so i was just checking my fluids today (usually do once or twice a month at least) and i noticed when i popped my hood that the oil in my oil seperator was discolored and didnt look right (kinda creamy colored but not bright). so i twisted off the oil cap and i could see a lil of it on the oil cap too. now i figured hmm mebe moisture in the oil? when i pulled my dip stick i smelled the oil cuz i just came home from church and it smelled fine, level was perfect but the oil wasnt hot to the touch, it was just warm. does this sound normal? my oil pressure has been great, usually around 50psi at idle in drive and when im accelerating its around 73psi. sitting it park it is right around 60ish...so the level and pressure is fine, oil smells normal and looks normal on the dip stick, but in the seperator its not and under the cap there is a lil hint of creamy color and its not getting hot. i took it out for a 30+ min ride and still didnt get any warmer than it was...any ideas please? i just changed the oil less than a 1000 miles ago...using motorcraft 5w-20 with one quart of lucas oil stabalizer like always and a motorcraft oil filter. any ideas comments or anything would be greatly appreciated

 

Well, what it sounds like to me is that you have a head gasket going out and allowing antifreeze into the oil! It is a pretty common problem with the 5.4 not sure how many miles yours has but it is usually only the higher mileage ones...I work at a used car lot and buy for them at the auctions so that is what I was told to look for when buying a ford with a 5.4.....however I am no professional so please take it and have it pressure tested any avg joe shop can do this for you! Good luck...they are expensive if that is what you have to fix!

 

hmm i dunno, im not losing any coolant anywhere tho...anyone else with any ideas?

 

anyone at all with any other ideas? i kno its not head gaskets, ive got full heat in the truck, there is no white smoke, the pressure is good on everything....what else could it be? just general winter moisture? especially with all the oil on the dip stick lookin and smellin normal?

 

Yep you guessed it, the creamy looking substance under you oil fill cap is just general winter moisture. A Perfectly normal ocurrence. You'll probably see this question come up several times during the course of the winter on this (entire) site, it does every year.

 

thanks, anything that can be done to prevent this?

 

Move someplace where it doesn't get cold.

 

Throw in a 195 degree thermostat. Take it out when it warms up. In Alberta, I've have my oil separator system freeze up at the drain hose and blow off the fitting where it drains back into the emgine. I could probably collect at least 1/2 cup of crap that looks like Lubriplate and another 1/4 cup of water out of the drain line. I've never had to add coolant and it's always right where it should be. The higher temp thermostat helps a bit but hasn't cured the problem. Maui would likely eliminate the need for the higher temp thermostat.

 

lol yea, if only the temp was like maui everywhere...that would solve all issues when it comes to bein cold

 

an 03 should already have a 195 in it.

 

unless its already been swapped out for a 160 or 180 like i did :-)