2004 dodge ram 1500. Nasty yellow stuff

[augie4682]

2004 dodge ram 1500 4.7L.
Opened up my oil cap and saw this. What does this mean? Also my truck is running fine. No check engine lights on or anything.

 

[tron67j]

Water in the oil? Start your engine briefly than change your oil. If it comes out foamy, your probably getting coolant into your oil. You could also check the dip stick after running for a minute and see if the oil is more tan to light brown instead of looking very dark brown to black.

 

[jws123]

This can happen on the 4.7 engines its very common to build up on the cap if its driven short distances often from condensation. That is alot tho clean it out change your oil confirm there is no coolant/water in oil.

 

[HemiLonestar]

Do alot of short trips? Do you let the engine get to temp before you do? The cap is the high point in the crankcase, all condensation tries to escape there but can't so it collects because it doesn't get burned off. Regular highway speed runs would help immensely.

 

[augie4682]

Would sea foam help in this situation?

 

[GTyankee]

clean the cap out, check it in a week or two

Drive the long way a couple times a week

 

[LoneWolf3574]

Would sea foam help in this situation?

No, because of this.

Do alot of short trips? Do you let the engine get to temp before you do? The cap is the high point in the crankcase, all condensation tries to escape there but can't so it collects because it doesn't get burned off. Regular highway speed runs would help immensely.

 

[augie4682]

Anyone ever have an issue with oil cap getting struck? I have to get something bigger just to open it.

 

[jws123]

Anyone ever have an issue with oil cap getting struck? I have to get something bigger just to open it.

yes thats common aswell use some anti seize its plastic on plastic so it gets stuck. Do you drive short distances often?

 

[augie4682]

Usually 15 miles to work and 15 miles back. Since I bought the truck back in 2022, I notice that.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Usually 15 miles to work and 15 miles back. Since I bought the truck back in 2022, I notice that.

15 mile trips isn't too awful short, but an occasional longer trip might help. The aim is to make sure you get the truck fully warmed up at some point, and drive enough to burn off that condensation.

Maybe once/week you could take a scenic detour from work to home, maybe 10 miles with engine at ~180F - 200F?

This is assuming condensation has been determined to be the issue and more serious causes have been ruled out.

 

[Tominator223]

Just looks like condensation . Probably run it on the highway once or twice a week would burn it off better. Put a lil oil on the cap/seal. Should keep it from sticking

 

[inuyasha-rules]

Could also be a bad pcv valve. Changing that helped my girlfriend's jeep with the 4.7 (I'm pretty sure it's the same engine) but that thing always produced a lot of buildup even if it wasn't being short tripped. Ran fine and had no signs of water in the oil. Pcv valve was cheap and easy to change, so might be worth a shot.

 

[recallies]

Our 2009 Aspen has the 4.7 and it seems that the drains from the cowl were falling on top of the block at the rear of the engine and pooling there until evaporating. That and a mouse nest helping to retain the moisture resulted in the dipstick tube rusting thru and allowing the water to flow down inside the dipstick tube into the crankcase. I discovered the milky gunk when checking the dipstick.