02 Tacoma with orange bubbles in oil

I was doing a routine oil change on my 02 3.4 when I noticed orange/rust color bubbles coming out of my oil pan when drained. Oil didn't seem cloudy as would indicate a blown head gasket but it looked as it always does at a 5k mile change, plus the orange bubbles. Anyone have any idea what this could be? Should I check the coolant to see if there is contamination? The radiator looks full when I open the cap so it doesn't seem as though anything is leaking. This truck is at 207K miles and is in need of a timing belt change soon. Should I just do the head gasket while Im at it? Thanks

 

hmmmmmm that is interesting. Ive never heard of it. Hopefully someone with more knowledge comes around haha. goodluck

 

Your radiator will show full until there is no more reserve coolant in the overflow tank. If you are losing coolant, every time the engine cools, it takes a little from the overflow until there is no more to take, then the radiator shows the loss.
Mark the overflow with a sharpie when cold. Check it again, only when cold. Might take a week to see it dropping.

 

Does the oil smell of fuel?

 

Get a kit from black stone labs and get a used oil analysis done. You'll have to wait till your next oil change since you've already changed it. It will give you some info if some thing is going on.

 

The oil didn't smell of fuel as far as I noticed. Would it be worth it for me to do a combustion leak test with the rad?

 

It could just be nothing...

When your oil splashes into the catch container, it will foam and bubble a bit. Some of these bubbles will look orange-ish, as the surface tension thins the outside of the bubble. Your oil was light amber when you put it in. It got cooked, and a variety of burnt nasties got mixed in. When it comes out, it will look somewhere between amber-orange-brown-black.

Anyway, im not trying to be a dick, but it may actually be nothing at all.

If you're concerned, send a sample into blackstone labs.

 

I probably will have an oil sample sent in soon. With 200k+ miles on the truck I'm sure it'll be worth the 25 bucks.

 

I agree with this...

There have been a few times with my vehicles or motorcycle I have drained the oil and thought WTF? Dirt and other debri or old separated oil remains in my drain pan have cause a few worry moments. I'm not too good about super cleaning my drain pan after a change...

But like stated, take a sample from the drain stream and send off to get an analysis if you are really worried about it. Always good to know. They can tell you all sorts of things about your motor with it.