Can Oil Or Coolant Analysis Detect A Leaky Head Gasket?
A reader asks: I’m concerned that I my engine may have a leaky head gasket. Can oil and coolant analysis tell me if there is a head gasket problem? Would I need to test for traces of ethylene glycol in the oil and for engine oil in the coolant?
Our answer: If you suspect that your engine has a leaky head gasket, then employing only oil analysis is sufficient. Oil analysis alone will tell us if antifreeze is making its way into the engine oil, which would suggest a bad head gasket. Therefore, also doing antifreeze/coolant analysis would not be necessary.
Oil analysis is an inexpensive way to determine if your engine’s head gasket is leaking.
How Antifreeze Is Recognized In Used Engine Oil Analysis?
Coolant will be distinctly recognized in the analysis with the presence of potassium and sodium. Any elevated levels of these two elements will be a clear indication of coolant and will be shown on the report. Oil analysis also tests for water content in the oil which can also be a marker for coolant ingress.
How To Test For Engine Oil In Antifreeze Coolant
The standard coolant lab test we offer checks for the condition of the coolant itself and does not specifically test for motor oil. Coolant analysis results offer values on metals, pH, freeze point, boil point, SCA (supplemental coolant additive) value, hardness and more.
The presence of motor oil is conducted with a visual inspection. The color of the coolant can certainly be a tell. However, there is also an indirect chemical analysis that takes place in coolant testing. The presence of significant levels of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus (in higher levels) would indicate motor oil in the coolant. These elements are generally not found in significant levels in antifreeze.
So while the testing protocol for our coolant analysis kits doesn’t have a dedicated motor oil test, its presence will certainly be detected.
Conclusion
Oil analysis is an economical way to determine whether your head gasket is leaking (or not).
We can offer oil analysis services with labs in Canada or the US. For pricing, contact us using the form on this page. Please put “oil analysis” in the Questions or Comments section.
Questions? Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-748-5781.
