i was checking my oil today as i have not done so in about two months. i took off the cap and there was a kinda thick white substance on the cap and around the top of the tank. could someone please help me out about what this is, why it is there, and how i get rid of it???

 

It is water in the oil. My truck does the same thing, it is condensation that builds up inside the motor, and it goes to the highest point in the motor which is the cap. It shouldn't hurt anything, because from what I know all these trucks do it under the right conditions.

and if you were thinking you had a blown head gasket don't worry, I thought the same thing when I saw it...

 

I have seen this quite a bit when I worked as a mechanic. It usually is from just minor moisture and no big deal. If your oil looks normal then just clean the cap off with brake cleaner or such and you should be ok. But keep an eye on it just in case. If your oil is milky. you have a bad head gasket.

 

oh okay, thanks a lot!

 

I would change your oil just to make sure its not all like that. If it comes out lookin like moca coffee then your have a problem.

 

Not water in the oil lol, but it's normal. It's a by-product of combustion that isn't given the time to go full cycle. Change your oil more often, this can contaminate eventually.

 

normal during cooler ambiant temps. if the oil on the dipstick is good dont worry. every vehicle i pull into the shop during the winter is like this. the oil cap is tucked up in that tube so hot oil does not hit it to wash it off, infact before starting your vehicle both valve covers would look like that as well.

 

Yea, you might want to keep an eye on your PCV systems when it's not burning off. They can get plugged, -even mess around with the IAC if it gets bad enough. - In the older models anyway.

 

I also saw this in both my '97 and '03 F150s. For me it never seem tied to length of time or distance between oil changes. I have not seen this in my '07.

 

That's because it has nothing to do with it.

 

Funny I just bought my truck less than a week ago and checked the cap today and saw some milkshake. My first thought was headgasket but it really wasn't enough to worry about and the dipstick oil is clear so I'm not worried. Some motors just produce more inside condensation than others.

 

suprised no one has commented on the title of this thread. haha im impressed.

 

I have the same thing and got the same answers... no one said do a search dumb a$$ like they did me??? Man I need a hug =)

Ok maybe no one called me a dumb a$$ but that's is what I felt like lol...

 

 

i went to change my oil the other day and had this same white liquid. i flipped out because it was only my second oil cahnge since i bought the truck used and thought i blew the gasket already. my dad works with engine all the time on crames and says its normal under condisation conditions. oh man was i scared lol and to top it all off he wasnt picking his phone up lol. oil checked out perfectly

glad to know this happens in all the trucks. never had it happen in any of my other vehicles so it took me by suprise.. :S