Then again, maybe I can have my son drive me around....
milky substance
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
milky substance
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?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
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.
Last edited by Twin_Turbo; Jan 22, 2007 at 11:19 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
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
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
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 841
Likes: 0
From: High Desert California
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.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
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.
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
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
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 
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
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From: Hamilton NJ
best of luck,
Steve
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
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.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: WI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
For a piece of mind...
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
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 :-)
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 :-)
