Can one physically see condensation in oil? How about in the middle of winter with temperatures as cold as -20C (0F)? The reason I ask is because in my 02 Grand Am with a 3.4L engine I found a lot of white gunk under the oil filler cap. My first thought was it was a coolant leak (these engines are famous for the leak). I went to the dealer yesterday and when I tried to show the service advisor the white gunk I found that most of it was gone (even though it was still there before I left my driveway). My thought at the time is that the engine had plenty of time to fully warm up and maybe you don't see the gunk when it's warm.
Then today I was doing a checkup of fluids on our 99 Olds minivan which has the identical 3.4L engine. I lifted the oil cap and saw the same gunk (although in a smaller quantity). First I was thinking how unlucky is that, but then I remembered that the service advisor suggested that it may be condensation instead of a coolant leak (especially since there was no noticable drop in the coolant level). I went to check the grand am and found that all of that gunk is now gone.
So this brings me to my question: Will condensation show up as a white substance in the engine (especially in the extreme cold)? If so that may explain why it disappeared in the Grand Am.
By the way, the dealership wants me to do an oil change and flush on the Grand Am and wait a week to see if the white stuff comes back before assuming that it is a coolant leak. Also both vehicles have had the lower intake manifold gaskets replaced (the van was done in 2002 and the grand am was done in May 2004).
Then today I was doing a checkup of fluids on our 99 Olds minivan which has the identical 3.4L engine. I lifted the oil cap and saw the same gunk (although in a smaller quantity). First I was thinking how unlucky is that, but then I remembered that the service advisor suggested that it may be condensation instead of a coolant leak (especially since there was no noticable drop in the coolant level). I went to check the grand am and found that all of that gunk is now gone.
So this brings me to my question: Will condensation show up as a white substance in the engine (especially in the extreme cold)? If so that may explain why it disappeared in the Grand Am.
By the way, the dealership wants me to do an oil change and flush on the Grand Am and wait a week to see if the white stuff comes back before assuming that it is a coolant leak. Also both vehicles have had the lower intake manifold gaskets replaced (the van was done in 2002 and the grand am was done in May 2004).
