White stuff in oil
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
Re: White stuff in oil (Ben Taylor)
Had a truck once thathad the same thing happening. White stuff did turn out to be water in the oil. Previous owner of the truck must have overheated and warped the head (4 cyl) causing the leak.
[Modified by CWUin82, 2:11 PM 1/19/2002]
[Modified by CWUin82, 2:11 PM 1/19/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
Re: White stuff in oil (Ben Taylor)
It isn't snow!! :D
Either you are leaking water or if there is only a small amount it could be condensation.
If you are driving the car regularly (as in completely warming it up) it is probably a water leak.
Terry
sorry no good news with water in the oil.
Either you are leaking water or if there is only a small amount it could be condensation.
If you are driving the car regularly (as in completely warming it up) it is probably a water leak.
Terry
sorry no good news with water in the oil.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 405
Likes: 31
From: Houston, Texas
Re: White stuff in oil (Ben Taylor)
FYI
I had the same problem on a recently rebuilt 440 Chrysler in a Century Coronado ski boat. We re-torked the head and added "Bar's Leak (a radiator stop-leak that has been around for years) to the cooling system. No more oil in the cap or valve covers. We followed with severial oil changes after 5 or so hours to clean the system.
I had the same problem on a recently rebuilt 440 Chrysler in a Century Coronado ski boat. We re-torked the head and added "Bar's Leak (a radiator stop-leak that has been around for years) to the cooling system. No more oil in the cap or valve covers. We followed with severial oil changes after 5 or so hours to clean the system.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Pampa Tx
Re: White stuff in oil (Milest)
There is an easy way to find out if it is a cooling system leak. Go to a good parts store and see if they have a radiator cap tester. Most of these testers can also be used to check the cooling system by placing the pump and test cap on the radiator. Then pump it up to ~15 psig. If it holds pressure you are most likely ok, but if it don't it :U then it is either tear down or ZZ4 time.
Phlash 72 BB Roadster
Phlash 72 BB Roadster
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Toronto Ontario
Re: White stuff in oil (Phlash)
Alwasys replace the thrmo-stat with at least a 180 or even better 192. Your engine is running to cold can't evaporate the moisture from the oil. That white crud you are seeing is an acid compound eating away at the insite of your engine.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Camino CA
Re: White stuff in oil (73-454)
I do drive my car all the time, so it's not condensation. I did notice that I was loosing some coolant, would replacing the head gaskets fix this? Or will I need new heads?
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Golden Colo.
Re: White stuff in oil (Ben Taylor)
Ben,
I had this problem with my truck several years ago. During the winter months I would get the white gunk on dip stick, inside valve covers, ect. Had presure tests done on cooling system to check for leaks all was good. I don't know how or why but I cured the problem by replacing the $2.00 PVC valve. Give it a try before pulling heads. I haven't had a problem since. :chevy
I had this problem with my truck several years ago. During the winter months I would get the white gunk on dip stick, inside valve covers, ect. Had presure tests done on cooling system to check for leaks all was good. I don't know how or why but I cured the problem by replacing the $2.00 PVC valve. Give it a try before pulling heads. I haven't had a problem since. :chevy
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
Re: White stuff in oil (Ben Taylor)
I do drive my car all the time, so it's not condensation. I did notice that I was loosing some coolant, would replacing the head gaskets fix this? Or will I need new heads?
At the very least get your coolant system pressure tested, As to places where it is leaking - if the engine still runs smooth and you do not have white smoke coming out the tailpipe then it is not a head gasket. At least not a blown gasket in the traditional sense - although the gasket could be leaking into the lifter valley as opposed to one of the cyliders.
The most likely place is an intake manifold leak = remove the intake and look inside the lifter valley - the condition of the gaskets at the four corners of the manifold will tell if its leaking there, also there would be a lot of the white stuff there as well.
If you have water in the oil dont drive it.
[Modified by fauxrs, 8:30 AM 1/20/2002]
