Cause for concern?

[zerosoma]

Checked oil on dipstick in Prius this morning. Had not been running, had been sitting all night. Oil between the two L and F dots (within proper range) looked fine but I have been noticing oil further up the dipstick (in smeared amounts) but looks sort of cloudy, milky, or watery. Like if you were to wipe that area of the dipstick with a wet rag, stick it back in, and then read it again. It is only the smeared amounts above the fill line. I have checked it before recently with the rest of the dipstick clean and it looks good but often I check it and this happens and I'm wondering if I should be concerned.

Probably time to do a UOA as the engine has ~155k on it and I know how Toyotas like to leak coolant.

No pictures...and oil has consistently drained black, never milky...but should I be concerned?

 

[Phishin]

One of the most common and likely reasons your oil has a water contamination, especially at the top of the dipstick, is a faulty PCV system.

When is the last time you put a new PCV valve in? Or cleaned your old one? Check and make sure there is plety of vacuum coming from the intake side of the PCV valve. Make sure there are no cracks or leaks in the PCV lines.

I'd be suprised if this wasn't your problem.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
One of the most common and likely reasons your oil has a water contamination, especially at the top of the dipstick, is a faulty PCV system.

When is the last time you put a new PCV valve in? Or cleaned your old one? Check and make sure there is plety of vacuum coming from the intake side of the PCV valve. Make sure there are no cracks or leaks in the PCV lines.

I'd be suprised if this wasn't your problem.


Pretty new to the auto world as far as doing things other than routine maintenance. Have never replaced PCV let alone know where I can find it on my car. Think I might have to take it in. What does all of this mean? Can it wait till spring or is my engine in danger?

 

[mmack66]

Could be condensation.

 

[electrolover]

Its winter. Condensation is likely this time of year. If your pcv is in good shape I wouldn't worry. Try taking it for a highway drive and see what happens

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: electrolover
Its winter. Condensation is likely this time of year. If your pcv is in good shape I wouldn't worry. Try taking it for a highway drive and see what happens


I do 90% highway driving 4 times a week. I still find condensation under my cap and the same results on my dipstick...

 

[MrQuackers]

Google shows your PCV is less than 10 bucks. A little more involved than replacing on most cars I see. May be the original part on it now

so get to your FLAPS

HOW TO

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: MrQuackers
Google shows your PCV is less than 10 bucks. A little more involved than replacing on most cars I see. May be the original part on it now

so get to your FLAPS

HOW TO


Could this wait till spring to be changed? I drive 3k a month highway. BTW I haven't had excessive oil consumption - I added maybe 1/6 of a quart after 5k.

 

[jdawg89]

Its not reallly a cause for concern..but its like a 10 min job. Pop right in pop right out

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: jdawg89
Its not reallly a cause for concern..but its like a 10 min job. Pop right in pop right out


What? Are you kidding me?

The PCV takes the gases left over from combustion and recycles it through the engine in an attempt to get it out your exhaust pipe.

One by-products of combustion is WATER.

Water is probably THEE worst enemy of motor oil. PERIOD.

If you drive mostly highway miles and still have condensation under the filler cap and on dipstick.....you almost for sure have a bad PCV valve. Dude, it's simply to replace. Probably no tools needed. But I don't know where yours is on your Prius.

The condensation WILL cause oil sludge. You have a problem. Fix it now.

And if you really can't fix this, take your car into any oil change shop and have a new PCV valve in your pocket, and ask them to change it for you when you get your oil changed. I'm pretty sure they will do it for you for free.....as long as you have a new one on you when you ask.

Get this fixed.

See if the old one is bad. Does it rattle? Have the guy look around the PCV hoses and make sure everything is kosher there as well. Like, is there a vacuum pull on hose feeding into the intake?

 

[jdawg89]

It didn't hurt the dodge,being drove like that for 4 months lol

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Originally Posted By: jdawg89
Its not reallly a cause for concern..but its like a 10 min job. Pop right in pop right out


What? Are you kidding me?

The PCV takes the gases left over from combustion and recycles it through the engine in an attempt to get it out your exhaust pipe.

One by-products of combustion is WATER.

Water is probably THEE worst enemy of motor oil. PERIOD.

If you drive mostly highway miles and still have condensation under the filler cap and on dipstick.....you almost for sure have a bad PCV valve. Dude, it's simply to replace. Probably no tools needed. But I don't know where yours is on your Prius. The condensation WILL cause oil sludge. You have a problem. Fix it now. And if you really can't fix this, take your car into any oil change shop and have a new PCV valve in your pocket, and ask them to change it for you when you get your oil changed. I'm pretty sure they will do it for you for free.....as long as you have a new one on you when you ask.

