Condensation or coolant? freaking out

[weider1717]

Guys,

I had my 87 parked for a few years 3 years with the radiator out and accessories off as I got other projects that got in the way and so it sat.

Finally got done in the shop and got everything done and put back and was driving it (currently has 69k original miles)

After putting a few hundred miles on it I said that oil only has 2k miles on it but it sat a lot I'll go ahead and change it (was mobile 1)

I took the oil cap off and there is snot under the cap and up under the valve cover that you see with coolant leak and I did notice my coolant low the other day but my coolant tank has a leak so I didn't think much about it and added some.

Now I'm not sure if it's coolant or use condensation after sitting so low then me running it about 800 miles or so…worried.

**oil on the dip stick does not appear milky just brown burnt oil not super clean not dirty black either. and showed on or very slightly above full mark.

[weider1717]

I went and drained about 1/4 of a quart from the pan and it oil that was drained is not milky. FYI

[74CustomK20]

Mine did that and it was just condensation getting under there. Long as the oil you drain is good, I wouldn't worry.

[daddyjeep]

Agreed. My Jeep did the same thing. It scared me just like it did you. I had a freshly built motor, but it took me a while to finish the build so it got some condensation in there.

[weider1717]

Well guys I just got back from doing a complete oil change and nothing out of the ordinary was noticed.

oil appeared like normal burnt oil as always and no sludge or milkshake. Appears to only be under the valve covers top side and oil cap.

I looked in through the oil cap hole to the head and head is not slugged I also felt it and had your normal oil smear but nothing milky.

My only question is the coolant level hope that is just a leak at the coolant tank that finally showed up enough when I checked the level.



with that info I should be good correct? Surely i would have drained milky oil if the block, head or head gasket was cracked / bad.

[daddyjeep]

I would think you are good. I agree with your thought that if you did have a problem it would be evident in the oil you drained.

[Dead Parrot]

Remember that a fair amount of combustion blow by is water from the H part of the hydrocarbon gasoline and additives. Is your PVC system connected and working? Are you taking long trips or mostly short ones? If short, you are probably not getting the oil hot enough to evaporate out the water it picks up from blow by. That could be where your water condensation is coming from. That is made worse if your PVC system isn't working.

[weider1717]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Remember that a fair amount of combustion blow by is water from the H part of the hydrocarbon gasoline and additives. Is your PVC system connected and working? Are you taking long trips or mostly short ones? If short, you are probably not getting the oil hot enough to evaporate out the water it picks up from blow by. That could be where your water condensation is coming from. That is made worse if your PVC system isn't working.

I have heard PCV before but honestly never done anything with a PCV valve?

[tucsonjwt]

To check coolant level, I always top off the radiator and fill the recovery tank to the cold level indicated. After driving the truck for a hundred miles or so, the level in the radiator should still be full to the top when the engine is cold. If it is not full, then you have a leak somewhere. If you think you have a leak, post back here and we can point you to some usual suspects.

[andrewmp6]

Condensation happens when you don't drive longer then 15 to 20 mins every trip you take.

[weider1717]

where is the pcv valve and can i check it somehow?