850 chocolate milk on oil dipstick

asummers · Post by **asummers** » 01 Dec 2009, 10:29

Does anyone else with an 850 have milky brown deposits on their oil dipstick and in the dipstick tube? When I check the oil I notice that on the dip stick there is milky brown stuff on it, and I can see it on the inside of the dipstick tube. The oil reads fine on the end of the dipstick like it is supposed to, and the oil when changed is not milky. Could this be an indication of the flame trap system being clogged?

Post by **renns** » 01 Dec 2009, 11:00

asummers wrote:Does anyone else with an 850 have milky brown deposits on their oil dipstick and in the dipstick tube? When I check the oil I notice that on the dip stick there is milky brown stuff on it, and I can see it on the inside of the dipstick tube. The oil reads fine on the end of the dipstick like it is supposed to, and the oil when changed is not milky. Could this be an indication of the flame trap system being clogged?

Moisture trapped in the crankcase will give that symptom. It sounds like the crankcase ventilation system may be plugged. As a first step, try checking the flame trap if you car has one. It's in the plastic elbow that connects to the side of the throttle body elbow.

Post by **misha** » 01 Dec 2009, 16:57

Driving a car in a short distances(less than 7 miles)frequently in cold weather gives that "milky" dipstick.

It's normal during cold weather.

xb corp · Post by **xb corp** » 01 Dec 2009, 19:16

i afraid that is sign of leaking headgasket...water mixing with oil..

Post by **IVIUSTANG** » 01 Dec 2009, 23:47

Don't fret to much, mine has been like that for the last 60,000 KM(as long as I've owned it). I have used no fluids and have no leaks, performance is good; oil drains clean. It is ALOT worse in the winter time here; I feel it is moisture from an imperfect seal at the dipstick.

- Jesse

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 02 Dec 2009, 00:13

No I doubt that it is the headgasket. Milky oil seems to be pretty common in the colder months with the 850's. If it was the head gasket you would be losing some coolant.

Colonialgirl · Post by **Colonialgirl** » 02 Dec 2009, 00:24

You might want to take it in to a mechanic and have them run a pressure check on the cooling system; If the pressure holds, that would eliminate the head gasket as the problem.
The other cause might be driving very short distances in cold weather where the oil never gets up to a high enough temperature to drive off the residual moisture.

Jellobmw · Post by **Jellobmw** » 03 Dec 2009, 07:29

Often this can be fixed by just putting a new oring on the top of the dipstick. But obviously that won't take care of a cracked head........

asummers · Post by **asummers** » 03 Dec 2009, 10:43

A new o-ring on the dip stick, Hmmmmm. Thanks! I will take a look at it tonight and see. It does seem like it is just inside the tube. And, there is no water/oil mix when I change the oil.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 03 Dec 2009, 15:19

I would say 99% chance it's just condensation from the cold and not the head gasket.