WHAT IS IN MY OIL???

- 2009 4x4
- Miles 120,000
- Last oil change ~1,000 (one thousand) miles ago
- Used for light daily driving + light off-road ~once a month
- Nothing odd on the check oil dip stick
- Oil came out almost red? Looked very dark red when it was draining and idk if picture does it justice but it’s more red then what I’m used to seeing when doing oil changes (have done all my own for the last 5 years). With only 1,000 miles since change
- Milky slimy stuff on oil cap...

 

Wouldn't worry about Milky stuff in the cap is condensation. Common thing. Short trips, cooler temps.

The red though.... thats a new one

Didn't happen to put a quart of tranny fluid in last time did ya?
(heck i don't know if automatic tranny fluid is red on these things)

 

From what I’ve gathered from here is that it is normal. I asked the same question a couple years ago because mine looked like grease that you’ve let sit in the fridge, like white-ish goop. They say it’s from making shorter trips or something, idk?

 

Condensation?

 

Yea, but I’m not mechanic...

 

I wasn’t questioning your answer.
I agree, it looks to be condensation.
That was my guess.

No one had even posted when I posted.
We all posted the same thing at the same time.

 

Normal, mine looks the same every oil change.

 

Should see how bad it gets with sustained -30 temps. Best cure is a lengthy run to get the moisture out but it will return eventually.

 

The red oil is the only interesting point in this thread. I would submit an oil sample for analysis to a tribology lab. I use the Wix kits from Amazon. Prices vary, drop down to $12; currently it's $22.

 

You should see how bad my cap/neck looks. It looks like paints putty lol. My drive to work is like 4 miles.

 

Did you take a pic of the drained oil? If it looks milky also you MIGHT have an issue. If it looked normal you're probably fine, just condensation. Avoid short trip drives, get it up to temperature more often.

 

Red oil....you sure you didn't drain the transmission?

 

Oops, missed the red thing. Maybe the transmission is empty and crank case is overfilled now?

 

Are you positive you drained the oil pan and not the transmission?

Because if that happened, and its happened before, you have double the amount of engine oil, and very little transmission fluid. Don't drive it.

I'm not picking on you, I just don't want you to do damage to your truck.

 

Agreed, it's condensation, too many short trips. Get out and drive it.

 

Crank case looks pretty empty. I hope you didn't drain Trans fluid lol. I know which one to drain, and I still look at the manual just to make sure I'm not about to make a dumb mistake lol.

 

You drained the tranny and double filled the engine oil.

The milky stuff in the cap is normal, that’s just condensation from short trips. It’s also the least of your problems right now.

 

Did you get a picture of the oil after it was drained out?

Was the paper towel used to wipe down the inside of the oil fill tube? If so that may just be rust.

 

Nothing too worry about,clean your cap,then do a long drive,and I bet the slime wont be there.