Blown head gasket OR?

[dingo7285]

2018 ram 1500 3.6 130k
Had oill filter houseing replaced about month ago. Started experiencing mis fires at startup, the progressed to signs of coolant in engine ( white smoke, smell of antifreeze, lost coolant without visable leaks). Brought it back to shop that replaced housing. After a quick pressure test on the coolant system he tells me i have a blown head gasket.
While i have always trusted this shop, is there a possibility that a defective or improperly installed filter housing can leak coolant into the engine? On the fence about doing head gasket with 130k on truck, but can't afford a new vehicle at the moment.

 

[Grams]

Does it have an oil cooler associated with the coolant system?

 

[star_deceiver]

A head gasket job is going to cost significantly less than a new car… or a used one of unknown quality.

The oil cooler housing has no link to the combustion chambers or intake. You could see coolant in the oil or vice versa but not into the cylinders.

 

[star_deceiver]

Depending upon which adaptor was replaced, the 3.6L in a 2018 Ram 1500 “might” have an oil-cooler…. and might be another possible coolant-loss item.

The silver part is the coolant/oil heat exchanger. If it breaks internally, that’s where coolant and oil will mix.

 

[Grams]

Does the OP’s oil look like a milkshake? OR… does the cooler have coolant drip from it?

 

[dingo7285]

The housing does have an oil cooler. Is there a possibility that a defect or forgetting an o ring or something could mix the fluids?

There is definitely coolant in the oil, not full milkshake ( haven'tfully investigated), but all other signs from exhaust. I haven't seen visable leakage from housing.

 

[star_deceiver]

The housing does have an oil cooler. Is there a possibility that a defect or forgetting an o ring or something could mix the fluids?

There is definitely coolant in the oil, not full milkshake ( haven'tfully investigated), but all other signs from exhaust. I haven't seen visable leakage from housing.

Blown head gasket can mix coolant and oil. If you’re seeing coolant out the exhaust that’s 100% head gasket. If there’s a bad oring on the cooler housing, you’ll see the valley filled with oil or coolant, running down the backside of the engine.

 

[chooch2112]

2018 ram 1500 3.6 130k
Had oill filter houseing replaced about month ago. Started experiencing mis fires at startup, the progressed to signs of coolant in engine ( white smoke, smell of antifreeze, lost coolant without visable leaks). Brought it back to shop that replaced housing. After a quick pressure test on the coolant system he tells me i have a blown head gasket.
While i have always trusted this shop, is there a possibility that a defective or improperly installed filter housing can leak coolant into the engine? On the fence about doing head gasket with 130k on truck, but can't afford a new vehicle at the moment.

It sure sounds like a head gasket, I had one go bad on my 6.4 last December,

 

[04fxdwgi]

Did the engine ever overheat?????

I'm with the head gasket (or a warped head) crowd. A leak in that cooler will not cause problems like misfires.
Misfire problems are problems with fuel, air or ignition. Head gasket and / or warped head will effect all 3, plus possibly milky oil if it also compromises the coolant ports on the gasket.. Warped head will kill off the head gasket post haste.

Do a compression test would be my 1st step in figuring it out. Then a test to see if the coolant has any combustion gasses in it. Then a cooling system leakdown test.

That oil cooler failure will only cause milky oil.