Water in oil cap?

[runrunner]

I have noticed water in my oil cap on my 1990 Ranger 2.9. The white milky substance is there too, but just a little bit, it doesnt coat the entire cap.

Water actually drips out of my cap when I shake it after taking it off. Weird.

The truck doesnt overheat, it actually runs really cold. Sits just above the cold mark on the gauge and stays there. I changed the oil and it was not milky. No smoke out of the tailpipe either.

- My trip to work is about 2 miles so the truck doesnt even warm up before I shut it off.

- Heater core is bypassed since it leaks.

- Mostly water in the radiator since the heater core failed and I havent replaced it yet.

- Heavy valvetrain noise so it doesnt always run fantastic.

- New PCV valve

At first I was thinking headgasket, but after doing some reading it sounds like the condensation could be from short trips? I add water to the overflow about 1x per week, but its probably not more than a cup or two at a time. I've also noticed that water leaks out of the weep hole on the water pump.

Thoughts? I know I need real coolant in there so no lecture on that one.

 

[exbass94]

- My trip to work is about 2 miles so the truck doesnt even warm up before I shut it off.

That's your problem. What you're seeing is condensation. It's normal. Take the truck out for a long 30+ minute ride every once in a while to burn that crap out of the engine. If you check the cap right after a long ride, I bet it'll look just fine.

 

[gribly]

Yup, I'll agree with condensation.

 

[mn_smokeater]

Sounds like you need a new water pump.

 

[adsm08]

Sounds like you need a new water pump.

Why?

He needs a heater core, I don't see anything there that is diagnostic of a water pump.

Exbass is right, it's normal condensation from not running it long enough. Getting it to temp and keeping it there for a while will push all that high humidity air out of the crank case and boil that water out.

 

[88B2EB]

Sounds like you need a new water pump.

You remind me of my local repair shop.

 

[mn_smokeater]

He said that the water pump is leaking out of the weep hole that means that the seals inside are starting to fail.

 

[nutpantz]

How much water is coming out of the weep hole in the water pump? That has always been a prelude to water pump failure for me over the years..

 

[runrunner]

How much water is coming out of the weep hole in the water pump? That has always been a prelude to water pump failure for me over the years..

Not much, its just wet.

The water pump is new from what I can tell. It and the RTV are the only thing on the engine that is clean. It looks like it was installed recently as it hasnt been covered in oil and PS fluid yet.

 

[killj0y]

Not much, its just wet.

The water pump is new from what I can tell. It and the RTV are the only thing on the engine that is clean. It looks like it was installed recently as it hasnt been covered in oil and PS fluid yet.

They might be a sign to check for possible collateral damage. PS a little condensation is normal but a new pump you didn't put in could be a plus or Minus depending on the conditions it changed under. Is it a truck your considering buying or you already own it? What's the rest of the truck look like? If PO did regular maintenance then it might be nothing.

 

[runrunner]

They might be a sign to check for possible collateral damage. PS a little condensation is normal but a new pump you didn't put in could be a plus or Minus depending on the conditions it changed under. Is it a truck your considering buying or you already own it? What's the rest of the truck look like? If PO did regular maintenance then it might be nothing.

No, Just bought it but it was $750.00 so it is what it is...

Its kinda a POS, looks good but wasnt maintained. Just something to get me around for a while and hopefully get my money back out of it.

 

[killj0y]

In that case just take a good look and fix what needs tobe fixed. Ever see milkshake in the oil? White smoke? Drive it around more and maybe get a new rad cap.

 

[Lucifer sam]

whats the hottest it gets?
Id probably start with a thermostat and start fixing your coolant leaks

 

[--weezl--]

Why?

He needs a heater core, I don't see anything there that is diagnostic of a water pump.

Exbass is right, it's normal condensation from not running it long enough. Getting it to temp and keeping it there for a while will push all that high humidity air out of the crank case and boil that water out.

bingo!


most people don't realize that when you burn fuel you're basic principals of ignition of gasoline are HC+O2, which results in H2O, CO and CO2, emissions, the H2O of course being water, on a higher mileage engine, there is always blowby, this condenses inside the crank case, engine doesn't get hot enough to steam the water out... the milky substance is what i like to call oil mold, it happens when you get water in the oil, dodge trucks (especially dakotas) are terrible for this, i used to work at a quick lube place, and you could get almost 1/4 cup of the sludgy foamy stuff, off the bottom of the oil cap on some of them..

either way, perfectly normal

 

[jhammel85]

That's your problem. What you're seeing is condensation. It's normal. Take the truck out for a long 30+ minute ride every once in a while to burn that crap out of the engine. If you check the cap right after a long ride, I bet it'll look just fine.

There you go...like others have said, this is all it is. You're good (now fix that heater core before winter)