03 6cyl oil in surge tank stumped

[krysla]

I have oil coming into the cooling system. I assumed it was a head gasket and replaced that. That didn't work so we assumed it must be a cracked head. I located 2 used heads and swapped em out to no avail. Still oil displacing into the coolant. Never has any coolant been detected in the oil. Anyone have any ideas before I make any more expensive assumptions and waste more time? Their is always a chance that the salvage yard didn't have the heads tested as they said they did and I put another cracked head in. I hope their is a simpler solution that I have overlooked.

[ssicarman]

Welcome to the Board.

Your oil cooler is likely leaking oil into the coolant. It is between the heads and sits in the coolant.

[BobbyP]

The oil cooler is the most common major problem on this engine.

[krysla]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I bought the seals from Saturn yesterday and will try to reseal the cooler today. I hope this does it!

[BobbyP]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I bought the seals from Saturn yesterday and will try to reseal the cooler today. I hope this does it!

Back in 2005 I was researching and pricing on 2002-2004 VUE's. I found a lot of really good looking 2002 and 2003 VUE's being traded in at that time. I found 4 out of 4 VUE's with the 3.0L V6 had problems with the oil cooler, but no other problems.

[ssicarman]

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I bought the seals from Saturn yesterday and will try to reseal the cooler today. I hope this does it!

It is most likely NOT the seals at the oil cooler leaking but the oil cooler itself.

[krysla]

It is most likely NOT the seals at the oil cooler leaking but the oil cooler itself.

Right you are! We found the leak in the cooler. It's Sunday so we cant get a hold of the parts dept. at the dealership. Does anyone know how much a new cooler costs? Everything I can find online seems to be after market external cooler conversion kits.

[ssicarman]

Try this number 13101668 here http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=24

[krysla]

Did the job yesterday and so far so good! Thanks for everyones help.