4.3L coolant in oil

[b3guy33152]

Hi, I am new to this forum and have a question. My son's 1998 C1500 with a 4.3L motor is leaking coolant into the oil. We at first thought this was due to a head gasket but I am starting to wonder after reading numerous posts about the 4.3 intake gasket problems. The truck still runs fine (he has parked it though). What test could be done to isolate the problem to the intake or head gasket?

Thanks,

Jim

[GM-Tech]

We have few intake leak problems on that motor (unlike some others) and even less head gasket problems, but of course either is a possibility.

 

It may be difficult to tell which it is in some instances. A compression check will tell you the general condition of the engine. If all cylinders are fairly equal, then it's *probably* not leaking into a cylinder. If a portion of the cylinder head gasket was leaking anywhere else, you'd either see it outside or it'd leak into the area where the intake would leak, and the only way to tell is to tear it apart and look for signs.

 

My guess is that the intake is leaking.