Coffee Colored Oil

[MarkD51]

Hello All,
Did an Oil Change this morning on my '97 Hoe, 5.7L engine, and noticed something I never seen before, as I am the original owner, and have used nothing but Mobil 1 5-30 since the very first change.

The oil had a look just like a cup of coffee that you added a little bit of milk into. Or could be called like a rust color

The last oil change was 23 months ago, believe it or not, but the truck has only about 500 miles placed on it since the last change.

The Oil looked very "homogenic" when I dropped it and looked at it, even in consistency, as I am not seeing something that was separated.

Does this sound like the dreaded "intake gasket issue" with anti-freeze mixing with oil?

I've seen the oil looking dirty, or black, but never like this before.

I am not losing coolant, all seems to be good.

 

[OR VietVet]

You could have coolant mix there and is a small amount. What may be the problem is a failed PCV valve. Also, it sounds like only 500 miles in 23 months means a lot of short trips. That could cause moisture build up that drops in oil while the engine warms and instead of a longer drive helping to cure that you shut off after the short trip and water condensation is dropping in to the oil.

 

[MarkD51]

You could have coolant mix there and is a small amount. What may be the problem is a failed PCV valve. Also, it sounds like only 500 miles in 23 months means a lot of short trips. That could cause moisture build up that drops in oil while the engine warms and instead of a longer drive helping to cure that you shut off after the short trip and water condensation is dropping in to the oil.

Thank you for replying, it's deeply appreciated! Actually, not many short trips at all, I hardly use the truck. One thing is not good is starting the truck every 4-5 weeks, I might be getting some blow by too? Cylinders must be dry as a bone upon start up.

Yep, I'm hoping such, and that because this is a dust bowl here some cruds went in through the intake?

I'm not personally happy, to take so long to change oil, nor not driving the truck as much as I should, which still has less than 40K on the Odo.

 

[OR VietVet]

Post here after next oil change and let us know if repeats. Pressure test cooling system.

 

[lester319]

I think I would be replacing the intake gasket. Sounds like you have some oil/coolant intermix. Very common. Better to fix it now before it gets worse.


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