81cali

I changed my valve covers yesterday and noticed milky colored substances in there. Could this be just precipitation or something bad. my motor barely has 200 miles. I pulled the dipstick and it wasn't milky, also checked radiator if there was oil........nothing. What are your opinions?

Twin_Turbo

where is the milky substance located? if it's around a breather it could be from moisture outside but if it's on the heads themselves I fear you have a bigger problem somewhere. Drain the oil and see what comes out.

MYBAD79

It's not too unusual to see condensation inside the oil filler cap or on the valve covers, especially after lots of short distance driving.
If the oil on the dipstick is not milky then it's very likely not a serious problem.

Drive the car, make sure to heat the engine and oil up and keep it at operating temperature for a while (20 minutes or so), then drain the oil and see what comes out

81cali

the car is barely driven, just short trips to the market sometimes, a mile or two away and back. The substance was around the valve covers. Sometimes, I would just start her up for 10 minutes or so in the garage just to make sure the battery doesn't die on me but that's it. I will drain the oil and find out.

Jud Chapin

This is the worst way to care for an engine. These short trips are murderous on engines (and exhaust systems) as they never fully warm up and condensation is never burned off. This very well may be your problem.

MYBAD79

Don't bother draining the oil - with your driving habits it's absolutely normal to have water (condensation) in the oil.

Bring the engine up to temperature and keep it there for some time....10 minutes at idle is not enough to boil the moisture .....drive the car for 20 minutes, check oil level and color.... it'll be fine

karioth

high performance cars were meant to be driven, my bro is a mechanic and says the performance model audis that get driven hard almost never have problems, the one that are owned by wives for trips to the market are always in with weird problems

81cali

I wish I could drive her the way I used to. Now that I'm disabled and a single dad, it's the most I can do. Then again, maybe I can have my son drive me around....

Wuttin

This will more likely kill the battery. Unless the car is running at highway speeds, with full voltage output from the alternator, all you're doing is draining the system. If you're worried about the battery dying, the better bet is to get a quick disconnect and a battery tender.

best of luck,
Steve

81cali

With all of that said, I guess it won't hurt to have my son drive her to work once in a while which is a good 25 miles one way.

Jud Chapin

I think that's the ticket. I personally don't take any of my cars out of the garage without driving at least 30 minutes. Good luck with your new engine.

redvetracr

...redvetracr

TotalC1971

You may also want to switch to synthetic oil. It doesnt contribute to as much condensation.

BB72

Change the oil. Your dipstick may not be long enough to reach any oil/water (cream of mushroom soup goop) mixture at the bottom of the pan. So you don't wipe out your bearings it's better to spend $20 on an oil change than wonder if you should be driving the car. They're probably right about the moisture/condensation but it would be expensive if they're not.

81cali

Good point there since you just reminded me that I'm using my old dipstick from the orig motor with the vortec that I now have in.

MYBAD79

You'll always have condensation, no matter what oil you use.

It is also normal to have small amount of water in the oil after short distance driving - once the oil reaches temperature the water is gone.

I'd run the engine for a while and then drain the oil. If you change the oil now, the sludge (if there is any) in the pan won't come out and contaminate the fresh oil......

.... and yes, make sure to use a dipstick that fits :-)

81cali

I'll have to check on that dipstick. I wonder if there's any difference in length.......