Lots of milky condensation in oil cap and filler neck

I am finding a lot of yellowish milky condensation covering my filler cap and filler neck. Toyota says it's normal, but it seems like an awful lot for it to be normal. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

I just noticed this my last oil change so it makes me feel better that Toyota said it was normal. Maybe some others will chime in. I think I've heard in the past that it's condensation from the crankcase and normal. Hope it is!!

 

Are you using synthetic oil? I find that the synthetic oil makes it even worse..Cause I use Mobil 1 5W-30

Do you take short trips to work each day?

My 05 Tacoma 4.0 does the same thing and it makes allot of that yellowish stuff under my oil cap and even more in the winter

It's condensation and can't burn off of the plastic oil filler neck and cap like it can on other metal engine parts witch get hotter

Not a whole lot you can do about it

 

That is usually not a good sign, milky looking oil is a sign of water. Could be head gasket or something to that effect. Does it show up on the dip stick? If so i would definitely question there "normal" statement. Do you have a scan guage, if so i would monitor your engine temp daily, if temp continues to gradually increase over time you have a water leak somewhere.

 

To be blunt, you have serious problems.
Do not run the engine, since you are circulating coolant and will destroy the motor.

Still under warranty? drag it to the stealer and have them fix it.

No longer warrantied? drag it to the best mechanic you know, and be prepared for a big bill.

Frothy, or milky oil is "not normal".

Simple as that.

 

I change my own oil for the first time since i bought the truck in Nov. It had a bunch of that crap in it so unbolted the filler neck and cleaned it out and put it back on.

 

x2

 

Apaz10, just liked mentioned up above my post by other members, it is probably just condensation. Could also be coolant, probably not but should check the dipstick.

Here is a link on the same subject, review both threads. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/general-automotive/76088-help-oil-change.html#post1450847

 

if it just on the cap your ok, like Chris said, just change oil more often. I get it from short file mile commutes, I suspect the extreme colds dont help either. I had oil tested and it was fine.

 

No need to freak out yet. This isn't something huge.

It's called "cold water sludge" and it comes from moisture condensing in the crankcase in cold weather, and trips in the truck too short to allow the moisture to boil off.

Estimates vary, but the conventional wisdom is your engine needs to spend 20 minutes or so at operating temp to boil off condensed moisture completely.

Take a long trip every 2 or 3 trips, or start giving the engine some time to warm up. Should at least decrease the problem.

 

Nobody said anything about milky oil. He is referring to the milky substance that collects on the underside of the filler cap due to the long, plastic filler tube being surrounded by cold air.

 

x2
my wifes 99 tahoe had "condensation" on her oil cap and filler neck. it turned out to be an intake manifold gasket that was leaking coolant in to the motor. its not normal to have "condensation" in the motor. once i fixed the leak the "condensation" went away.

 

Condensation, water, or coolant is not a "normal" situation to just shrug off. Water, and especially coolant will tear up crank case bearings super quick.

 

Agreed, but this isn't from some mechanical defect in his engine. It's how he's using the vehicle, and it's essentially unavoidable with that type of use.

There's a reason we always hear about engines doing their best at operating temp...it prevents this kind of stuff.

 

^^What Cris4x4 said. Also, I've read the condensation forms due to the plastic fill tube...perfectly normal with our trucks and nothing to worry about.

 

sweet mother of mercy

its a normal thing to have this under the cap. on Tacoma 4L V6 . filler neck is too long so it never heats up, synthetic makes it worse since engine runs cooler'

 

hmmm, OK, well if that's what "the factory" tells ya then it must be OK right?

Long oil fill tube? you are kidding right?

To me I don't see this as something worthy of debate.

Water/condensation + oil = damage.


The OP should have everything checked out none the less.

 

Wait stop what your doing!! this is a tsb and recall....NOT ...its no big deal ...take the tacoma on a road trip and the condensation will go away