So I decide to pop the hood to see if I have to empty my oil separator. To my surprise it was full to the top! But when I took it off I see there is no oil in it but rather a foamy liquid. It looked like and had the consistency of swamp water. The only reason I can think of is it has been very very cold out latley (-20 degrees F) and my truck never reaches operating temp due to the fact that I have a 160 hypertech stat. I even got the check engine light on and when I checked the code it was the one that has to do with it taking too long to reach normal operating temps. Should I be worried?

Here are some pics.

 

It's probably just moisture due to the truck never warming up as you said. I hope it's not coolant.

 

Mine has the same stuff in it too, just not as much.

 

Nope its not coolant. I am pretty sure its foamy water.

I posted this on the NLOC and some one replied that it was water and thats why you shouldnt run a 160 stat

Why have I never heard about this before?

 

its wax from oil

 

I started a thread about the same 'stuff' or froth that I found on the bottom of my oil filler cap and in the oil filler tube. The consenses of opinion was it is moisture and by-products or contaminants in the oil that shows up due to the cold weather.

I too have a 160 degree 'stat but this is the first time since I bought my 01 L that this has shown up. Most agree it's nothing to worry about.

Dan

 

yup I saw that thread. I had a sludge in my separator before and knew that was from the cold weather. I think now that its even colder there is a lot of moisture in the motor and it is never getting hot enough to disapate so it is accumulating in the separator.

Thanks for the help guys. I guess I will just empty out the separator every few days for this winter and next winter I will swap the stock stat back in for the few months.