Losing Oil and Coolant

[jmusser218]

So I wanted to get some opinions on this before I started taking the engine apart. Lately, I have been going through about 2 quarts of oil each month and my coolant overflow reservoir is empty almost every week, even if I fill it an inch over the full hot mark. There is an odd, greenish brown (like the color of oil mixed with coolant) sludge splattered in the engine bay near the bottom of the driver's side of the engine, and it looks like there is coolant leaking down the back of the engine, possibly from the UIM gasket. Even with the coolant low, there has been no overheating, but it has started doing something odd very recently. On a warm day, when I start the car after it has fully heated up, it will shake violently for about 20 seconds and then even out. I'm not sure what this could be other than a clogged catalytic converter or a leak in one of the cylinders, but I have yet to get an engine code. So, I'm losing coolant and oil, there is no smoke out of the exhaust or smell of burning oil, and the car is a 2001 SE with about 62,000 miles. Any ideas?

[nos4blood70]

Sounds like either a failed UIM and/or LIM gaskets. Look into that leak on the driver's side. Might be the LIMs externally leaking.

[jmusser218]

I will check both. Sad thing is that I replaced both of those just over a year ago. However, while tightening one of the UIM bolts, I think I heard something crack. So I will check all of the gaskets. Hopefully, it's not a valve problem at this mileage. Could the UIM and gasket have anything to do with the oil disappearing?

[Jfridge92]

How many miles are you going when you're losing that much oil? If you're not seeing or smelling it burn out of the exhaust, you could have an external leak. The valve cover gaskets (usually you'd smell that burning on the exhaust manifolds), the rear main seal, and oil pan gaskets like to leak on these motors. I'd also check your PCV system. If the tube is out of place in the UIM, or if the valve is clogged, that could cause oil consumption issues too.

If you had valves/valve seals leaking, I'd think you'd definitely notice the oil burning in the exhaust if they were leaking that badly.

+1 on what Carl said with the UIM/LIM gasket leaking externally. If the UIM is burned through at the EGR port, which is common on the non-sleeved replacement UIM's, you could also be puking coolant from the throttle body.

My guess on the stumbling at start up is that you're starting to ingest coolant from the bad gaskets, and you could be getting a misfire on those cylinders until the coolant burns away. If you're burning coolant, that could also cause the O2 sensor to go bad. Find out where the coolant is leaking from, and that should help lead in the right direction for the rest of the issues you're having.

[nos4blood70]

How does your oil look? If there isn't any milkshake, it is unlikely you are losing coolant there. That would suggest, to me at least, that it is a burned through EGR section in the UIM. It is easy to check, just pull the UIM off and see if the LIM is filled with coolant mixture. Takes about 30 minutes to remove the UIM if you know your way around tools.

A gummed up PCV from the UIM letting in coolant could explain your oil loss as well.

Check on your coolant elbows by the tensioner/alternator area, another common location for coolant leaks.

[jmusser218]

Thanks guys! I will look into everything you suggested and post what I found.