Jim Grant's Tech Tips
89 Ford
Aerostar, Milky Motor Oil
Q: My 89 Ford Aerostar started
overheating. I checked the oil level and found the oil looking milky.
It turns out that water is mixing with the oil. How is it possible for
water to get into the engine? Can this be repaired or is the engine permanently
damaged? What is the solution?...Manuel
A: The
first thing to do is set yourself down in a good chair. The type with
arm rest and a high back. Then check your checking or charge card balance.
Why? Because one or the other, maybe both, are in for a pile of hurt and
I dont want you falling and hurting yourself at the same time! Water
in the engine oil is a sign of colossal engine problems!
It only takes
a drop or 2 of water in the right place to damage an engine. The question
is did that drop or 2 make it to the right places?
Before you
spend any money on the engine for this vehicle you "must" evaluate
the vehicles true value to cost of repair ratio.
The concerns;
a vehicle that is 12 model years old, has a low resale value. What condition
are the other components ( the body, transmission, steering and suspension
and brakes) in? Your vehicle type is a labor intensive vehicle. It is
difficult to madding to work on the engine of your vehicle. The extent
of the engine damage will not be known until the engine is dissembled.
Because of
the vehicles age the engine is likely to have other parts that are
worn and in need of service while the engine is apart. Issue of concerns
are the condition of the cooling system (hoses, radiator, water pump),
engine mounts, tune-up parts and emission controls.
Performing
engine work on a vehicle of your age could easily run over $2,000 and
it is likely that $3,000 would disappear pretty quickly. Keep in mind
that the vehicle will not be worth any more after repairs then it was
before the problem occurred.
So before
deciding on repairs, take a good look at your problem and maybe invest
a small amount of your hard earned money into a vehicle evaluation and
possible exploratory on the engine. Then compare the real cost of repair
to the vehicles value.
|