Milky oil on the dipstick. Head gasket?

[notmycity]

Once upon a time I had milky oil on the dipstick in another engine. My original 292 six now has this problem. It still runs strong, and doesn't smoke.

Thoughts please? Thanks...

[sdmahr]

Do a cooling system pressure check. This will tell you if you have a coolant to leak. Often times in colder weather I'll get a little "milky" appearance on the dipstick or oil filler cap. It may just be cool-weather condensation.

Don't panic yet.....

[notmycity]

Originally Posted by sdmahr

Do a cooling system pressure check. This will tell you if you have a coolant to leak. Often times in colder weather I'll get a little "milky" appearance on the dipstick or oil filler cap. It may just be cool-weather condensation.

Don't panic yet.....

I did consider the "cooler weather theory", also that someone may have slipped my truck a "mickey" when I wasn't looking one night. We'll do the pressure test and thanks for responding.

[Bowtiefreak]

I would be willing t bet that its your oil weight. Heavier or thicker oils can not rid of the moisture as easily. Like a 30W vs. a 10w 30, that 30w will retain the moisture a whole lot longer vs 10w 30 for example. This is because of the colder weather that your motor is now exposed to. I have seen this alot. This may not be your case for sure, but I think its your oil.

[notmycity]

Originally Posted by Bowtiefreak

I would be willing t bet that its your oil weight. Heavier or thicker oils can not rid of the moisture as easily. Like a 30W vs. a 10w 30, that 30w will retain the moisture a whole lot longer vs 10w 30 for example. This is because of the colder weather that your motor is now exposed to. I have seen this alot. This may not be your case for sure, but I think its your oil.

Interesting....

I just switched to 20/50 weight not long ago to quiet some of the tappity tap that's so common with these 292's. I used to go with a lighter weight in cold weather and that just may be the issue. It's all coming back to me now, as I haven't been a motorhead for too many years. I'll check that first. Thanks for the reply....

[Bowtiefreak]

20/50, yea I bet thats the problem. I'd run 10w/30 or 10w/40 myself.

Bowtiefreak

[Hooter]

also check if you crankcase filter is plugged, (slim chance though)

[Don R. Dodson]

Originally Posted by Hooter

also check if you crankcase filter is plugged, (slim chance though)

Yes, that too. Anything in the breahting part of the crankcase area should be checked. I think that crankcase fliter was the main clog in the wife's 83 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Avenue.

[Fred T]

Have you been losing any coolant? If not, it is probably a condensation issue. I agree, check the pcv system. What happens is when the engine cools off, the moisture collects on the inside metal surfaces. Another cause for this is short trip driving. The engine needs to get hot enough to boil the water out of the oil, it then depends on the pcv system to suck the worst of the moisture out.