Ian;
I'd say you're lucky if 99% were healthy green. It's more likely to see
all sorts of brown grunge, rust and scale. The stuff you describe sounds
like some old stop-leak or somesuch.
As for the small puffs on start-up, no, the oil isn't going to mix with
the coolant as it goes past the valve guides.
I'd have to say that your car's in pretty good shape.
I wouldn't let 3 tablespoons of grunge get me worried.
Jeff Johnson
'76 TR6
Canada wrote:
>
> How one thing does lead to another with these cars!
>
> I started this week's work by replacing the front shocks. Decided that
> while the wheels were off the ground it would be a great time to put
> those solid steering rack mounts on (thanks to all who answered
> yesterday's question about plugging the hole in the rack.) Encouraged by
> success, I went for broke and decided to install the new poly bushings on
> the front anti-sway bar, replacing the last pieces of original rubber on
> the car. Quickly learned that it's much easier to reinstall the bar with
> the radiator out; and it really needs rodding and painting anyway, so out
> it comes.
>
> While draining the rad, 99.something percent of the fluid was a healthy
> green. The last few tablespoons, however, were a slightly more viscous
> black. Someone please tell me this is normal radiator grunge and not
> oil, or share with me how to tell the difference. It smells like coolant
> but is pretty decidedly black. If oil, what's the likely cause and what
> are the consequences of running it for another 20k miles like this?
>
> Oh yeah. This is a 76 TR6 with about 50K original miles, fairly new to
> me, and doesn't show any signs of abuse. The DPO was even less
> mechanically inclined then me & I doubt the cooling system's ever been
> flushed. It only burns oil for a few moments while warming up,
> indicating--I've been told--bad valve guides. Could the oil--if it is
> oil--get into the coolant that way? In all, it's probably used half a
> quart in three months of running around. Compression is fairly good at
> 125 to 135 per cylinder. No oil on the plugs. Car runs fairly strong &
> I'd hoped to wait a year or two before rebuilding the engine.
>
> Opinions and reassurances are welcome.
>
> TIA
>
> Ian CF57345U
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