I have been seeing some milky stuff whenever I check my engine oil. On the dipstick. And I also noticed the radiator water keeps drying up everyday and I have to put water DAILY. It’s a 2005 Nissan Xtrail. My mechanic has not been able to find a solution so I was hoping people with experience can shed more light.

ahmedio:
I have been seeing some milky stuff whenever I check my engine oil. On the dipstick. And I also noticed the radiator water keeps drying up everyday and I have to put water DAILY. It’s a 2005 Nissan Xtrail. My mechanic has not been able to find a solution so I was hoping people with experience can shed more light.

Water is entering your car engine through the top gasket. It is either the top gasket is blown or car engine top is warp. Either way you need to take it to the mechanic to avoid engine damage

That is scary. I’m scared of opening engine. I’ve heard of how overheating problem usually starts after changing gasket.

ahmedio:
That is scary. I’m scared of opening engine. I’ve heard of how overheating problem usually starts after changing gasket.

The water shortage of your radiator will eventually cause overheating.

When did you start noticing this? How long have you used the car? Did you buy Nigeria used or toks?

top gasket don burn, and if u are unlucky the top cylinder might be warped, ur mechanic will need to change the gasket and resurface the warped top cylinder.

Dozieson:


The water shortage of your radiator will eventually cause overheating.

When did you start noticing this? How long have you used the car? Did you buy Nigeria used or toks?

I bought toks in May 2018. I started noticing it around September 2020. The mechanic said I should change the radiator to double cell which I did but it’s becoming worse by the day

ahmedio:


I bought toks in May 2018. I started noticing it around September 2020. The mechanic said I should change the radiator to double cell which I did but it’s becoming worse by the day

Okay. Do you have any overheating history?

Dozieson:


Okay. Do you have any overheating history?

The overheating is confusing. The temperature gauge on the dashboard never goes far from the first line but then the bonnet is always very hot.

ahmedio:


The overheating is confusing. The temperature gauge on the dashboard never goes far from the first line but then the bonnet is always very hot.

So it has not shut down the car? Just meet a competent mechanic to check the top gasket and engine block warp

ahmedio:
I have been seeing some milky stuff whenever I check my engine oil. On the dipstick. And I also noticed the radiator water keeps drying up everyday and I have to put water DAILY. It’s a 2005 Nissan Xtrail. My mechanic has not been able to find a solution so I was hoping people with experience can shed more light.

Coolant getting into engine when hot, you need to take head off and resurface it properly to a smooth straight edge and install a new bolt properly torque. Do not reuse old bolts.If you continue to drive like that water will compromise lubrication and wear your bearings and cams

sultaan:


Coolant getting into engine when hot, you need to take head off and resurface it properly to a smooth straight edge and install a new bolt properly torque. Do not reuse old bolts.If you continue to drive like that water will compromise lubrication and wear your bearings and cams

best advice,stop driving car to aviod complete engine breakdown,find a good mechanic to change the top gasket,and wash the radiator this will not cost more than #20-#30k,it is cheaper than buying another engine

sultaan:


Coolant getting into engine when hot, you need to take head off and resurface it properly to a smooth straight edge and install a new bolt properly torque. Do not reuse old bolts.If you continue to drive like that water will compromise lubrication and wear your bearings and cams

nothing to add! Just go with the above.

nobody is advising him to change the mecho that's seeing water and oil mixing and is telling him to buy double cell radiator

Change your mechanic o that guy is a maniac

diportivo:
nobody is advising him to change the mecho that's seeing water and oil mixing and is telling him to buy double cell radiator

actually that Nissan Pathfinder,Xterra,etc has factory fault of transmission oil in radiator breaking and mixing with water coolant ,so the mech could be partially right in advicing a radiator change but if it is transmission oil it will be brown not milky

okoroemeka:
actually that Nissan Pathfinder,Xterra,etc has factory fault of transmission oil in radiator breaking and mixing with water coolant ,so the mech could be partially right in advicing a radiator change but if it is transmission oil it will be brown not milky

He is talking about engine oil and not transmission oil

okoroemeka:
actually that Nissan Pathfinder,Xterra,etc has factory fault of transmission oil in radiator breaking and mixing with water coolant ,so the mech could be partially right in advicing a radiator change but if it is transmission oil it will be brown not milky

you just typed loads of falsehood with your full chest

Dozieson:


He is talking about engine oil and not transmission oil

even at that,is it the same power train in the pathy,xterra and xtrail?

