Thread: Creamy oil..condensation?

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I recently got my 454 running, it had been sitting in my driveway for about 4 years and came out of a seemingly ok running truck that had no problems. I put in a fresh batch of zinc oil (new cam) and have run it about an hour total, idling and a quick run or two around the block. I noticed the oil seems to be somewhat milky on the dipstick. Could this be from condensation that has accumulated over the years it had been parked? Im nervous that I have some other issues. How much water does it take to turn the crankcase oil milky?

TIA guys Joe

Originally Posted by Gusaroo

I recently got my 454 running, it had been sitting in my driveway for about 4 years and came out of a seemingly ok running truck that had no problems. I put in a fresh batch of zinc oil (new cam) and have run it about an hour total, idling and a quick run or two around the block. I noticed the oil seems to be somewhat milky on the dipstick. Could this be from condensation that has accumulated over the years it had been parked? Im nervous that I have some other issues. How much water does it take to turn the crankcase oil milky?

TIA guys Joe

Joe,
Condensation gets you with lots of starts and short runs with insufficient warmup/time to cook off the moisture, but when you put the fresh oil in any condensation accumulation should have been drained, too. I'd say you need to look for a coolant leak into your crankcase, like an intake gasket or head gasket.

Yep - my guess too, as Roger said, is one of those gaskets. Pull the plugs, keeping them in order and if you have a head gasket leak one or two MIGHT be super clean which is often a head gasket. Intake gasket leaks will USUALLY dump water into the lifter galley. SOMETIMES you can see bubbles or goo in the radiator. Then of course - that cracked block..........

I agree with all the above, from the scenario you outline it would take a whole lot of condensation to do what you are seeing. I've had engines that did what you have and it was always something letting water into the crankcase, like a blown head gasket or cracked block.

I would drain the oil, put new oil and filter in, and see if it comes back. If it does, you have something wrong going on.

Don

seting out side for 4 years that amount of time can add to water in the oil .did you change the oil filter .i have had engines like this long as the oil is not past the fill mark . then i think your ok drain the oil new filter and get the engine up to heat before you think the worst

I swapped the stock intake for a Edelbrok perfromer 2.0 I thought I was pretty careful doing it, I wonder if it is leaking (hope its that simple). I hate to have to pull it off just to check. Good info, thx guys!

Originally Posted by Gusaroo

I swapped the stock intake for a Edelbrok perfromer 2.0 I thought I was pretty careful doing it, I wonder if it is leaking (hope its that simple). I hate to have to pull it off just to check. Good info, thx guys!

well you did not say anything about that so yes it could be leaking did you use new gaskets ? did you put a new filter and oil in it get it hot .check the stick and if its over add then you have a leak

Yes...I used a new intake gasket. I did the intake swap while it was out of the car, on a stand, I was pretty careful doing it...but anythings possible . New Rotella oil and filter, ran it for a while to break in the new cam. Since then I have been idling it on and off for a month or two (just love to hear it run since its not on the road yet). The oil level looks to be stable. Ill change the oil and filter, run it and see where I'm at. Sucks for this to be happening with spring just around the corner

the worst thing is you can do is start up a engine and shut it off with out getting heat in it for some time more then 10 minutes .letting a new cam idle is very bad as well less your ran the car down the road and put some miles on it so the cam is broke in

Originally Posted by Gusaroo

New Rotella oil and filter, ran it for a while to break in the new cam. Since then I have been idling it on and off for a month or two (just love to hear it run since its not on the road yet).

When you say you've been "idling it on & off for a month or two" how long do you run it at any one time? Do you get it up to full temperature, or just start it, listen for a couple of minutes and then shut it down?

I initially ran and drove it for a bit...45 minutes. Since then its only been moved about in and out of the garage. Definitely been brought up to temp a few times. Its not road worthy yet, needs brakes.

Update, I changed the oil and its been fine ever since. I had rotella in it to break in the cam. I think the oil just looked a Little strange on the shiny new chrome dipstick I have in the motor

If the oil level dosen't go up and the radiator dosen't go down you should be OK

Yeah, Ive been driving this car for some time now and the oil looks goos and the level is dead steady and the antifreeze is perfect. Im thinking the chrome dipstick was playing tricks on me in the sunlight. I might sand the chrome off the dipstick to make it easier to read.

dribble a drop on a piece of glass or the windshield from the dip stick to see exactly what color it is