08 v6 oil in coolant

[joshuah459]

I have an 08 v6 model that has a shocking amount of oil in the coolant overflow tank. Beyond this the car seems normal, the transmission fluid and engine oil both look fine. It's idling and driving fine. It looks good from the obd diagnostics and sensor readings aswell.  The engine oil is slightly low, but I believe that's to be expected. Is there any location beyond the head gasket that could cause this? Additionally how is there oil in the coolant but not coolant in the oil? That to me sounds like something more high pressure than just your standard head gasket leak. 

[Grampy]

I don't think the 3.0 (normal aspirated) has an (engine) oil cooler in your radiator.  It may have an automatic transmission (fluid) cooler in the radiator.. I would check that level also.

We all fear coolant in our oil, the engine can be destroyed quickly.  Plus we all assume the coolant (pressurized)  would make its way "Into" the crankcase. (we've all seen the NASCAR's blown engines spewing white smoke as the cooling system pours into the cylinders)


But remember, oil at your oil pump runs in the 40# range, coolant is a max of 14#.  Thus there are "ways" a leaking head gasket. CAN result in oil being pumped into the coolant passages. 
Oil leaking into coolant-> something is being deprived of it's normal amount of oil
Oil leaking into coolant-> normal cooling is disrupted / compromised, engine oil does not have the same heat capacity of coolant, and it's viscosity is quite different  (enough oil it can damage the water pump).
These are long term negatives, the only solution.. find, fix, flush coolant refill.