Get this fixed. See if the old one is bad. Does it rattle? Have the guy look around the PCV hoses and make sure everything is kosher there as well. Like, is there a vacuum pull on hose feeding into the intake?


I think I'll wait for a nice day and do it. Nice days are few and far between in February and I got to find a day I have off just in case I mess something up, that way I won't need the car. Worst case scenario a couple very short OCI's to clean out anything that might have happened from this.

Checked it again outside and yeah there was a slight milkiness to it halfway up the stick and a couple bubbles, just sitting there. After driving it for 10 minutes and it was heated up I checked it again, no condensation on the dipstick and no bubbles.

 

[mechtech2]

This is more than likely from the cold, and is common for this type of condensation so occur then.

 

[zerosoma]

Going to send in a UOA of this too. Will it pick up on the report if I have water condensation in the oil?

 

[JimPghPA]

Heat a piece of metal up to a temperature below the maximum new oil of the same kind can handle.

Drip some oil from the dip stick on the hot metal. If there is water in the oil it will violently boil off. If there is no water in the oil it will behave like the original oil.

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Heat a piece of metal up to a temperature below the maximum new oil of the same kind can handle.

Drip some oil from the dip stick on the hot metal. If there is water in the oil it will violently boil off. If there is no water in the oil it will behave like the original oil.


interesting. this should be done with a lighter and gloves I'm assuming or is there any special method to this?

 

[DinoOil]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Checked oil on dipstick in Prius this morning. Had not been running, had been sitting all night. Oil between the two L and F dots (within proper range) looked fine but I have been noticing oil further up the dipstick (in smeared amounts) but looks sort of cloudy, milky, or watery. Like if you were to wipe that area of the dipstick with a wet rag, stick it back in, and then read it again. It is only the smeared amounts above the fill line. I have checked it before recently with the rest of the dipstick clean and it looks good but often I check it and this happens and I'm wondering if I should be concerned.

Probably time to do a UOA as the engine has ~155k on it and I know how Toyotas like to leak coolant.

No pictures...and oil has consistently drained black, never milky...but should I be concerned?





Dude..... Seriously, take a few Paxil's and chill, OK?

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: DinoOil
Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Checked oil on dipstick in Prius this morning. Had not been running, had been sitting all night. Oil between the two L and F dots (within proper range) looked fine but I have been noticing oil further up the dipstick (in smeared amounts) but looks sort of cloudy, milky, or watery. Like if you were to wipe that area of the dipstick with a wet rag, stick it back in, and then read it again. It is only the smeared amounts above the fill line. I have checked it before recently with the rest of the dipstick clean and it looks good but often I check it and this happens and I'm wondering if I should be concerned.

Probably time to do a UOA as the engine has ~155k on it and I know how Toyotas like to leak coolant.

No pictures...and oil has consistently drained black, never milky...but should I be concerned?





Dude..... Seriously, take a few Paxil's and chill, OK?




That "rather be safe than sorry" quote comes to mind here. That's why I asked.

 

[JimPghPA]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
Heat a piece of metal up to a temperature below the maximum new oil of the same kind can handle.

Drip some oil from the dip stick on the hot metal. If there is water in the oil it will violently boil off. If there is no water in the oil it will behave like the original oil.


interesting. this should be done with a lighter and gloves I'm assuming or is there any special method to this?


A lighter might not have enough heat. A Coleman camping stove or a propane torch probably would have enough heat.

It would be helpful to have some means to measure the temperature of the metal. A inferred temperature reader, or a BBQ thermostat probe might be good ways to measure the temperature. Stay below the oils flash point, do it someplace where a small oil fire when the oil hits the metal would not be a problem, and use a small amount of oil so if it ever did ignite the fire would be small.

Having a bucket of sand and or a fire extinguisher handy would probably be a good idea. And of course don't do it around any highly flammables.


You could dope a small amount of new oil with a small amount of water and try it to see how it reacts.

You should wear a full face shield and have protection from splattering hot oil, as it could violently ignite and you could end up with hot flaming oil splatter. Not a good thing to have happen if you are too close without skin and face protection, or near flammable material.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
No pictures...and oil has consistently drained black, never milky...but should I be concerned?


It could warrant a PCV change. Others have mentioned that it's cheap and easy for your application, so it's worth a shot.

Also, I'm guessing you guys got hit with some of the ultra-cold weather we did recently, too. I had a tiny bit of condensation under the oil cap in the G when it was close to -40. A couple longer trips and it was gone.