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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Weird looking oil in oil cap

  • Thread starter Thread starter mode101
  • Start date Start date Jan 21, 2007
M

mode101

Member
Apr 13, 2003
202
0
16
Dallas, TX
Jan 21, 2007
#1
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #1
I was just changing my oil, and saw something I have never seen before. In the oil filler cap, the oil in there looked like it was coffee foam. It was like creamy brown looking. The oil coming out was black, and didnt look strange. Attached is a pic.

This is normal i hope?

 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Jan 21, 2007
#2
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #2
Yeah......it's what happens when condensation mixes with the oil. It's usually caused by driving for short periods of time, without sufficiently warming up your car (trip to the local corner store, to get the mail, etc). If you pulled the dipstic and saw that in your crank case, I'd be concerned you had a head gasket problem. But as it is, it's probably only a little moisture.
 
M

mode101

Member
Apr 13, 2003
202
0
16
Dallas, TX
Jan 21, 2007
#3
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #3
Thanks Brian. Thats exactly what happened. I drove around the neighborhood a short distance to get the oil temp up to change the oil.
 

Corey04GT

New Member
Jan 16, 2006
11
0
0
Winnipeg,Manitoba Canada
Jan 21, 2007
#4
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #4
Same thing under my oil cap
 

sgarlic

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2001
3,085
1
56
Jan 21, 2007
#5
  • Jan 21, 2007
  • #5
As said above, and in addition, if you live in a really humid climate that happens. I never see that hear in AZ on any of my vehicles, but took a 3 week trip back to Wisconsin last year, and had it within a few days (even with sufficiently warmed up trips each time.)
 
G

GettinThere

Member
Jul 29, 2005
553
1
19
Central Texas
Jan 22, 2007
#6
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #6
mode101 said:
I was just changing my oil, and saw something I have never seen before. In the oil filler cap, the oil in there looked like it was coffee foam. It was like creamy brown looking. The oil coming out was black, and didnt look strange. Attached is a pic.

This is normal i hope?
Click to expand...

Amazing that this is exactly what I experienced this weekend. At first I was a little alarmed, then someone suggested condensation. The car had been sitting in the garage, undriven for about two weeks. It has been cold with a lot of rain/sleet.
 

Nater

New Member
Sep 5, 2003
239
0
0
Maplewood, MN
Jan 22, 2007
#7
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #7
I have seen it on all my cars because of the winter conditions here in MN. No worry. It seems to go away when it gets drier out.
 

CobraRed_96_GT

Active Member
May 20, 2006
1,421
4
39
UCSD/La Jolla
Jan 22, 2007
#8
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #8
Nater said:
I have seen it on all my cars because of the winter conditions here in MN. No worry. It seems to go away when it gets drier out.
Click to expand...

word, this is a common problem surfacing around winter times, or in hot and humid enviroments. I don't believe there's anyway to avoid it to my knowlege besides letting your car warm up
 

whyask

New Member
Apr 4, 2005
735
1
0
Sacramento
Jan 22, 2007
#9
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #9
Gearbanger101....I CANT MY EYES OFF IT !!!!!!!!
 

BurningRubber

10 Year Member
Dec 6, 2004
1,865
24
58
Jan 22, 2007
#10
  • Jan 22, 2007
  • #10
Happened to me the first time the other day also, but not quite that bad.
 
M

MBDiagMan

Member
Sep 22, 2006
171
2
19
Lamar County, Texas
Jan 23, 2007
#11
  • Jan 23, 2007
  • #11
This is one of the many reasons you change oil. There are additives in the oil to deal with moisture build up. These additives are particularly necessary for cars that go short hops in cool climates such as we've had in Dallas/Fort Worth for the last couple of weeks.

This is one of the reasons that oil should be changed more frequently in vehicles that do not get thoroughly warmed up each time they are driven. For a car that is driven about 20 to 25 miles or more at a time, you will usually not see this because the moisture gets boiled out of the oil.

Change oil hot and change oil often!
 
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