Do you know how to fix milky oil in engine? If not, you can try optimum performance ride. Otherwise, contact any certified mechanic as soon as possible.
The engine is the part the makes the car run smoothly. Unfortunately, the metal parts of the engine rub against each other to produce heat and abrasion. So, you should use the best engine oil to lubricate these metal parts.
However, you may notice something suspicious like whitish sludge in the engine's oil cap. That's why we will discuss the leading causes of milky motor oil and how to fix milky engine oil.
How to diagnose the milky oil in the engine?
Well, dipstick can help you in diagnosing the milky oil. Firstly, pull the dipstick and see if there are any air bubbles on the dipstick. Moreover, you may also find brownish spots or thick milky white oil on the dipstick. All these symptoms also indicate the presence of water in your car's engine oil.
If you notice the water in the oil dipstick, it's better to proceed with the diagnosis step. If you see water at the engine's bottom after allowing your car engine to rest, it's also an indication of water in engine oil.
For further inspection, you can also take engine oil from the oil pan. If you notice milky oil in the car's engine, it means your engine's oil has coolant or water. And you should be concerned about that.
Why there is milky oil in the engine?
The milky oil in the car's engine gives you a clue to the presence of moisture. And it's precisely the reason for whitish motor oil.
Sometimes the water gets mixed with the engine oil. This moistness gets evaporated and deposits on the oil cap.
Although it's not a severe issue, it can have an impact on the engine's performance. Moreover, in extreme cases, it can lock the engine's moving parts, causing components of the combustion engine to fall apart.
How to fix milky oil in engine based on different causes
There are several reasons for moisture build-up in the motor oil. Let's explore all the reasons one by one with their fixes.
1. Moisture
Moisture surrounds us everywhere. Similarly, the humidity can also quickly get into the vehicle's car engine, no matter how much you have tried to keep it dry.
Usually, the high operating temperature of the engine evaporates the moisture and extra water.
What I am listening, you're a resident of a humid area. Well, there are chances of the appearance of dirty lubricant.
Fix:
In such a high humidity area, take the car on a 30-minutes highway ride. Make sure the speed of the vehicle during the ride is 60MPH or higher. After a couple of rides, you will notice that oil doesn't look milky.
2. Bad head gasket
So, have you tried the fix suggested above? And you don't see any difference in the presence of milky oil. Well, a bad head gasket could be the reason for milky engine oil in such a scenario.
It's a serious issue, and you should be concerned about it.
Wait, do you know what the head gasket is and what are its functions? Well, head gaskets prevent the engine oil and coolant from entering into the cylinders. So, any problem in the head gasket affects the cooling system, resulting in overheating and damage to the engine.
Are you sure the milky oil in your car's engine is due to a bad head gasket? If not, you can again check the dipstick. If the oil contains a mayonnaise-like substance, the reason the blown head gasket.
Fix:
Contact the mechanic as soon as you notice the wrong colored lubricant, even after taking many optimum rides.
3. High-pressure washers
Another quiet reason behind the appearance of a milky white oil on the dipstick is the regular washing of the car with high-pressure washers. Well, it might seem nuance to you. And you might be thinking how washers which aimed for cleaning purposes could be the reason for something wrong.
Well, it's true. High-pressure water could easily enter the engine through air filters, oil caps, and steering caps, leading to moisture build-up in the engine.
Fix:
● Always use a low-pressure stem while cleaning the sensitive areas.
● Take an optimal performance ride after you have washed your car with a high-pressure washer.
Besides above methods, you can also use oil additive to fix milky oil in engine.
FAQs
1. Does a bad head gasket is the only reason for milky engine oil?
No, it's not so. No doubt a bad head gasket is one reason for coolant in oil leading to milky oil. However, this issue can also be due to some other reasons such as
● The natural build-up of moisture
● Vapor build-up after you has washed the car with a high-pressure washer
2. What are the symptoms of a bad head gasket?
Here're some symptoms that indicate that the head gasket of your car's engine is blown:
● Overheating or oil in air intake
● Smoke with whitish tint from the exhaust
● Low level of coolant even if there is no leakage
● Formation of bubbles in the radiator
3. How to know about the coolant mix-up with engine oil?
Following are some indicators that indicated the coolant mix-up with engine oil
● Brown bubbles on the oil layer
● Brown residues above the oil level
● Chocolate-milk like the appearance of oil on the dipstick
4. Does a blown head gasket produce any sound?
Yes! Actually, a blown head gasket may allow compressed air to escape. This reduction in compression leads to a loss in engine power, making a similar sound to an exhaust leak.
Final thoughts..!!!
While exploring how to fix milky oil in engine, you can follow any of the above mentioned methods. However, the exact fix depends on the cause of the milky engine oil.
For instance, optimal performance rides are helpful for the natural build-up of moisture. Similarly, cleaning the sensitive areas with low-pressure steam is helpful when water builds up due to high-pressure washers.
On the other hand, you have to contact the certified mechanic as soon as possible if a bad head gasket is a reason for milky engine oil. So, identify the exact reason behind the dirty motor oil before choosing any fix.