Water/coolant in the oil?

lazylightnin717 · March 20, 2013, 10:35:25 AM

Checked the oil in my girlfriends car today and found this on the dipstick.

Car is a 2002 Saturn L200 2.2L

Popeye the Sailor · March 20, 2013, 10:43:34 AM

If there's water in the oil you have likely have a cracked head or a blown head gasket.

Neither one is really cheap to fix, though it's not bad if you can do it yourself.

zooom · March 20, 2013, 10:46:38 AM

Quote from: MrIncredible on March 20, 2013, 10:43:34 AM
If there's water in the oil you have likely have a cracked head or a blown head gasket.

Neither one is really cheap to fix, though it's not bad if you can do it yourself.

yup

Slide Panda · March 20, 2013, 11:40:59 AM

Climbing on the "have a cracked head or a blown head gasket." train... Sorry

stopintime · March 20, 2013, 11:52:47 AM

Unless 'someone' followed good advice and made sure to top off coolant and/or viper fluid, but missed the container by a few inches....

Tricknology · March 20, 2013, 03:15:32 PM

I'm inclined to say "fuhgeddabouddit!" Most likely atmospheric moisture found its way into the engine. My RX8 does that all winter long, and I'm in the desert southwest. Same deal as milky sightglasses on our Monsters.

Just my $0.02.

ducpainter · March 20, 2013, 03:24:13 PM

I'd be inclined to agree with you if the moisture was on the underside of the oil fill, but the tip of the dipstick is submerged in oil, and there's no way that much atmospheric moisture would mix with oil and not vaporize when the engine got hot and end up in the crankcase ventilation system.

When a sight glass gets milky there isn't visible water mixed with the oil in the sump.

Monsterlover · March 20, 2013, 03:25:02 PM

Tricknology · March 20, 2013, 03:54:33 PM

Quote from: ducpainter on March 20, 2013, 03:24:13 PM
I'd be inclined to agree with you if the moisture was on the underside of the oil fill, but the tip of the dipstick is submerged in oil, and there's no way that much atmospheric moisture would mix with oil and not vaporize when the engine got hot and end up in the crankcase ventilation system.

When a sight glass gets milky there isn't visible water mixed with the oil in the sump.

Fair play, Ducpainter, I stand corrected.

Now that I think about it, my dipstick usually has the goop just below the seal for the tube and in a few spots down the stick. Mazda did actually issue a service bulletin for that condensation problem though. Ended up installing insulated dipstick tubes and new dipsticks with modified seals.

lazylightnin717, was that on the initial pull or after a re-check? Cold engine, I assume, correct?

lazylightnin717 · March 20, 2013, 06:30:33 PM

2nd picture was the initial pull.

1st picture was a third.

Engine was cold.

Popeye the Sailor · March 20, 2013, 11:23:58 PM

I stand by my diagnosis that it's had the weenie.

Time for a new car-an 11 year old saturn ain't worth rebuilding.

lazylightnin717 · March 21, 2013, 05:39:06 AM

FWIW...

This car has lived it's life along coastal NJ.

And it only has 57k on the odo.

zooom · March 21, 2013, 05:46:05 AM

I say with that low of milage...fix it....can't be that expensive...2.2 four banger can't be that complicated to do a headgasket....and when the head is off, inspect the surfaces and maybe send the head out to have it decked if you see anything that doesn't look right...

ducpainter · March 21, 2013, 06:30:33 AM

Quote from: lazylightnin717 on March 21, 2013, 05:39:06 AM
FWIW...

This car has lived it's life along coastal NJ.

And it only has 57k on the odo.

Did it take on sea water from the hurricane?

sno_duc · March 21, 2013, 07:13:50 AM

Change the oil, then go for a drive, at least 2 hours at highway speeds.
If you still show water in the oil, it's time to do a coolant system leak check, they make a tool that replaces the radiator cap and allows you to pump up the system and watch the pressure gauge to see if it holds pressure.

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Water/coolant in the oil?