Water in engine oil - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dacanuck · 12-30-2006, 07:05 PM

So I checked my oil yesterday before leaving work and found water in the oil. I'm worried it's a head gasket (or worse) since I lose coolant too, though I thought that just leaked externally. I'm hoping somehow I got condensation from maybe it going low without my noticing soon enough and the lovely Toronto weather going cold to warm. Anyone heard of condensation in a daily driver?

larry may · 12-30-2006, 07:28 PM

Hmmm! Better than engine oil in the water. That could be much more serious trouble.

**Palf70Step** · 12-30-2006, 09:01 PM

If it is a V8, you could also just have a bad intake manifold.

87 STEPPER · 12-31-2006, 10:33 AM

How much water are we talking about here?

Does your oil look like a milk shake?

Is there water comming out of the tail pipe?

If you have been adding water to it then it's going somewhere and if theres
no signs of an external leak then you have some serious issues internally and need to find out what they are soon!

I doubt that the weather conditions have any thing to do with how much/little water is in your crankcase.

Good luck.

71swb4x4 · 12-31-2006, 10:38 AM

Provided we aren't talking much it could very well be condensation from the cold. If you aren't losing water I would bet on condensation.

Stepper, a small amount of water on the dipstick is common up here, where it gets COLD!!

dacanuck · 01-02-2007, 01:26 PM

I just checked up on my truck at lunch after sitting since 7am. The oil DOES look like a brown milkshake, even on the fill cap underside. I drained some engine oil out of it but didn't see any water come out, and the oil that drained out was black. I put 2 litres of oil in and will check it when I get home. I have an aluminum intake for the truck anyway, just haven't changed it yet.

Duro5341 · 01-02-2007, 07:42 PM

If it looks like a milkshake, you either have a headgasket problem, or a intake leaking coolant into the oil

Somewhere there is coolant getting into the oil

Duro

**Zoomad75** · 01-02-2007, 07:45 PM

You got water in there somehow. Could be head gasket or an intake gasket is leaking in. Either way, running the engine with coolent in there is not going to be kind to the bearings. Oil don't work quite like it should when mixed with water/coolent. It gets thinned out and can't do it's job and you can get rust starting. Granted it will spin a bearing from lack of lube before it makes any damage from rust.

Get it home and drop ALL the oil out of it. The oil is heavier than the water so it's going to be on the bottom of the pan. Once the oil drains and you do have water in there, it's going to then drain out. If it's been run just before you dump the oil it will be all mixed up, milkshake like but if you let it sit the liquids might separate and leave the oil on the bottom and the water on top.

Get a cooling system pressure tester. (most parts stores will loan you one if don't have a buddy with one). Top off the cooling system and pressureize it. If it's leaking anywhere it won't hold the pressure. You might even be able to hear the leak. If not, pull the spark plugs and look for evidence of coolent being burned. Plugs will have a white ash like deposit if they are burning coolent.

Bundle up in the warmest stuff you got, because I'm betting you got some work to do.

HotRod73 · 01-03-2007, 12:13 AM

i also checked my oil in one of my trucks looks a little milky but i also have a small oil leak from my intake manifold where u can see it a little on the front side would this be the cause of it???

HotRod73 · 01-03-2007, 12:27 AM

hopefully my bearings arent going back yet... i dont wanna tear this engine yet... its old 73 but only has 91k miles on it original...

HotRod73 · 01-03-2007, 12:27 AM

got me worried now =/ lol

dacanuck · 01-09-2007, 10:32 AM

Got it sorted out...once I topped it up with fresh oil it's been fine since. It was just condensation after all, since the oil was low. To clarify the oil in the pan wasn't milkshake-like, just the oil under the fill cap. The oil on the dipstick was streaked with water, not totally mixed.

And don't forget, water is heavier than oil, not the other way around. Water is the heaviest natrual liquid as far as I know, at around 62 pounds per cubic foot.

Bishops Trucks · 01-09-2007, 10:56 AM

It's a head gasket. When you drain the oil, all the oil will come out first and then the water will pour out.

12-30-2006, 07:05 PM	#1
dacanuck Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 85	Water in engine oil So I checked my oil yesterday before leaving work and found water in the oil. I'm worried it's a head gasket (or worse) since I lose coolant too, though I thought that just leaked externally. I'm hoping somehow I got condensation from maybe it going low without my noticing soon enough and the lovely Toronto weather going cold to warm. Anyone heard of condensation in a daily driver? __________________ 86 GMC C15 swb. 350/TH350, fully loaded, but wish I had overdrive!

