engine and drivetrain Coolant in oil = ruined main/rod bearings?

[digdoug]

Good Afternoon,

Someone posted in a thread somewhere - I can't seem to find it now - that if you have a head gasket failure and coolant has mixed in with oil, that coolant will end up in the spaces between rod and bearings, causing failure of those areas and requiring a short block rebuild.

 

Is this true?

Edited August 28, 2016 by digdoug

[Simeon]

if the coolant is left to stand, or if you do a lot of driving with emulsified oil.  No hard and fasts but if you get the oil drained in a reasonable time and fix your head gasket you will be fine.

[Preyupy]

Water is a poor lubricant AND it promotes rust!!! Like Siemon said if you catch it soon enough you are much less likely to do any damage, no had and fast rules if there is water in the oil DEAL WITH IT NOW.  

[TobyB]

Yeah. 

 

And the coolant attacks the metals in the bearing shells, too, so as soon as you spot it, fix it.

 

But you usually survive just fine, 'cause the M10 bottom end is far tougher than the Ford Taurus's was...

 

t