Crank but no start and a milk substance in the oil

Tiny
TONI87
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
  • 2.2L
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 230,000 MILES
One day I went to check my oil because I had noticed it tends to use more oil now days to where I will need to add more oil before my next oil change. I noticed a little spot on the dipstick where it kind of looked like a little bit of a milky solid color substance on as well as the dark oil, it kind of had a burnt smell to it at which I thought it smelled like kerosene, but someone else said it smelled like gas. As I continued to drive it (not acting much different than before) it’s slowly progress little by little not amounting the much. Well, it came time to change my oil, so my my father and I had done. So, I had got 6 quarts synthetic Valvoline high mileage 5w 30, 1 quart. Lucas oil stabilizer, and the oil filter- fram- xtra guard. So, a couple weeks after we changed the oil filter and all I had checked the dipstick for anymore milky substances sure enough there was and there was actually more on it than ever before which came odd to me I would think there would be more on it before more so than after changing the oil so I assume there must be a leak of something somewhere going into my oil and can that be for the reason that my car mysteriously one day I started my car and left to go to the store at which when I started it didn’t have no funny start nothing different about it, I get to the station i’m pretty sure I had turned my car off if not I left it running to go in real quick and come back out then I jogged over to the store and I turn the car off and did what I had to do in the store came back out went to start it and all it would do is crank over but not start so I pop my hood checked my battery cables my ground had a lil corrosion so I took it all apart and cleaned it put it back on tried starting it again.

Still to this day it only wants to crank over and still to this day it will only crank over although I do have an old battery from 2017 the sticker says but if it was due to the battery I wouldn’t have no power, right? A couple months ago I had change the alternator (i used one from a junkyard but it looked barely used) because I had no crank no start issue which was the terminals being corroded! I have full power in my car still to this day I went out there earlier to try to start it and it still only cranks over. Do you have any idea of what could be wrong with it, other than my tough old little Bernice is getting worn to her core? If I remember correctly there was an ignition switch recall on it that I never gotten replaced because the lady said asked me if I had a key that had the black plastic piece on it. I don't so the lady said I had to purchase one from them in order to get that replaced because all they do is put a chip in the key! She informed me to not have a heavy set of keys while the key is in the ignition! So, I figured it really wasn’t that important to have to go buy another key for the car that’s seems to be on its last leg! Don’t get me wrong, she has been a reliable car for quite a few years. Has a bit of electrical issue sometimes but had still been pretty reliable! Let me end this with showing you my appreciation, whether or not you can or can’t help me! Here’s for you a please and thank you for your assistance and your time! Have a great rest of your day!
Wednesday, January 12th, 2022 AT 3:49 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi,

It sounds like you have a bad head gasket. When coolant mixes with engine oil, it creates a creamy tan substance. If the gasket is bad enough to cause low engine compression, it won't start.

By chance, could you record and upload it cranking so I can hear it?

Also, take a look through this link and see if the creamy substance that is described mirrors what you are seeing.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

I will watch for your reply.

Take care,

Joe
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Wednesday, January 12th, 2022 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
TONI87
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hello Joe,

Thanks for replying, So I went out to get a video of the sound of a cranking over... Before I did that, I had checked the antifreeze it seems to b at the fill line and checked the oil a few diff times for it boggled my mind that during the process the only time I had seen the milky substance was when I first pulled the dipstick out and it was a little speck on the tip of the stick. I assume for that reason that is because the engine is not running for the oil to circulate. For what little I know about cars that’s only logical explanation I can come up with. Anyway, here’s the video!
Talk to you soon,
Toni
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Thursday, January 13th, 2022 AT 1:53 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi,

Listening to the engine doesn't sound like a compression issue. That is a good thing. Also, you mentioned you only saw the substance one time and a very small amount, so I don't feel the head gasket is the issue.

So, most likely, we lost fuel or spark to the engine. Here is what I want you to try. See if the engine starts for a couple of seconds using starting fluid. If it does and then stalls, we have a fuel-related issue. If there is no change, then it is likely an ignition spark issue.

Do that and let me know the results. Also, if it doesn't change, here is a link that explains how to check for spark. Do this if there is no change.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

Let me know. Also, if you have questions, please feel free to ask. By the way, the video was very helpful.

Take care,

Joe
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Thursday, January 13th, 2022 AT 7:04 PM

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