White stuff in engine oil

DrW7000 · 03-11-2002

Hello,
I have about 11,000 km's on my '01civic and when I went to fill up gas today, I checked the oil and noticed there was some white liquid pasty stuff on the oil dip stick. There's also some on the underside of the oil fill cap. I just got an oil change from the dealer about 2 weeks ago and I'm pretty sure that white stuff wasn't there before.

Can anyone tell me what that white stuff is, how it got there, and is it bad for my car? Thanks for your time.

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Diznavis · 03-11-2002

that doesnt sound good, i think im gonna check mine tomorrow and see if i notice anything like that

drbombay · 03-11-2002

That is very bad news. There's probably water in your oil. Get it checked out fast. Possible cause: blown head gasket.

avenger · 03-13-2002

<< That is very bad news. There's probably water in your oil. Get it checked out fast. Possible cause: blown head gasket. >>

yep, water in the oil... and yep, probably a blown head gasket....

mattskav · 03-13-2002

its miller time [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG]

Ronin · 03-13-2002

<< its miller time >>

Don't be so quick to celebrate other people's problems, they might be yours someday.

sailorboy · 03-13-2002

Get it checked ASAP. You should also check your rad level right away. It's probably low and getting lower if your head gasket is blown. Don't cook your engine and add to your problems.

SuziQ · 03-13-2002

<< its miller time [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG] >>

that's funny as a mofo!!

i may not be water in the oil...it could be that the oil was overfilled. do you have white smoke behind your car constantly?

avenger · 03-13-2002

<< i may not be water in the oil...it could be that the oil was overfilled. do you have white smoke behind your car constantly? >>

how would overfilling the oil cause the oil to get white and pasty? and white smoke would be a fuel problem, blue smoke is oil...

el edit: mayo can also be caused by driving really short trips a lot and never letting the thing warm up

GooseEX · 03-14-2002

Another way to confirm head gasket leak is check radiator for the white pasty also.

mattskav · 03-14-2002

<<

<< its miller time >>

Don't be so quick to celebrate other people's problems, they might be yours someday. >>

Actually they already were mine.....

SuziQ · 03-14-2002

<< how would overfilling the oil cause the oil to get white and pasty? and white smoke would be a fuel problem, blue smoke is oil... >>

BLACK SMOKE is a fuel problem
WHITE SMOKE could be water in oil..hence as the water gets to the exhaust you get white smoke like u do on cold mornings
BLUE SMOKE-oil

overfilling the oil can cause the oil to foam up in the head as the cams are frothing up the extra oil.

avenger · 03-14-2002

frothed oil and mayonaise are two different things, and white condensation = water but white smoke = misfiring cylinder

einstein · 03-14-2002

Chances are you have been taking a lot of short trips with your car. Water is a natural by-product of combustion. If you don't drive at least 5-10 miles per trip (further in cold weather), your oil will get pasty white residue because the whole engine doesn't get a chance to get hot enough to vaporize the water that collected from condensed vapor.

Short trips are hard on a car because the water that collects in the engine can combine with other by-products and produce acid. Also because it rusts out your exhaust.

SuziQ · 03-14-2002

damn its einstein!

einstein · 03-14-2002

Yeah It's Me... I've been hiding

TYPE7RS · 03-15-2002

<< its miller time [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG] >>

WTF?!?!?

Getting water out of the motor isn't easy nor is it fun.
Sorry this had to happen man