Water in oil

[DavoNF]

What happens to the oil filter if there is water (condensation or a coolant leak) in the system?

We will assume the car is driven 800 miles in 5 months and has condensation problems, and we can't drive long enough to drive off the water.

We will also assume the filter media is not synthetic.

Does the oil filter absorb the water, thereby block the filter and force it into bypass mode?

Does it not matter and the oil is forced through anyway?

Does the filter media degrade in the presence of water?

Does anyone know what really happens?

Thanks
Dave.

 

[theguru]

Possibly all of the above. In such a situation I think that changing the filter & oil every 6 months would be a good idea. Better if you can actually get a good run now and again, but if not possible still change at 6 moth intervals.

On my Nissan the service interval is 10,000km or 6 months regardless of km's. Severe service is 5,000km. IMO yours is severe service conditions.

BTW. If it is a coolant leak, best to get it fixed. The condensation/ glycol etc in the oil will corrode the internals. Not good.

[ October 25, 2003, 07:28 AM: Message edited by: theguru ]

 

[jorton]

What year, make and motor is your car/truck?
coolant in the oil may seize the motor eventually.
Joe

 

[DavoNF]

thanks for the replies,

I'ts a big ole Ford Windsor V8, over 100,000 highway miles and runs like a Swiss watch. I did an oil change a couple of weeks ago, and there was free water (not much) in the sump when I drained it.

Now comes the strange part. The oil was not milky, it's just this couple of tablespoons of water came out of the drain plug first.

I had an oil analysis done on this oil and it came back - Water 10 litre coolant every 6 months. I have just come through winter over here, the car is driven about once every 5 days.

I am more concerned about this free water obstructing the oil filter more than anything else.

Any clues?

[ October 25, 2003, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: DavoNF ]

 

[RalphPWood]

Water doesn't clog the filter, water causes sludge and sludge can clog the filter. If the sludge is clogging the filter it is also clogging the engine. Water itself doesn't break down the element. If the water is able to mix with the right elements and cause more acid than the additives can neutralize the acid will eventually break down the element. You can install a filter that can remove large amounts of sludge and water and change it often to keep the oil clean and dry.
The worse case I ever had to deal with was a 59 Ford that the owner had removed the thermostat from. I was changing the bypass filter every 50 miles for awhile. I finally got it up to a filter change every 200 miles. The guy said he didn't think a thermostat was necessary in California in the bay area. I could deal with the water problem by installing a thermostat.

Ralph

 

[sprintman]

DavoNF Auto-Rx is great at removing water my mate Ron in Melbourne tells me (and he would know).

 

[Jim Spahr]

Water in the crankcase can be something as serious as a blown head gasket or a blown intake manifold gasket. It can also be caused by a clogged PCV system. Check the PCV valve and hoses to make sure they are working and not clogged. I think a blown gasket would result in a milky oil, whcih you don't have. The PCV system sounds more likely in your case. Some Ford products have a 'hidden' screen or filter under the PCV valve which many don't know about and therefore don't change. Check your manual to see if you have one of these on your car.

 

[DavoNF]

Thanks Jim, will check that out.

Dave

 

[mf150]

is it a modular windsor engine or an old pusher?
Gas or diesel?

 

[DavoNF]

Its a 302 V8 Windsor pusher. Duel fuel powered by petrol/LPG. 180,000 highway miles, runs perfectly.