Weird, changed oil and...

[EliteConcept]

hey ya'll
i change my oil and filter every 3,000 miles with no exceptions.
So last night and i was unscrewing the oil plug and once i got it out i looked at it and it had, like a creamy light brown liquid on the end of it.. I thought this was rather weird.
anyone know what that stuff is????


just wondering if that could be bad.

thanks
ryan

 

[Teachertim]

Someone here may know more about this than me, but every time I've seen water mixed with oil it is creamy brown...almost like a chocolate milkshake.

Hopefully someone will chime in who knows about this.

Best of luck.

 

[FMExplorer]

Water or antifreeze - check your radiator levels.... could be the start of something unpleasant.

Jon

 

[JDraper]

That's usually an indication of water in your oil. If it's a very small amount, it could be condensation. Larger amounts usually mean something bad like a cracked head, blown head gasket, lower intake gasket, etc.

You might want to run a compression test on the motor. If it comes out ok, I'd look at the lower intake gasket. That seems to be a common problem area.

 

[EliteConcept]

ah,
like i said it was just on the very end of the oil plug screw...i watched as the oil drained and it looked fine....and i looked at it in the pan when it was done and it looked black...it was just on the end of the plug...werid.

where would i get a compression test done at?
how much?

thanks
ryan

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by EliteConcept
where would i get a compression test done at?
how much?

Any mechanic shop can do it. I don't know what they would charge, I would just go purchase a compression testor from an aito parts house and do it yourself.

It a good tool to jave anyway. They are not expensive.

Good luck.....

 

[IgotTwo]

It sure sounds like something is leaking.

A fast and dirty test:
Heat up the engine and shut it down
Pull the dip stick out
Put a couple of drops of oil on the exhaust manifold (find a hot spot with a good line of sight)
If it smokes away with no residue... you should be OK
If it fizzles (faint vapor bubbles) and smokes off -
non friendlies may be present in the oil.

 

[JDraper]

Originally posted by EliteConcept
ah,
like i said it was just on the very end of the oil plug screw...i watched as the oil drained and it looked fine....and i looked at it in the pan when it was done and it looked black...it was just on the end of the plug...werid.

where would i get a compression test done at?
how much?

thanks
ryan

If it's only on the very end of the oil plug, it may just be condensation. By any chance did you go through some cold water with the engine hot?? If so, that could have formed some condensation in the motor.

A compression gauge shouldn't cost you more than 15-30 bucks for a basic model. Make sure you get one that screws into the spark plug hole, not one that you hold against the hole.

Doing a compression check is pretty easy. Look at Dead Link Removed , and it's also in any of the repair manuals.

 

[IgotTwo]

Re: Compression test
Try looking for an spark plug insert (I think it is 14mm? ?)you can get them at a parts place along with a 1/4 shorty brass pipe to screw in there...and set up your guage with a quick change fittings.
It gets you away from the spark plug shieldings and a makes a tight fit ...... the insert and pipe goes into the plug whole with a deep socket then screw on a quick change. Then pop on the guage. After fussing a bit, I ended up with quick change set ups with a straighty and one on a 45 elbow that I hook up to the gauge.

A Short hose with a quick change can work too... but don't go doubling the cyclinder volume haha!

Hey! I usually end up having to do stuff like that my myself.

 

[EliteConcept]

Yes actually it had been rainning here for like 4 days stright right before i changed my oil...

is there any symptoms that might lead me to believe it needs a compression test?

 

[Commtech]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, the only source of water in engine to cause trouble would be the cooling system (short of some condensation or water introduced through openings such as dipstick or oil fill cap). Wouldnt't a pressure test done on radiator show a crack or bad seal also. Seems this would be easier than removing each plug and checking. Just a thought.
Mark