Oil in radiator

[Kasraken]

Hello,

I have a 1990 300ZX coupe and it is not in the best of shape but it was running with some cooling problems here and there (replaced a lot of cooling lines with hose). Anyway it has had a brown filmy liquid showing up when I look in the radiator. I was told oil is leaking into the cooling system.

My question is what would cause this, what should I replace (head gasket, rear main seal, is it a sign that the block is cracked, or maybe the water pump is letting it in?) I don’t know where to start and I don’t have the money to fix all the problems on the car properly yet. So I just want to get it moving again and fix it up as I go.

Right now it is parked and I am walking (it is my only transportation besides the bus), so I want to get rolling again. Keep in mind I have less than $400 to spend at this time for repairs, what can I do (If anything).

Any help on what to try first is appreciated.

Car:
1990 300ZX Coupe (non turbo) 229,000 miles on engine, runs but overheats, brown filmy liquid floating in radiator.

Kas

[nd_aussie]

for starters do a leak down, second compression test. it is most likely your head gasket but if your going to change that, pull the motor, take it to a machine shop and resurface heads, and all the machine work on the motor. everyone else will tell you the same thing. 400$ isnt going to cut it i promise

[Kasraken]

Thanks for the reply,

So basically I cant just tear it down and replace the head gaskets and put it all back together in that price range I take it?

I am guessing other things will need to be done/bought to be able to change them and stop the oil from getting into the coolant? If so is there a list of things that I should / must do when changing the head gaskets.. keeping in mind I am not trying to create a new car but just keep an old one that I like running properly.

Kas

[Ace2cool]

If the head gasket is the official problem, then you could get out for about that price if you're doing the work yourself. If you're taking it to a shop, no way at all.