I just changed the oil in my sons 2000 Saturn SL last night. Seen something I've never seen before. The oil came out very milky looking, kind of freakish! I know this is supposed to be an indicator of water in the oil but it hasn't lost any antifreeze and still runs and sounds like new. Only thing I question is that its been setting out in sub 0 temps for several days before the change. Any ideas?
Milky Oil!
- Thread starter mwball0
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It's an indicator of coolant in the oil.
It could be a very slow leak, which is why the coolant level might not appear to have changed.
It could be a very slow leak, which is why the coolant level might not appear to have changed.
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Do you still have the oil? You could have it tested. It is POSSIBLE that it just has a lot of water in it from cold starts and short trips but I would still be concerned about what dparm mentioned, which is that there is a real possibility that this is indicative of coolant ingress into the crankcase, which may be a head gasket problem for example.
That' kinda what I thought. I'll mark the tanks level and watch it for a few weeks. He does do almost all short cold trips in this car. Drives it back and forth from work about 3-4 miles each way, it sits in the drive other than that. In three years I've never seen it hit the highway or even anywhere out of town.
Originally Posted By: mwball0
That' kinda what I thought. I'll mark the tanks level and watch it for a few weeks. He does do almost all short cold trips in this car. Drives it back and forth from work about 3-4 miles each way, it sits in the drive other than that. In three years I've never seen it hit the highway or even anywhere out of town.
That type of use could definitely cause milky oil. It really *never* gets on the highway?
That' kinda what I thought. I'll mark the tanks level and watch it for a few weeks. He does do almost all short cold trips in this car. Drives it back and forth from work about 3-4 miles each way, it sits in the drive other than that. In three years I've never seen it hit the highway or even anywhere out of town.
That type of use could definitely cause milky oil. It really *never* gets on the highway?
It could be condensation that has not burned off because of short trips.
Or a slow coolant leak.
Get the oil tested. Even if it was contaminated in the oil drain pan as long as you have not used the oil drain pan to drain coolant you should be OK.
Or a slow coolant leak.
Get the oil tested. Even if it was contaminated in the oil drain pan as long as you have not used the oil drain pan to drain coolant you should be OK.
May need (maybe) a good highway haul then re-evaluate. Hope the worse is condensation build.
Tasting it is a quick way to tell. Very inexpensive with instant results. If it tastes like oil it'scondensation if its disgustingly sweet its coolant. I use this method when buying used cars. By taste I mean the smallest amount possible dabbed on your finger then dabbed a speck on your tongue. Its kinda gross but it works.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Tasting it is a quick way to tell. Very inexpensive with instant results. If it tastes like oil it'scondensation if its disgustingly sweet its coolant. I use this method when buying used cars. By taste I mean the smallest amount possible dabbed on your finger then dabbed a speck on your tongue. Its kinda gross but it works.
wouldnt do this. lol.
Tasting it is a quick way to tell. Very inexpensive with instant results. If it tastes like oil it'scondensation if its disgustingly sweet its coolant. I use this method when buying used cars. By taste I mean the smallest amount possible dabbed on your finger then dabbed a speck on your tongue. Its kinda gross but it works.
wouldnt do this. lol.
No UOA ever caused fatal renal failure.
I'd go with the advice of the poster above who suggested taking the car on a long enough drive to evaporate the moisture form the oil.
Given the car's use and the recent real cold, I suspect that it's just condensation in the oil.
The OP's son might be well advised to use the Saturn for some of his longer weekend drives.
I'd go with the advice of the poster above who suggested taking the car on a long enough drive to evaporate the moisture form the oil.
Given the car's use and the recent real cold, I suspect that it's just condensation in the oil.
The OP's son might be well advised to use the Saturn for some of his longer weekend drives.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Any good reason Why?
Because oil is a carcinogen and antifreeze is toxic and you'll be sticking at least one, if not both, in your mouth. Anyone with even a wee bit of common sense knows not to put either in their mouth, even for a "little taste".
Any good reason Why?
Because oil is a carcinogen and antifreeze is toxic and you'll be sticking at least one, if not both, in your mouth. Anyone with even a wee bit of common sense knows not to put either in their mouth, even for a "little taste".
When the oil looks like a chocolate milkshake in the winter months, it usually means they should be walking to work.
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Any good reason Why?
Because oil is a carcinogen and antifreeze is toxic and you'll be sticking at least one, if not both, in your mouth. Anyone with even a wee bit of common sense knows not to put either in their mouth, even for a "little taste".
Its not like your chugging it we are talking about a needle head amount. Ive never gotten sick. We all eat all sorts of bad stuff a little coolant will put hair on your chest.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
Any good reason Why?
Because oil is a carcinogen and antifreeze is toxic and you'll be sticking at least one, if not both, in your mouth. Anyone with even a wee bit of common sense knows not to put either in their mouth, even for a "little taste".
Its not like your chugging it we are talking about a needle head amount. Ive never gotten sick. We all eat all sorts of bad stuff a little coolant will put hair on your chest.
^^^AGREE^^^
everything in moderation!
everything in moderation!
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