I no even know wetin I go type again

that post has traumatised me

diportivo:



you just typed loads of falsehood with your full chest

Maxi comrade, I dey see am o.
No be every tom, preek and harry suppose dey comment on car issues

MASTAkiLLAh:
Change your mechanic o that guy is a maniac

Most of the mechanics around here are worse than the one I am using. I can say he is even better than most of them.

okoroemeka:
actually that Nissan Pathfinder,Xterra,etc has factory fault of transmission oil in radiator breaking and mixing with water coolant ,so the mech could be partially right in advicing a radiator change but if it is transmission oil it will be brown not milky

It’s a Nissan Xtrail. Not Xterra. Wetin I wan do with Xterra.

ahmedio:


Most of the mechanics around here are worse than the one I am using. I can say he is even better than most of them.

just follow sultaan's advise. What's your location, there's sure to be a recommended Nairaland mechanic in your city

MASTAkiLLAh:
just follow sultaan's advise. What's your location, there's sure to be a recommended Nairaland mechanic in your city

I am in IjebuOde

diportivo:
nobody is advising him to change the mecho that's seeing water and oil mixing and is telling him to buy double cell radiator

ahmedio:


I am in IjebuOde

I can recommend a good mechanic for you in ijebu ode if you don't mind. Your choice.

sheantip:

I can recommend a good mechanic for you in ijebu ode if you don't mind. Your choice.

Please I don’t mind

diportivo:



you just typed loads of falsehood with your full chest

let's be civil and polite we are not competing who is correct or not,but goggle the top five problems of Nissan trucks and SUV from 2005-2010 and you will see that they are under attack from bad radiators mixing water and transmission oil,but the mech should know the colour of engine oil (milky)and transmission oil(brown/pinkish) in water.

okoroemeka:
let's be civil and polite we are not competing who is correct or not,but goggle the top five problems of Nissan trucks and SUV from 2005-2010 and you will see that they are under attack from bad radiators mixing water and transmission oil,but the mech should know the colour of engine oil (milky)and transmission oil(brown/pinkish) in water.

Again my brother, OP said water on engine oil dipstick, not transmission dip stick

You need to change that mechanic before he sends you back to trekking mode. Your car must have overheated once and burned the head gasket. That is why radiator coolant is getting into the combustion chamber of your engine and the water is mixing with engine oil. Change the top gasket first.

NOTE: Cause of overheating could be anything like, shutted thermostat, poor fan speed, water pump failure etc, not because of single cell radiator, just get a good mechanic to find out for you. Changing to double cell radiator will not solve any problem but will compound your fuel consumption because your engine operating temperature would be elongated and the engine will ask for more fuel. I am not a mechanic and I don't need to be one before I understand these things.

kernniejay:
You need to change that mechanic before he sends you back to trekking mode. Your car must have overheated once and burned the head gasket. That is why radiator coolant is getting into the combustion chamber of your engine and the water is mixing with engine oil. Change the top gasket first.

NOTE: Cause of overheating could be anything like, shutted thermostat, poor fan speed, water pump failure etc, not because of single cell radiator, just get a good mechanic to find out for you. Changing to double cell radiator will not solve any problem but will compound your fuel consumption because your engine operating temperature would be elongated and the engine will ask for more fuel. I am not a mechanic and I don't need to be one before I understand these things.

9icetoo

diportivo:




9icetoo

Thanks . I have changed the gasket. After changing it the mechanic was telling me that he didn’t hear when I initially complained about the water in the engine oil. I was so mad. But anyway it’s been discovered that it was really the gasket that got burnt. Thank you all for the insight

ahmedio:


Thanks . I have changed the gasket. After changing it the mechanic was telling me that he didn’t hear when I initially complained about the water in the engine oil. I was so mad. But anyway it’s been discovered that it was really the gasket that got burnt. Thank you all for the insight

Congratulations. Has the car done overheating before?