Is it okay to use the car if there is engine oil in the radiator?
2 Answers
It is not recommended to continue driving if there is engine oil in the radiator. The following are the steps to handle engine oil in the radiator: 1. Disconnect the overflow tank and turn off the heater. 2. Start the vehicle and let it idle. Once the engine reaches operating temperature, flush the radiator opening with a water hose until no significant oil traces remain, then stop. 3. Turn off the engine and open the radiator drain valve. After water starts flowing out, start the engine again and continue adding water to the radiator opening to allow circulation. After 5 minutes, turn off the engine and stop adding water. Once all the water has drained from the radiator, close the drain valve and refill with water. 4. Start the car and observe whether there are any oil traces at the radiator opening. 5. Reconnect the overflow tank and replace the coolant as needed.
Last time my car's radiator had engine oil in it, I initially thought it wasn't a big deal and kept driving. But a few days later, the engine overheated and shut down completely, costing me thousands in repairs. This is actually very common - oil mixing into the cooling system is usually caused by a failed engine head gasket. When coolant can't effectively cool the engine, operating temperatures spike dramatically. Short-term, this can damage pistons or cylinder walls; long-term, it can completely destroy the engine. My advice: if you notice oil droplets or milky discoloration in the coolant, stop driving immediately. Otherwise you'll end up like me - wasting money on major repairs. When checking, use a flashlight to inspect the coolant reservoir. If anything looks abnormal, get to a mechanic immediately for head gasket repair - it only costs a few hundred. Make it a habit to check your coolant monthly to avoid big trouble. Safety first!
