oily feeling coolant

[ouraydog]

I have a 2008 Winnebago Tour, and found some drips coming from the coolant overflow tank. The liquid level in the tank is correct and the coolant is a pale amber color, clear, and has an oily feel.

Is it normal for the coolant to feel oily? No other problems, no check lights, and coolant temp is right where it always runs.

Bill

[Cat320]

Yes, that's normal.

[HeapBigEngin]

I agree with Cat320. Besides water, a/freeze also includes a multitude of additives used for a variety of reasons (metal protection, lubrication, etc.), all of which combine to present that oily "feel" you mention. Quite normal. However, drips from the overflow tank should not be considered normal unless the system is overfilled.

Please let us know what you find out...Thanks!

[ouraydog]

I have confirmed that the coolant is OK (Freightliner dealer help), and also confirmed that coolant dripping onto a dirty surface makes it look like oil.

I have replaced the coolant cap with a new one of the same pressure rating, but haven't driven enough to see if the drips have stopped.

The coolant level is normal at halfway between the cold marks and no coolant has been added during the past two years. There is no sign of contamination in the coolant. I dipped a rolled up paper towel into the header tank and there was no band between the wet and dry parts of the towel.

Hopefully I am dealing with a bad pressure cap, but realize that the coolant system could be getting pressurized by a leaking head gasket and forcing vapor past the cap. Let's hope not! I will post updates.

Thanks for the help. Bill Barton

[ouraydog]

First I would like to thank everyone for their help on the dripping tube problem. Here is the story!

The dripping tube was the coolant tank overflow tube. The coolant was dripping down on things that were coated with 20K miles of road grime and the mix of the coolant and grime looked just like an oil leak. It even had an oily feel due to the glycol in the coolant.

The problem turned out to be a leaking radiator cap, which allowed the coolant vapors to escape and condense in the overflow tube, then drip out the bottom.

We drove 200 miles today and the overflow tube was bone dry.

Thanks, Bill Barton

[HeapBigEngin]

Hey ouraydog....glad you found the problem and that it was not serious. Also, Many Thanks for getting back and posting your solution on the forum....it helps all of us. Way too frequently people never get back and let us know the outcome of their specific concern or problem....and we learn nothing. Sad, really. Thanks again for posting!!