creamy looking oil?

txdscrt · Post by **txdscrt** » 13 Nov 2011, 18:03

Help Everyone,
I just did an oil change because I noticed that my oil looks like a cup of coffee, creamy brown (see the pic)
Is it that I have a leak somewhere or a busted gasket or something else?
Up to 2 weeks ago it was normal looking. The car has never overheated at all.

I replaced the radiator 2 months ago because I I had a yellow cream in my radiator overflow
I had thought it was a leak in the radiator causing it. At that time the oil was clear but
the radiator fluid had the creamy stuff in it.
I still have the yellow cream but in lesser amounts.

Somebody please give me ideas how to proceed.

Thanks in advance.
JJR

Post by **rspi** » 13 Nov 2011, 20:00

Thanks for the pic. I have heard of the chocolate milk but have never seen it till now. From all I have heard you likely have a bad head gasket or something along those lines. Is the car smoking from the tail pipe?

txdscrt · Post by **txdscrt** » 14 Nov 2011, 00:25

Hi rspi,
No smoking at all from the tail pipe

Post by **fazool** » 14 Nov 2011, 06:13

What you see is an emulsification of water and oil. Essentially, coolant (water and antifreeze) are getting into your oil.

As stated, the most likely culprit is a bad head gasket. because of the suction and pressure on every piston stroke is sucks water into the cylinder which runs down the cylinder gets into the oil.

To be blunt, yours looks rather extreme.

Post by **jblackburn** » 14 Nov 2011, 07:03

Time for a compression and/or leakdown test.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 14 Nov 2011, 11:39

Looks nasty. Does the 850GLT have an oil\coolant heat exchanger? I would look there first.

Post by **jblackburn** » 14 Nov 2011, 11:49

I replaced the radiator 2 months ago because I I had a yellow cream in my radiator overflow
I had thought it was a leak in the radiator causing it. At that time the oil was clear but
the radiator fluid had the creamy stuff in it.

A '97 has it built into the radiators like our 98's do.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 14 Nov 2011, 12:42

jblackburn wrote: '97 has it built into the radiators like our 98's do.

Ruh Roh. Well, I'll clutch at straws then for the OP....

-When the rad/oil exchanger was swapped, moisture already existed in the oil but there was no apparent emulsification when checked.
-Dud replacement rad/oil cooler.