Coolant in the oil?

Tiny
BYRONWADE
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD F-150
I have condensation in my oil cap it is a milky color, what is wrong?
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Sunday, December 27th, 2009 AT 6:34 PM

29 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
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I recommend you replace the PCV valve and be warming up your vehicle properly before you move it-caused by moisture.

If not condensation could be coolant leaking into the crankcase
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Sunday, December 27th, 2009 AT 6:49 PM
Tiny
LTMULLINAX
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  • 3 POSTS
  • 2000 FORD F-150
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
When I had my oil change there was white milky water on my oil cap. Everyday, since there it has been the same; however, there is no water showing on my dipstick when I check my oil, what all could this be?
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FORD MAN
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Coolant mixed with oil. Most likely caused by blown or leaky head gaskets.

Ford Man in Michigan
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LTMULLINAX
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It does not look like coolant just water. What do I need to do to figure this out? I heard that is could be condensation, is this true? If it is a leaky or blown head gasket, how expensive it that repair?
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FORD MAN
  • MEMBER
  • 115 POSTS
Could be condensation. Does the motor get to operating temp for more than a few minutes each time you drive this truck? Do you live in a really damp or wet area? Is the milky substance white, or more towards a creamy color? Cost depends on the area you live in, here where I am.(Depending on motor size).A couple hundred bucks plus parts.

Ford Man
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AAOWENS17
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  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 FORD F-150
  • 84,000 MILES
Hey guys, I am having a problem with my 2003 ford f-150. I am getting coolant in the oil. It only shows up on engine cap, but not on dip stick. I've done a pressure test on all cylinder heads. Had no leak. Ive heard that on the 5.4 l have had some problem?

I have no idea why this has happened I just am hoping it ain't a blown head

Great site :-)
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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If it's only showing up on the cap it's only condensation and nothing to worry about.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
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WHAT YOU ARE SEEING PROBABLY LOOKS LIKE "WHITISH" OR "YELLOWISH"!

COMBUSTION PRODUCES ALL KINDS OF GASSES, TO INCLUDE WATER VAPOR

"BLOW-BY" IS WHERE SOME OF THIS STUFF SORTA "GETS PAST" THE PISTON RINGS AND "SEEPS" INTO YOUR CRANKCASE (IF WE LIVED IN A PERFECT WORLD, THIS WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!)

BUT IT DOES, NEW OR OLD ENGINE, THE MORE WEAR, MAYBE THE WORSE BLOW-BY IS

YOUR POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) REMOVES THE GASSES, THEN SORTA RE-BURNS THEM, AS SOME OF THESE GASES ARE CORROSIVE (THE WHOLE REASON, THE PCV IS THERE, IS TO REMOVE THEM)

INSURE THE PVC SYSTEM IS STILL CONNECTED CORRECTLY, MAKE SURE THE PCV VALVE OPERATES (IT'S SORTA A TUNE-UP EXPENDABLE ITEM, THAT MAY BE OVERDUE ON REPLACEMENT)

THE SOURCE FROM WHICH THE VACUUM COMES FROM, COULD BE PARTIALLY BLOCKED, AS IT ENTERS TE MANIFOLD. ON MY JEEP, THIS WAS THE CASE A LONG TIME AGO, I HAD GOOD VACUUM ON A GAUGE---JUST NOT ENOUGH FLOW. THERE WAS GRAYISH/ SILVERY BUILD-UP IN THE "N. IPPLE" AT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD. AFTER CRUNCHING IT OUT, I HAD TO READJUST THE CARB. IT WAS GETTING CORRECT AIRFLOW NOW, IT HAD BE ADJUSTED EARLIER WITH THE WRONG FLOW OF AIR. THE "SNOT" SOON DISAPPEARED FROM MINE.

CAN YOU HANDLE IT, OR DO YOU MAYBE NEED DIAGRAMS OR SUCH?

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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If you have foam on the cap, it is condensation, nothing else. Blowby has absolutely nothing to do with it. Please ignore the previous answer.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
HAD TO WIPE THE SNOT OFF OF MY MONITOR

SEE THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Jb_sfpZsI

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LTMULLINAX
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  • 3 POSTS
  • 2000 FORD F-150
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
It does not look like coolant just water. What do I need to do to figure this out? I heard that is could be condensation, is this true? If it is a leaky or blown head gasket, how expensive it that repair?
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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It could be either. Keep an eye on the coolant level to determine if it is going low. Next, try replacing the PCV to eliminate condensation. Finally, expect around 600.00 for a headgasket.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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Again. PCV and/or blowby have absolutely nothing to do with moisture or coolant inside the filler cap.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
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DO AS YOU WISH

WIPE THE SNOT ON YOUR PANTS LEG AND DRIVE ON, AS SUGGESTED

. OR INVESTIGATE WHY YOUR TRUCK HAS SNOT AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S DOES NOT

I ONLY TRY TO HELP, AND GIVE OPTIONS

THE MEDIC
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AAOWENS17
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I will change the pdf tomorrow. But the milky substance isn't foam its like a runny goo. When this first started I noticed it and my trucked started running really hot. So I assumed it was a head gasket. I tried this stuff called steal seal. And all systems went away for about 1a year. Now I am getting that goo again and I called steal seal and they sent me another set of sealer to try again. Well now I have a oil leak somewhere high near top of engine. But no overheating yet. Should I get the pcv and pinpoint leak to c if that fixed problem or should I try something different?
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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There is no such thing as "mechanic in a can". All those additives will end up doing is plugging up the rest of your system. I'll say again, the guy posting that stuff about PCVs and blow-by is not a mechanic and way off the mark with that advice. If you truly have a blown head gasket, which I doubt, you need to remove the head and repair it properly but it requires a lot mot testing first to find out if that is even the case.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BOBBY7711
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  • 1 POST
  • 1999 FORD F-150
  • 5.4L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 275,000 MILES
Could a failed intake gasket let water get into the oil
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
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It depends on the engine. If coolant passages go through the intake, as they used to do on V-8 engines, a leak could occur between a coolant passage and an oil drain-back hole. There would be no oil pressure there, but the coolant could get up to 15 psi and get pushed into the oil passage.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HRS1
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  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD F-150
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 77,000 MILES
4.6 romeo vin(w) only symptom is coolant in oil(alot, 8qts in approx 15miles). No drivability issues other than when coolant gets low engine heats up. Ran some tests suspect faulty head/head gasket. Removed heads, both measure straight and gasket shows no apparent signs of crossleak
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi there,

check the tops of the pistons for wash, that is the carbon deposits on the piston are washed clean, this is a sign of coolant in that cylinder. The coolant becomes superheated steam and cleans the piston. Also have the heads crack tested as this is often overlooked.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Thursday, June 18th, 2020 AT 1:09 PM (Merged)

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