1985 2.8 v6 white smoke from oil refill cap and dip stick

[rajbakshi]

Experts;

Need some help here. I bought 1985 ford ranger recently. Truck does have small cold start problem but other than that it runs fine. I recently did an oil change and found white smoke coming out of the oil refill cap and dip stick.
I have no clue whats the reason and looking for suggestions from the exerts here.

https://youtu.be/M__Feib0P98


Thanks in advance

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

You have condensation in the oil areas of the engine.
White "smoke" is water vapor.

Check and clean Vent hose and replace PCV Valve.
PCV valve should be changed every 2 or 3 oil changes anyway.
Clean PCV valve hose as well.

PCV valve will be on one valve cover, Vent hose on the other valve cover.

Water vapor is in the air, so it will be in the engine.
Warmer air can hold more water vapor than colder air.
When warmer air comes into contact with a colder surface, it cools down and leaves its water vapor behind.
You sees this as a fog on the inside of the windshield on a cold day, warmer air in the vehicle is depositing it's water vapor on the colder glass of the windshield.
Or on the outside of a cold glass of beer on a warm day, warmer outside air is leaving its water on the Cold beer glass.
Condensation.

Each time you shut an engine down the warmer air inside the engine cools down and leaves its water vapor behind
Normally when engine gets fully warmed up and driven, the PCV Valve will exchange enough air in the engine to burn off most of the water vapor, so it doesn't build up inside the engine.

BUT..............if engine/truck is only driven 5 to 10 minutes at a time then water vapor will build up, engine is not getting a chance to burn it all off, or if PCV Valve is not working well water builds up.
Needs a good 20-30 min drive each week or so.

 

[rajbakshi]

Thanks Ron. You are right. I checked again after driving it for an hour and guess what no more smoke.

I will still go ahead and change the PCV valve becasue it looks like it was never changed in last 300k miles