New guy...have coolant and oil mixing

[FarmerRick]

 Hello all, I just bought an '86 samurai last weekend as a project.  Decent shape for $200, has a 4 inch lift with "Weld" wheels and 31 inch mudders, stock 1.3L, some rust but not too bad.  Anyway, when I bought it I was told that the prior owner "blew the head gasket, replaced it, ran for a while then quit".  So, I get it home and crank it over...no start.  Took a closer look at it, put the plug wires on in the correct order and it started right up.  Noticed the radiator wasn't full.  Dumped in 1 gallon of water...it drank it all, dumped in another gallon...gone.  No smoke, no noise, ran just fine. Checked oil dipstick...viola- chocholate milk   This was all within about 3-5 minutes of run time. So, I took the cylinder head off, gasket looks fine, no obvious cracks in the head, cylinders look ok(can still see the cross-hatch and odo shows 120k!).  Are these engines known for LARGE cracks in the head or block.  Never seen an engine mix-up coolant into the oil that quickly.  Not wanting to spend much money on getting the head checked for cracks until I get a few opinions from the zuki experts .  Sorry for such a LONG first post, but thought I should give all the details.

Thanks for any help,

Rick

P.S.  will post pics as soon as I figure out how its done here.

[tsanchez]

Welcome to the Zu, and this fantastic addiction...

Don't know if they're "known for it" but I recently had to replace a head that seized and took three tries to find one that didn't have a crack in the water jacket somewhere...The first two were "used," one from a junkyard, and one from a "running" car, bought online...  The last one was a rebuild I bought off e-bay and it checked out fine.

Have a machine shop look at it if you have it off the engine - can't hurt.

Tim

[ka4yqi]

Where you at Farmer Rick? Check the head gasket real good. If not more than likely a good crack in the head. Bet it got there when it ran hot before he replace the head gasket.  That a nice looking sammy. I love the one piece hard top.

[Orionn]

Welcome!!

Cracked head/block....that sucks.  If its the head, you need to check the main bearings on the crank, and if its the block, well, dont bother.   
If it ran for any length of time on the oil/water mix, and it probably did if it cracked the block or head, the bearings are probably toast.

Good luck

[mac]

Welcome to the Zu.
Don't be dumb like me. Dump the 1.3 an swap to a 1.6L.

[SamuraiGuy7]

i agree with mac, when i bought my samurai it had a rod knocking. didnt have th lift to throw in a 1.6 so i PAYED for a 1.3....kicked my self every minuet since.

[mac]

i agree with mac, when i bought my samurai it had a rod knocking. didnt have th lift to throw in a 1.6 so i PAYED for a 1.3....kicked my self every minuet since.

I REBUILT MY 1.3 myself. it had a spun #3 rod bearing when I bought it. It still knocks on #3 so when I chance the oil I change the #3 bearing. I am out on bearings now gess I best look for a 1.6. 

[neil_04]

the same thing happened in my yukon blew the head gasket it ran for about 5 mins like that then threw abou 3/4 of all the bearings on my crank just bought a used motor but its a lil diff if i were you i go with a bigger motor 1.6 or something custom maybe a v6 like i have in mine. just make sure you compare all the options befor you start buying and make sure you talk to some people that have swapped motors the v6 was some work but well worth it. if the priced and work are the same wouldnt you want to get something really powerfull just my opinion.

[kimberacp]

this is not connect to your post but how do you like the fiberglass top?   does it make noise when your driving around?  thanks

[FarmerRick]

Thanks for the repies guys, will be taking the cyl. head to a machine shop tomorrow to get it checked.  About the hardtop...I haven't even driven the thing yet(trailered it home), but will find out as soon as I get it running again.  If it is the head that is cracked, I'll probably just get a used head and slap it on.  Not worried about the bearings at this point, especialy if the block is junk now.  Just want it to run for a little fun here on the farm, planning on this being my "dirt buggy".  Oh, by the way, anyone know what  the going rate for a used cylinder head is?

Thanks,

FarmerRick

[Lift-Dr]

check that all the freeze plugs are still in place under the cam.     MEL

[FarmerRick]

Hhmmmmmm....freeze plugs under the cam....hmmmm .  THANKS, that just may be the cause of such a high-flow leak, will pull the cam out in the a.m.

FarmerRick

[Lift-Dr]

You don't need to pull the cam.  soak up the oil in the cups under each pair of lobes and you can see the plugs about 3/4 inch in diameter.     Mel

[FarmerRick]

Well, here's an update guys.  The cyl. head had a freeze plug that had a hole in it, so I replaced all 4 of them(20mm diameter if anyone wants to know).  Slapped it all back together today and all is well, no more mixing of coolant and oil.  Now onto another item I need help with.  Someone cut off the plastic connector that plugs into the alternator, which wire goes to each of the 3 terminals?  The wiring diagram in the back of my manual kinda sucks.

Thank again for all your help,

FarmerRick

[skyhiranger]

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