Water drops in oil cap

[tici]

In my 98 LS1 i can find water drops in the oil cap: it's like an emulsion water-oil (light brown).
This especially in winter.

Is it normal? I can immagine it's the same as in the exhaust: just a result of the fuel combustion.

Or is it coming from the cooling system?

Thanks - Stefano

[PontiacFan]

Probably condensation from not fully heating up, or from short trips.

Common on vehicles that are driven short distances, ...

If you match that profile, I wouldn't worry about it.

If however,, you've never done any short trips, & it's always fully heated, then you may want to investigate a little further, ...

[killer01ws6]

Originally posted by PontiacFan
Probably condensation from not fully heating up, or from short trips.

Common on vehicles that are driven short distances, ...

If you match that profile, I wouldn't worry about it.

If however,, you've never done any short trips, & it's always fully heated, then you may want to investigate a little further, ...

:werd:

I would change the oil now,
and try to cut down on trips that end before the car is warmed up to operating temps if possible.

[jumpcable]

I had that same stuff in my oil on my cap, but I thought it was the grease I used on my retainer keys to hold them together when I swaped my springs out. I'm changing the oil this weekend so I'll be able to really tell what is going on. Sure hope I don't see a lot of contaminents in it. - Patrick :D

[tici]

Short trips can be the problem: I drive the car daily home-office-home, about 10 miles each trip.
The engine reaches 180 F after half way...
Longer trips just in the weekend.
Am I messing up the engine?:rolleyes:

[killer01ws6]

Not if you are reaching 180+ before you get there. :)

[ssmoq_2002]

Dont want to alarm anybody...last time this happened to me (ford truck) the block was cracked (basically the head was warped and the block cracked). :(

[Patman]

A lot of guys I know on the oil message board report seeing condensation in their oil filler area in the winter, it's pretty normal. You definitely need to do longer trips in the winter to get the oil up to temperature though, it takes so much longer to heat up in freezing cold temps compared to summer.

[jmd]

Running a stock thermostat? I agree with what was said on the taking longer trips to warm it up.

[tici]

Mhhh.... get up earlier in the morning and drive around until the engine is hot?

[jumpcable]

I go ahead and start my car in the morning before I take the dogs out for a walk. That way when I get back to leave, the car has already pretty much warmed up completely. I've actually started doing this since my cam swap. Gives the springs good enough time to warm up completely. - Patrick :D

[killer01ws6]

warming up after market springs to OP temp before :drive: is a Must... :yup:

You can idle off and keep the rpms under 2K and be ok also.

But if you are like me and traffic demands a need for power sometimes.... Make sure they are warm before you drop the hammer.

[jumpcable]

That is exactly why I warm mine up before hand...sometimes the urge to wot in the mornings is too much that I would hate to do it when the car wasn't fully warmed up. :D

[tici]

...or install a timer that starts the engine 30 minutes before I go to work...

[jumpcable]

You can install a remote starting system that is a feature of some alarm systems. This would allow you to start the car from your house at anytime duing your normal routine without breaking your cycle. I use the "dog walking time" as my remote start...:D It usually only takes my car about ten to 15 minutes to get to full OTs...and that is during the winter days (35 - 50 degree temps).

[tici]

you mean "dog $hitting time"?:horse:
I know the remote you mean... could be an idea! It works as an handy. Depending on the system you can give different orders too, just call it and digit a code.

[jumpcable]

Yeah...poopy poopy time for the dogs is rumble rumble time for the TA. I love these new smilies...plop!

[tici]

... for both of them (car + dogs) stinky stinky time...:turd:

Is a warming up a must for all aftermarket springs? I was considering a cam swap, included pushrods, rockers and springs... but I still want a "normal" car. Something to use everyday, something I can give to the girlfriend and dont worry about her... (her = the car!)

[jumpcable]

Yes...it is vital that you allow the aftermarket springs to warm up to full OT before going into high rpms. As staed before, you can drive around while they are warming up, just don't take it past 3 grand or so. With stiffer springs, they are liable to break when cold, that is why you should let the car warm up.

[Patman]

I'm sure you could drive your car right away with aftermarket springs, especially in the summer, just be sure to keep the rpms below 2000 for the first couple of minutes, this should be very easy with an automatic. It's something you should be doing anyways. I'm super gentle with how I drive my car when the engine is cold. I never let it warm up at all, I simply start moving right after starting it up, but since my car is auto I can just let the car idle along without touching the gas and it'll pull me along for the first minute or so until I get out of my townhouse complex. Then I just give it a very light foot on the throttle so it stays below 1500rpm for the next few minutes. And even when the coolant is up to temp, I still try not to drive it hard for a few extra minutes until I know the oil is good and warm (oil always takes longer to warm up than coolant)