Milky wax on dipstick?

[CajunWon]

~160k miles on Jeep 4.0. Normally oil stays golden and never leaks more than 1qt/5k. Always 100% synthetic, but not particular to the brand. I believe it has QuakerState 4x4 or HorsePower in it now.

I probably last checked dip stick 7 weeks ago, and hasn't been driven more than 3 miles at a time since. Today the dipstick shows unusually dark oil with traces of whitish thick substance along the entire length. What is this? Gunk not present in/around oil cap.

ATF & coolant are normal color. CCV not clogged (vented to atmosphere)

Guessing the cold NC weather and short trips may have caused water condensation. But don't know how this might cause dark oil.

 

[Rand]

its moisture

just run it upto temp for a good amount of time and it will all evaporate out along with the fuel dilution.


ie take a 30mile highway run somewhere

 

[friendly_jacek]

+1

Sludge-like mass from running super short trips in winter can look very scary. Although it is usually grayish and I would expect to see it near the oil cap (low temp).

 

[Rand]

sometimes the dipstick can make the problem look worse.. like on most hyundai's the dipstick is way out in front of the engine.. and stays cooler so the moisture can build up easier.

 

[JT1]

Originally Posted By: Rand
its moisture

just run it upto temp for a good amount of time and it will all evaporate out along with the fuel dilution.


ie take a 30mile highway run somewhere


Thats exactly what cured my "milky dipstick" and "yellow sludge" oil cap.

 

[Nyquist]

My wife's Cobalt is like this too. We have a friend with the same engine in his HHR, but the condensation isn't as bad there.

EDIT to add: If you want to get the stuff out of the dipstick tube, I've had good luck taking about 8 oz of oil and sending it down through the tube when the drain plug was out. This got all that moisture and crud out of there.