Does oil in the cooling system mean a blown head gasket?

I have a 96 Saturn SC and I had the Radiator replaced a few months ago. The car does not smoke and as of yet hasn't overheated.Does oil in the cooling system mean a blown head gasket?
It could very well be a blown head gasket; or a warped head. If the block were cracked you would probably have coolant in the oil.Does oil in the cooling system mean a blown head gasket?
To see if it is a blown gasket start your car with the rad cap off and leave it off.When it is a little warm look for bubbles in the water in the radiator.There will be some small bubbles which is normal but what you are ultamately looking for is biger ones like its almost burping. After you hav echecked that and your still unsure replace the rad cap and wander round to the exhaust and if it is steamy when the car is hot and this is best done at mid day and has water in the exhaust or the fumes are moist then it will be a gasket needing replacement. If your still not quite convinced pull out the plugs and look for signs of rust on and around the tips.This is also a sure fire way of finding out where it is the gasket is blown. It may also use water.If the car is an auto then it will have the tranny lines going into the rad.The rad also acts as a tranny cooler.If there is a leak from inside the oil in the rad will be whitish. But if its engine oil then it will be a caramel or poo colour.If you cant find any signs of the gasket bein blown then it maybe just whatever was in the new rad and wouldnt be to worried
Yes it does. If you keep driving it with oil in the engine it will blow your engine, you might have a head gasket problem, a ton of miles on the car. The head gasket will be the first thing for you to check out. See if the cylinder head has a crack in it or even the engine block. Have the cylinder head magnifluxed to see if it is cracked.
There is no oil available due to a blown head gasket. Oil does not linger in the combustion chamber. If these ';mekaniks'; would think before taking a wag (wild *** guess) there would be more correct answers. Oil in the radiator can only come from the tranny oil cooler located in the lower tank of the radiator. I would go back to whoever fixed your radiator and ask for warranty work. When you have cooling system problems go to a RADIATOR SHOP not an auto shop. And that's just the way it is.
If there is an oil cooler in the radiator it could be leaking. pull the radiator cap off and see if you get bubbles coming out. if there are bubbles it is the head gasket , if no it is the radiator rememberthe engine must be up to full operating temp.
Please understand, I am no mechanic. That said I belive that oil in your cooling system does indicate a blown head gasket.





I don't see any other possibility.