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Water in Oil Fill and Dip Stick Tubes

Tiny
DAVID40
  • MEMBER
  • FORD E-SERIES VAN
I have a 96 Econoline E350 w/ 351 engine and almost 200K miles. I use Mobil 1 syn oil. Went to check the oil and the dip stick has rust and some brownish gunk. Oil was a bit low. When I opened the oil fill cap, at the mouth of the tube there were a bunch of noduals or bubbles made of a vaseline like material all around the top. It almost looked like a bunch of eggs layed by an insect. The tube is rusted and nasty. I immediately thought, I must have water in the oil but I drained the pan and all I got was the usual black oil, no water, same with the filter, no water or brown discoloration. Also no discoloration in the radiator water. Does anyone have any idea why the tubes are in such bad shape or what might be causing this?
Thanks, David40
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Thursday, March 8th, 2007 AT 6:54 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Change your PCV valve for a start
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Thursday, March 8th, 2007 AT 8:46 AM
Tiny
DAVID40
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  • 8 POSTS
Thanks, I'll give that a shot.
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Thursday, March 8th, 2007 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
DAVID40
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  • 8 POSTS
I changed the PCV valve and the vent filter. They were both very clogged up with that yellowish/tan colored gunk that you see when oil, water, and rust are whipped together. I have been driving the thing over the last week and this evening I opened the oil fill cap and there were droplets of condensed water on the bottom of the cap. I don't know if this is normal or if I still have water getting in there somehow. IT just does not make any sense. Water is heavier than oil so when I drained the pan any water should have come out but there was none. I don't see how I could have so much moisture in the the valve covers and none in the pan. What should I try next?
Thanks
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 6:41 PM
Tiny
TAURUSWHEEL
  • MECHANIC
  • 718 POSTS
Check all your pcv lines and all the vent lines for any possible clogging. Moisture on the oil fill cap, at least a tiny bit, may be normal for an extremely cold climate, it's not enough to do any internal engine damage. Have you developed any leaking gaskets on the engine, valve covers for example? If the crankcase vent system plugs, sometimes leaks will occur. It was much easier years ago, engines were just vented to the atmosphere, I remember one of the best cars I ever owned, a 63 Ford Fairlane, 221 V8 screamer, 2 speed Fordomatic, that thing was vented to the outside, got all kinds of white goo on the pipe, in the valve covers in the winter, I think it only went faster the more goo, lol
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 6:53 PM
Tiny
MIKE H R
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,094 POSTS
I agree with taurus wheel, check with auto store I believe there is a conditioner for oil that helps take out moisture
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 7:02 PM
Tiny
DAVID40
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thanks for all the advice. When I replaced the PCV valve I blew the hose out with compressed air. I discovered another hose that comes out of the side of the oil fill tube and goes to the air cleaner housing. That's the one that vents the cover on the fill tube side. I'll have to blow that one out as well. I have not noticed and leaks in the covers. I'm in central Florida so cold weather is rare. I will definately check out that oil additive. What do you think about just driving with the oil cap off for a while and see if that drys things out?
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
BIGO
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  • 36 POSTS
I would suggest NOT takeing it off and trying the additives that are offered maybe try a different brand oil like high mileage or something, I aggre with them that its probably not a terribble threatif your oil itself is looking good good luck
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2007 AT 8:35 PM

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