Nissan Repair: mixing oil and coolant, head gasket failure, timing chain

Question
I have a 1989 maxima w/3.0 mixing oil and coolant.  I have removed both cylinder heads and see no signs of head gasket failure.  Could it still be the gasket

Answer
Charles,

If you had a later engine with a timing chain I would say the water pump has failed.  But, since yours has a timing belt I would look at the drain back holes first in the gasket.  Second, I would look at other areas where the two fluids get close to one another.  Check to make sure that the transmission fluid is not getting into the coolant via the radiator.  Email me back and let me know if the coolant is in the oil and the oil looks like creamer in coffee or that you see the coolant with oil in it.