destructo_low

I have an oil leak I believe is coming from the oil filler neck area. Today, when topping the oil off, I noticed some frothy brown foam in the filler neck. Are their any gaskets in the vicinity that would allow oil to leak and water to mix in the oil?

Thanks,
Terell

Kiln_Red

Did you notice the same appearance of your oil on your dipstick. Unfortunately, it sounds to me like you have an internal water leak. I would not drive the car until you have resolved the mixing fluids issue. You don't want to do any unnecessary damage to your bottom end. How old is the coolant?

SeanR

It very well could also be condensation from lack of driving the car. If you are not putting enough heat in to the engine the water will do that.

Does it look like this?



This picture was from a low mile '90 that had head gasket issues.

IcemanG17

best case scenario is condenstaion and not getting the oil past 212F......a long drive should fix that...

The worst case scenario is blown headgasket.....which tends to only happen to cars that sit for too long and the coolant becomes corrosive....

Kiln_Red

Use phosphate free coolant only.

destructo_low

SeanR, that is basically what it looks like. It is only on the underside of the oil filler cap.

The oil on my dipstick is fine. Maybe it is just condensation, but this car is my daily driver. It averages over 150 miles a week.

I haven't changed the coolant in quite some time. I picked up some phosphate free coolant today.

Hopefully it will be ok. I have a spare engine sitting in the garage, but it would get a rebuild if it went in.

Kiln_Red

The fact that this car is a daily driver rules out condensation. Do an oil change immediately. Water doesn't make for a good lubricant. If you're lucky, the foamy brownish mix won't resurface. If not, well, it's time to do some wrenching. Unless your cylinder walls are toast, it really isn't the end the world.

17prospective buyer

Hopefully just condensation... is it getting cold where you live Terell? A nice long drive then shutting it down in the cold could cause alot of condensation afterwards, especially when the filler neck gets cold fast and the area closer to the block stays hot for a while=condensation. However if it is a milky mixture then that usually indicates that a moving/reciprocating part is whipping the oil/water and aerating it. Keep checking your dipstick.

docmirror

A) Are you losing coolant?

B) Are you losing oil? (I know you have a leak, fix that first)

Generally, a leak between the two systems will force oil into coolant because the coolant only runs at < 10PSI in the system and the oil pressure is 3-5 times higher. The only way coolant will migrate into oil is when the car is shut off and the oil pressure drops quickly, but the coolant pressure remains high for a while. Of course, that is not always the case, but if you aren't adding coolant regularly in a DD, it should be a problem with your crankcase venting system. Check that out carefully or you will overpressure your crankcase and that will be what caused your oil leak. Crankcase pressure needs to remain very low to operate right.

destructo_low

I'm not having to add coolant. I changed my oil a month ago. It has been dipping into the high 40's and low 50's at night. I drive home from college around 8:00pm, so the engine is probably still warm until midnight. I'm trying to get the oil leak fixed, but Roger hasn't gotten back with me for the parts I need. I also need a new alternator and battery, but if the new alternator gets soaked in oil, it will be worthless. If I get a new battery, it will discharge because my current alternator barely charges. I've got to get the oil leak fixed first.