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Engine Oil as oil coolant?

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Old Jun 12, 2016 | 11:21 PM
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Default Engine Oil as oil coolant?

HI everyone,

I am new to this forum, and essentially my uncle just gave me his 1978 Corvette (almost mint condition 55K Miles on it). Hes barely driven it in the last 20 years.

Anyways, before he gave me the car yesterday, he added engine oil to where it says "Engine Coolant only", since the engine light was low (he had done a oil change not long ago)

Does anyone do this?
Any damage to the transmission in long term?

If that's not recommended where do you just add the oil ? I couldn't find anywhere where you can pull a dipstick out or any marking of any kind to add oil.

Thanks!
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Old Jun 12, 2016 | 11:42 PM
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First Welcome Aboard. Cool uncle you've got there!!

Something don't sound good. "Engine Coolant Only" is where antifreeze/water goes...never oil. If he put oil in there, I'd suggest pulling that overflow tank off and cleaning it before driving it much. The oil should stay floating, but it will make a cooling system mess if it gets throughout the system.

Should be a dipstick on driver's side a little past midway back by exhaust manifold. Transmission dipstick will be on passenger side at rear of motor by firewall.

JIM
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 06:27 AM
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Holy Crap!!!.. Get that oil out .. That's water/anti-freeze.. do not drive it... Oil goes in the cap on the Valve cover....
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 08:16 AM
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Is this a prank? as stated bt the cap never put incorrect fluids in the wrong places. Maybe your mistaken as to where he added it..

Last edited by augiedoggy; Jun 13, 2016 at 08:19 AM.
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 09:12 AM
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Thanks for the replies,
andddddd I just spoke to him and I am an idiot. my garage was dark the cap was dark and i didn't see it. anyways this was last night and i havent turned on the engine. so i will go and remove it tonight.

arghhhh i didnt even sleep last night. once i closed the cap back and looked closer is when i realized.

any chance any repercussions?

this is embarassing
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 09:35 AM
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please clarify exactly where you put the oil, radiator, overflow, transmission, etc. having a hard time following.

if you put oil in the radiator OVERFLOW, and did not start it, just pull the hose and drain the overflow tank.

if you put it in the radiator, it will be messy but shouldn't damage anything, just flush and refill with antifreeze/distilled water 50/50 ratio.
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 09:42 AM
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Hi,

Thank you!

I put it in the radiator OVERFLOW, the big 5Liter plastic container.
i did not start the car so i will drain it.

clean it with with water (to make sure all the oil is out) let it dry then add antifreeze instead.



Originally Posted by gungatim
please clarify exactly where you put the oil, radiator, overflow, transmission, etc. having a hard time following.

if you put oil in the radiator OVERFLOW, and did not start it, just pull the hose and drain the overflow tank.

if you put it in the radiator, it will be messy but shouldn't damage anything, just flush and refill with antifreeze/distilled water 50/50 ratio.
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 10:46 AM
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great, good luck! (also you may want to add a drop of dish soap with the water to cut the oil before your rinse it.)
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 01:46 PM
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Originally Posted by gungatim
great, good luck! (also you may want to add a drop of dish soap with the water to cut the oil before your rinse it.)
Dawn brand dish soap is good for this. People helping birds who get oily from oil spills often use a dilute solution of Dawn to clean our feathered friends!
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 03:52 PM
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Just so you understand, if you mix antifreeze/coolant with engine oil it will create a really gummy goo [called an emulsion] which will not flow well and will almost eliminate any lubricating qualities that the oil (alone) provided. Very bad news and very difficult to clean out of the oil passages in the engine.
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 04:29 PM
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Good to know!
Thanks!
Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Just so you understand, if you mix antifreeze/coolant with engine oil it will create a really gummy goo [called an emulsion] which will not flow well and will almost eliminate any lubricating qualities that the oil (alone) provided. Very bad news and very difficult to clean out of the oil passages in the engine.
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Old Jun 13, 2016 | 04:39 PM
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The bad news is you screwed, up, but the good news is that it is an easy fix!

Welcome to the C3 family as we have all had our share of bone head mistakes!
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Old Jun 14, 2016 | 11:57 AM
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Thanks !

Great to see such a great Corvette community in this forum!

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842
The bad news is you screwed, up, but the good news is that it is an easy fix!

Welcome to the C3 family as we have all had our share of bone head mistakes!
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Old Jun 14, 2016 | 03:22 PM
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use the blue dawn, not the other colors as they do not cut the oil, I use the blue on grease stains on my clothes and it takes them right out.
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