Odd Oil Color at Oil Filler Cap

[Transporter]

I repeatedly keep getting a cream colored oily substance at my filler cap. When I pull the dip stick the oil is normal color, no indications of contaminant, normal level neither higher or lower. I checked and marked the radiator level and it stays consistent. Oil is Mobile One 5W-20.

Could I have a broken or plugged PCV valve causing this?

See picture.

 

[sjwelds]

I would guess you do a lot of short trips. I'd take it for an hour's drive and see what happens.

 

[Hamfisted]

Make sure that the PCV valve is free. It should rattle when you shake it. You can clean it out with carb cleaner or brake cleaner spray. Make sure also that the breather hose on the other valve cover is seated in that valve cover and the hose is not cracked, sucking in outside air. You're getting moisture in the motor from somewhere.

 

[Transporter]

I would guess you do a lot of short trips. I'd take it for an hour's drive and see what happens.

Guess you haven't seen my Odometer lately, I am a Road Warrior. Most trips are 4 hours or more mostly on the Interstates. Any other ideas, my neighbor's comment was excess idling time but the only idling I do is at traffic lights.

 

[Trainmaster]

What's the mileage? In the worst case you have a head gasket leak, and that water's coming from the coolant that's leaking into the crankcase. In the best case, it's just excess condensation. You can send the oil away for an analysis and they can check for coolant components in the oil.

The oil cap inside my 2000 often looked like that over the eyars and I never had any problems.

 

[Transporter]

What's the mileage? In the worst case you have a head gasket leak, and that water's coming from the coolant that's leaking into the crankcase. In the best case, it's just excess condensation. You can send the oil away for an analysis and they can check for coolant components in the oil.

The oil cap inside my 2000 often looked like that over the eyars and I never had any problems.

Yeah, I am hoping the head gaskets are OK because I don't see any water or coolant in the oil on the dipstick plus I topped off my radiator overflow reservoir to the top Cold mark and checked it every morning for the last 10 days with no change in cold start water level so it appears I am not losing any radiator fluid.

I have Amsoil in my other vehicles, I'll send in a sample for analysis.

Thanks, I should have thought about doing that.

Any other ideas out there?

 

[sjwelds]

Guess you haven't seen my Odometer lately, I am a Road Warrior. Most trips are 4 hours or more mostly on the Interstates. Any other ideas, my neighbor's comment was excess idling time but the only idling I do is at traffic lights.

Well that's not the issue then. I use my 06 F-150 to drive back and forth to work less than 2 miles, one way, and my fill cap often looks like that.

 

[BrandonZ55]

My 05 expy looks like that every time I open it. It's a ford thing. Just from condensation. Just wipe it out every once in awhile.

 

[t_bois]

It's not just a Ford thing. I have a Jeep with a 3.7 motor that does the same thing.

Condensation would be my guess unless your needing to top off your coolent often.