oil foam on the dip stick

jack98s70 · Post by **jack98s70** » 10 Feb 2011, 20:41

Hey,
I have a 98 s70 with 176,000 miles. The engine seems to use more than its fair share of oil. Recently, I've noticed "foam" on the dip stick. Anyone know why?

Post by **vjaneczko** » 10 Feb 2011, 20:56

Welcome to the forum!

What's the level of the oil? How much oil is the car drinking? Have you changed the oil & filter recently?

Usually when there's too much oil, you'll get a foaming situation. This is not to be confused with a milky dipstick, which is common and happens when the car is used for short trips during the winter.

jack98s70 · Post by **jack98s70** » 10 Feb 2011, 21:14

I use 1 quart every 1500 to 2000 miles. The exhaust is clean; I think there's a minor leak. The oil level is fine; I changed it this past weekend.
The foam / milky fluid is thick and at various location all the way up on the dip stick. I drove 30 miles last night, parked the car for the night, checked the oil this morning (before starting the engine) and the foam was present.

Post by **precopster** » 11 Feb 2011, 00:54

Can you post a photo?

Also if you start the engine with the oil cap removed do you see the same foam slushing around on the cams? If so you have cross contamination of oil and water and you need to stop driving it immediately.

This seems strangely like a head gasket problem but the weather in the U.S being what it is lately it can be condensation/moisture in the crankcase. Is the car garaged?

Has the PCV system had any attention lately?

In any case a photo may help narrow it down.

jack98s70 · Post by **jack98s70** » 11 Feb 2011, 06:08

The car isn't garaged.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll post a photo tonight.

jack98s70 · Post by **jack98s70** » 12 Feb 2011, 05:34

Here are 3 photos: foam on the dip stick, foam up the tobe, and inside the engine (camshaft) from the fill cap.

: dip stick.jpg (237.14 KiB) Viewed 4318 times

jack98s70 · Post by **jack98s70** » 12 Feb 2011, 05:36

These photos were taken when the engine was cold. I drove 1/2 hour on the highway, then shot these photos 8 hours later.

Post by **precopster** » 12 Feb 2011, 07:16

It looks like condensation. I say this because I can see some normal unfrothed oil in the cam area.

Is there normal looking oil on the end of the dipstick at the measuring marks?

Was it any better after that drive? Is your temperature guage sitting on the halfway mark and does it stay there during trips?

Incidentally what type of oil did you use?

jack98s70 · Post by **jack98s70** » 12 Feb 2011, 10:59

yes there is normal looking oil at the bottom.

The temperature guage stays in the middle to colder-side after the engine has been running.

The oil was a 10w-30 kendall. Is there an oil you recommend for high mileage engines?

jack98s70 · Post by **jack98s70** » 12 Feb 2011, 11:17

yes there is normal looking oil at the bottom.

The temperature guage stays in the middle to colder-side after the engine has been running.

The oil was a 10w-30 kendall. Is there an oil you recommend for high mileage engines?