15 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHSuspected 996 engine head crack or something else
Leading reported evidence
Check coolant and found intermix
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
Oil was on minimum when checking I also checked my coolant and found intermix
Leading evidence: 'Check coolant and found intermix' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'head surely i’d have got the above' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check coolant and found intermix' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
My oil pressure was fine the intermix I have is my problem and I noticed when I turned the key half way that my oil level was on 1 so checked dip stick and it was on 1 and found the intermix
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It had cracked cylinder heads, it was repaired by the PO, he said it was overheating and that alerted him to the problem, he didn’t mention any intermix, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause · Original poster
Mine didn’t over heat or anything all temps had been fine same with the oil pressure which again found strange if it was the head surely I’d have got the above .
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
My oil pressure was fine the intermix I have is my problem and I noticed when I turned the key half way that my oil level was on 1 so checked dip stick and it was on 1 and found the intermix
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It had cracked cylinder heads, it was repaired by the PO, he said it was overheating and that alerted him to the problem, he didn’t mention any intermix, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
head surely i’d have got the above
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that suspect a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause · Original poster
Mine didn’t over heat or anything all temps had been fine same with the oil pressure which again found strange if it was the head surely I’d have got the above .
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
15 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
911uk: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
A new sender fixed it for which you need a crows foot spanner.
So for those of you who haven’t seen I have an early 996.1 1998 car. Covering 69k miles it has been off the road parked up for almost 8 years I have done around 1500 miles since April.
I came to move my car to wash it and half turn the key noticed the digi oil guage showing 1 bar thought it was strange so went to check. Oil was on minimum when checking I also checked my coolant and found intermix
The last time I drove the car I had perfect temp levels and oil pressure no signs of any issues or lights come up on the dash. I drove the car steady and didn’t notice any loss of power or rough idling etc
Seems to be no water in the oil this is only going off the dip stick (it’s collected and at friends garage going to drop oil to be sure)
I am really hoping it’s the oil cooler but a lot suggesting head gasket cracked I have had a rough Hartech price If the heads cracked and it’s quite eye watering
Has anyone else unfortunately had the same issue and what was it ?
Was just reading up on all the comments on your FB post. My oil cooler was weeping a couple of years ago. No intermix but coolant leaking out on to the engine. For reference, here are the photos from it. Either if the cooler fails inside or the O rings fail on the mating faces, either can cause your problem.
This isn’t my issue
My oil pressure was fine the intermix I have is my problem and I noticed when I turned the key half way that my oil level was on 1 so checked dip stick and it was on 1 and found the intermix
You're right - the two main causes of intermix like this are shot oil cooler or a cracked head. You won't be able to tell which it is until you start taking things apart. Ideally check the oil cooler first, as that's the easiest (and cheapest!) to inspect and replace. If you rule that out, then it's probably one of the heads.
From what I've read previously, there are effectively three types of intermix, dependent on where the leak is and how it's acting. You can have oil to water (i.e. contaminated coolant), water to oil (contaminated oil), or both at the same time (i.e., water and oil have contaminated each other). You appear to have just contaminated water. Unfortunately, this doesn't point to towards a particular cause!
One question - have you previously had to change a duff water pump? What can happen is the bearing goes, the plastic impeller destroys itself and the small pieces travel through the coolant, potentially blocking the narrow passages in the head. Uneven cooling then results, causing the head to crack .
Hopefully it is just your cooler!
Thanks for this
I haven’t changed the water pump no. But if any of the above would the car not have come up over heating etc ? Or low oil pressure
The coolant cap was stuck on rock solid took some getting off as though there was that much pressure in the bottle. It’s dumped about half a litre of oil from looking on the dipstick I was just surprised that if the oil I remove from the sump etc is fine then it can still relate to a cracked head
I got my mechanic to do it. He said it was easy enough, just time consuming. Think my bill including the oil cooler was around £700.
He dropped the engine as low as he could on the mounts, then started stripping down from the top (plenum, RH intake manifold, etc.) and did all the work from above.
My car is a 3.4 m96.4 engine
It had cracked cylinder heads, it was repaired by the PO, he said it was overheating and that alerted him to the problem, he didn’t mention any intermix, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any.
The heads were removed and I’ve got an invoice for welding and repairing them.
Unfortunately I only have this info 2nd hand so I’ve no direct experience of it.
Usefull to know
Mine didn’t over heat or anything all temps had been fine same with the oil pressure which again found strange if it was the head surely I’d have got the above . . . Who knows hopefully know more next week and it’s not going to cost me a fortune
Iv got a friend looking at it for me im 50/50 if its cracked head to replace and do work our self or send engine off to hartech but the bill is eye watering
