just like the topic says, i found what appeared to be coolant on the inside of my oil filler cap. i would assume that any coolant in this area is bad? what should i do? '01 28k miles.

thx
eric

 

If you do not drive your truck often or only make real short trips theres a good chance its just condensation, If you get it up to operating temperature often then its a bad bad sign. Possible causes are blown headgasket, warped or cracked head or a cracked liner.

 

Buildup of sludge under filler cap is normal. Condition is caused by normal heating, cooling cycle which produces condensation. Wpie it off and be happy

 

should it be green though?

and yes, i found it after pulling the truck out from the winter... first thing i do is change the fluids and filters.

 

I would think it to be more grayish-white. Check down the filler and see if you have any residue on the rockers

 

after i checked it, after having changed the oil after the winter, it didn't appear to be green, but more like the grayish-white you are mentioning... i didn't peak down into the cover though, i'll take a look.

 

If you have water in the oil, you will see it on the dip stick as well. Plus there would be an abundance of the off white liquid sitting on top of the oil you drained in the the catch pan. It may or may not have a green, blue, orange or what ever tent depending on the color of your coolant.

Good luck.

 

if its bad, it could be a seeping head gasket.

 

Let the motor run long enough for the exhaust manifolds / headers to get good and hot. Pull dipstick and place a drop or tool on the hot exhaust. If it only smokes and disappears you are good. If it boils and smokes. you have water in the oil and are not good. Water in oil will form an emulsion which gives it the white color you sometimes see. If you see a lot of this inside the valve cover, like sludge, you have a lot of water.

 

well, i don't think i've ever put any coolant in my truck. if i have, i don't remember when. point being, i'm not having to add coolant. so i would assume that means it's not pouring into the cylinders.

i'll try your test.

 

actully if its not alot... its prolly a leaky oil cooler...

 

what year is your truck? 99-00?

 

'01

 

i wasn't aware the oil cooler carried coolant...

 

BobsL...good point.

Or

-You can drain some out and have it tested. Some local truck stops have on the spot sample testing. Or you can always send it out to a test facility but it takes up to a week or 2 sometimes.

-Let the truck sit overnight. Water/coolant will sink to the bottom. Drain some out and see what it looks like.