So in the never ending search for coolant leak, how can I tell if there is coolant in my oil without actually draining it? I looked at the oil on the dipstick and it looks normal not "milky". I also looked at my oil fill cap and it is clean. It also smells like oil mixed with a little gas not coolant. No smoke from my tail pipe either.

I am going to change my oil this weekend because I just did my head gaskets but I don't have time until then. Does it sound like I am safe from my description?

 

Yes it does.
If you had coolant in the oil you would know it unless you have not been driving it...if ti cant get hot and get miked in with the oil it wont turn milky.
When you drain the oil if there is coolant in the crank case it will drain out before the oil because oil floats ontop of coolant.
So pay very close attention to the condition of the oil when you remove the drain plug.

 

Yes I have driven it about 150 miles since I fixed it. I just keep an eye on the coolant level and oil color and compulsively check my temp gauge. I have no choice with the drive I live about 35 miles from Buffalo and I'm teaching a couple chemistry classes at the state college this summer.

I have a feeling the leak is going to be in either the front engine cover gasket or the water pump gasket. But you never know I may have not put a good enough bead of AVP on the valley pan. I am hoping the me the garage can tell me some more after they test it. I will keep an eye for coolant when I change the oil this weekend.

 

Well got it pressure tested today and the shop said there were no leaks at all. Weird as I definitely was losing fluid. I am going to do the water pump gasket and maybe the engine cover gasket.

 

To replace the front cover gasket you will need to remove the oil pan.

 

Yeah I kinda figured. It looks like it has been done before poorly.