Milkshake in oil filler area

[No H2O]

Went to pour seafoam in the crankcase to run the RAM for 30/40 mins before changing the oil and noticed the infamous milkshake on the cap and in the neck.
Coming from the world of 944s this is an Omen of doom, not sure what to make of this on the Ram.
Any insight?

 

[CostaRam]

OMG!

In any case that is water in the oil .....

here are basically 2 solutions:
a) you blow the head gasket or have another leak leaking coolant in the oil cirquit
b) you do very short drives in humid, cold climate and the oild don't reach operating temp and the condesation does not evaporate.

Check and mark your coolant level, change oil and drive your truck hard and for a longer trip to reach 180° temp for water and oil.

Chris

 

[RonJon '06]

It's probably just from condensation, the cap on my 5.7L gets the same crud.

 

[HemiLonestar]

OMG!

In any case that is water in the oil .....

here are basically 2 solutions:
a) you blow the head gasket or have another leak leaking coolant in the oil cirquit
b) you do very short drives in humid, cold climate and the oild don't reach operating temp and the condesation does not evaporate.

Check and mark your coolant level, change oil and drive your truck hard and for a longer trip to reach 180° temp for water and oil.

Chris

Not under the cap lol, jesus that's jumping to worst case right off the bat

b), as long as the oil in the sump doesn't look like that

No, 3.7/4.7 engine is known for it, even the 5.7's will get it there (mine does occasionally if I don't drive it enough). Part of it may be if you take short trips or don't get the engine hot enough to burn off condensation in the crankcase. Also keep in mind that the oil fill is the highest point in the crankcase, so any condensation that does try to make it's way out will end up there. Just wipe it off and try to warm up the engine properly and maybe go for a longer trip to help it get nice and warm.

 

[BWL]

Usually a symptom of not getting the engine hot enough or plugged vent so the moisture that evaporates can't escape. May have to replace the pcv valve. If the oil on the dipstick isn't milky I wouldn't be too worried.

 

[CostaRam]

The HEMI motor oil takes endless to reach operational temp.
I have 75-80F in the morning, i drive 3 miles to work, after one mile coolant is 180 and engine oil is still at <100.
When i reach the dive operation engine oil is somewhere around 176°, then i go for lunch and dribe one mile, 176°,
then i drive home still 176° and should i drive some miles more oil get's up tu 190+.
If i immagine that in 0°F ...
Chris

 

[justin13703]

Yeah, it’s condensation. It’s completely normal. You probably take a bunch of relatively short trips.

This alone does NOT mean you have a blown head gasket. It means there is some condensation in there that didn’t get cooked off.

 

[No H2O]

I do take a bunch of relatively short trips.
Over the weekend I did an oil change, no milkshake in the oil.
I noticed over the weekend while it was raining hard, the oil in the catch pan started to develop the milkshake so I'm sure it's water.
I bought a can of blue devil head gasket repair on Friday but I'll hold off on that since it requires the motor idle for 45 mins straight. I think before I use that I'll wait for the exhaust to blow out the white smoke which, I believe, is unquestionably a bad head gasket.

 

[CostaRam]

the oil in the catch pan started

I guess with Catch Pan your intend the oil pan, right?

As i wrote, you HAVE to check your coolant level to see if it lowers.
If the level stay put then it's not coolant, if the level sinks then it may be coolant (coolant can be leak elswhere).
Do that BEFORE you drop anything in your engine!

Ideling is the worst to heat up the engine and the todays believe/knowledge is that main reason for engine damage comes from ideling, as the engine runs for a long period too cold.
There are several treads here and search in goggle regarding ideling before you drive a car.
Drive your truck some miles more on your short trips and check your oil temp to make sure that the oil temp is for a few miles at 180+.

Waiting till your head gasket blows completely is a very bad idea as you may don't realize thet and fry your engine.
If you coolant level lowers then have that thruly checked BEFORE you warp your heads and possibly kill your engine.

Chris

 

[Casper]

Yeah, it’s condensation. It’s completely normal. You probably take a bunch of relatively short trips.

This alone does NOT mean you have a blown head gasket. It means there is some condensation in there that didn’t get cooked off.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx
^ This!
Condensation looks like that. I saw the same thing when I had an '03 4.7L.

I can't visualize exactly what you are describing in your oil change pan, but water should be on the bottom not top, unless you're stirring it into a milkshake.

Unless you have other indications, like dropping radiator level, or white steam/smoke in your exhaust--not cold weather exhaust--or bubbling in your radiator with cap off when the engine is running, or creamy froth on your dipstick, you probably don't have a head gasket problem.
You may have condensation sludge in your oil pan, however.

Adding Seafoam to the crankcase and letting it run for the recommended miles before an oil change may help with that.

Alternatively, you could drop the pan and wipe dry before reinstalling (new gasket and inspection of pump suction screen advisable). That way you'll know you're good to go.

 

[HemiLonestar]

Take it out at least once a week for a good length highway blast at speed.

 

[No H2O]

Take it out at least once a week for a good length highway blast at speed.

Is 20 minutes not long enough? If not, how long should I run it on the highway for?

 

[HemiLonestar]

Is 20 minutes not long enough? If not, how long should I run it on the highway for?

Depends on the speed lol

Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk

 

[CostaRam]

Yes 20 minutes on the highway is enough, but 20 minutes in town is good as well.
Just elong your comute to work for a few miles and the milkshake should evaporate.
Chris