I changed my oil last week ('04 4X4 Screw) and notice some white gunk inside the oil cap and all along the plastic fitting that feeds into the valve cover. I've change the oil a few times on this truck and have never seen anything like this before. It was almost greasy but it wiped off easily with a cloth.

Any ideas what the heck this stuff was? I've been using Motocraft 5W20 semi-synthetic the last 15,000 miles.

thanks.

 

It's condensation from the cool weather. Don't worry about it.

 

Thanks.

 

x2. Are you making short trips that aren't allowing the motor to warm up fully? This used to happen to an old Ford Escort I had back in college. Let the Truck warm up to help stop the buildup of condensation.

 

The drive to work is about 14 miles, stop and go averaging about 35mph. It takes about 8 miles to get the oil in my Vette above 150 degress on the same route under easy load, so I'd assume the same for the truck, and I've never seen this with the Vette. But the Vette uses a full synthetic so that may or may not matter.

edit
Just read a couple of other recent threads on this. Guess it's normal, but I've never seen it before.

 

Yeah, sometimes it will be there, sometimes not. Depends on a lot of minute factors. A good hearty long drive on the highway can do you wonders sometimes.

 

That's true. Take a drive this Christmas season to grandma's house who lives 200 miles away. You just need to burn off that moisture buildup that collects in your oil pan.

 

Just bought the truck and changed the oil in it tonight and had the same thing. Is this common in the f150's? I knew what it came from, but had never seen it before.

 

It's common in ALL vehicles when the weather gets cold.