12-30-2006, 07:28 PM	#2
larry may Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: MISSOURI Posts: 3,256	Re: Water in engine oil Hmmm! Better than engine oil in the water. That could be much more serious trouble. __________________ The biggest problem people have, is other people Thou shalt be cool and not hassle Be a site supporter. The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool inclines to the left." Ecclesiastes 10:2

12-30-2006, 09:01 PM	#3
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,759	Re: Water in engine oil If it is a V8, you could also just have a bad intake manifold. __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

12-31-2006, 10:33 AM	#4
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	Re: Water in engine oil How much water are we talking about here? Does your oil look like a milk shake? Is there water comming out of the tail pipe? If you have been adding water to it then it's going somewhere and if theres no signs of an external leak then you have some serious issues internally and need to find out what they are soon! I doubt that the weather conditions have any thing to do with how much/little water is in your crankcase. Good luck. __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE

12-31-2006, 10:38 AM	#5
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: Water in engine oil Provided we aren't talking much it could very well be condensation from the cold. If you aren't losing water I would bet on condensation. Stepper, a small amount of water on the dipstick is common up here, where it gets COLD!! __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

01-02-2007, 01:26 PM	#6
dacanuck Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 85	Re: Water in engine oil I just checked up on my truck at lunch after sitting since 7am. The oil DOES look like a brown milkshake, even on the fill cap underside. I drained some engine oil out of it but didn't see any water come out, and the oil that drained out was black. I put 2 litres of oil in and will check it when I get home. I have an aluminum intake for the truck anyway, just haven't changed it yet. __________________ 86 GMC C15 swb. 350/TH350, fully loaded, but wish I had overdrive!

01-02-2007, 07:42 PM	#7
Duro5341 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 239	Re: Water in engine oil If it looks like a milkshake, you either have a headgasket problem, or a intake leaking coolant into the oil Somewhere there is coolant getting into the oil Duro

01-02-2007, 07:45 PM	#8
Zoomad75 K5Camper Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 1,513	Re: Water in engine oil You got water in there somehow. Could be head gasket or an intake gasket is leaking in. Either way, running the engine with coolent in there is not going to be kind to the bearings. Oil don't work quite like it should when mixed with water/coolent. It gets thinned out and can't do it's job and you can get rust starting. Granted it will spin a bearing from lack of lube before it makes any damage from rust. Get it home and drop ALL the oil out of it. The oil is heavier than the water so it's going to be on the bottom of the pan. Once the oil drains and you do have water in there, it's going to then drain out. If it's been run just before you dump the oil it will be all mixed up, milkshake like but if you let it sit the liquids might separate and leave the oil on the bottom and the water on top. Get a cooling system pressure tester. (most parts stores will loan you one if don't have a buddy with one). Top off the cooling system and pressureize it. If it's leaking anywhere it won't hold the pressure. You might even be able to hear the leak. If not, pull the spark plugs and look for evidence of coolent being burned. Plugs will have a white ash like deposit if they are burning coolent. Bundle up in the warmest stuff you got, because I'm betting you got some work to do. __________________ Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper

01-03-2007, 12:13 AM	#9
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: Water in engine oil i also checked my oil in one of my trucks looks a little milky but i also have a small oil leak from my intake manifold where u can see it a little on the front side would this be the cause of it??? __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

01-03-2007, 12:27 AM	#10
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: Water in engine oil hopefully my bearings arent going back yet... i dont wanna tear this engine yet... its old 73 but only has 91k miles on it original... __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

01-03-2007, 12:27 AM	#11
HotRod73 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Posts: 553	Re: Water in engine oil got me worried now =/ lol __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C20 (Under Construction)

01-09-2007, 10:32 AM	#12
dacanuck Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 85	Re: Water in engine oil Got it sorted out...once I topped it up with fresh oil it's been fine since. It was just condensation after all, since the oil was low. To clarify the oil in the pan wasn't milkshake-like, just the oil under the fill cap. The oil on the dipstick was streaked with water, not totally mixed. And don't forget, water is heavier than oil, not the other way around. Water is the heaviest natrual liquid as far as I know, at around 62 pounds per cubic foot. __________________ 86 GMC C15 swb. 350/TH350, fully loaded, but wish I had overdrive! Last edited by dacanuck; 01-09-2007 at 10:33 AM.

01-09-2007, 10:56 AM	#13
Bishops Trucks KEEP ON TRUCKIN' Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sterling, Va. Posts: 5,731	Re: Water in engine oil It's a head gasket. When you drain the oil, all the oil will come out first and then the water will pour out. __________________ JIM '97 GMC Sierra K1500 '95 Chevy Silverado C1500 '71 Cheyenne Z71 / LT1 & 4-Speed SWB K/10 Father/Son Project http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l689JKXPnA http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php "LIVIN' FREE FOREVER"



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