. When the gasket goes, they can mix.

I agree with oil filter adapter gasket, $35. Its common failure. Where the oil filter screws onto is an adapter plate, which the lower radiator hose also connects to the engine on that plate. When the gasket goes, they can mix.Not a bad place to start. Fairly common.

Thats What I Was Gonna Say-* Head Gasket*- Buddy! ;)
Um I Feel For Ya,i Have 2 Issues I Need To Take Care Of Myself.

The part # you want is F6AZ-6840-AA, you can order one at www.teamfordparts.com

Here is what it looks like.

I would also say oil filter adapter gasket. Happened on my '93 Marquis.

Common failure on many different modular motors depending on the year (gasket was revised at some point I believe).

thanks for all the help guys i'm thinking it's probably the oil gasket because my oil is clean and there is no white smoke at all i'm gonna take it into a shop today to have it checked out.

ok turns out somebody put one of those bottles of stop leak in the car before I got it so was what the brown gunk in the coolant was, they changed the coolant and cleaned out the res really good so no big drama

Cool....

:cool:

Like those guys at the 10 min lube places really know what they are looking at. Many are lucky they know where to put the oil in.

ok turns out somebody put one of those bottles of stop leak in the car before I got it so was what the brown gunk in the coolant was, they changed the coolant and cleaned out the res really good so no big drama
LUCKY!!!!! glad to hear that's all it was. Stay away from the 10 min lube joints.:)

LOL there was still snow on the ground and I didnt want to get cold :) next time ill do it myself

Those guys in the Desert just don't understand LOL...

Last year in 18 degree weather I was dropping a gas tank and changing a fuel filter.

The last couple weekends I've been working on cars. We did some exaust work last weekend when it was 10 degrees or so, and I was working on my car trying to unfreeze the washer fluid when it was around zero. Gotta love winter.