Just curious about condensation resulting in water in my crankcase oil. I've heard about having a partially filled fuel tank resulting in condensation which can be observed in the fuel bowl. Can one develope condensation in their diesel engine from intermittant and short term use? If so, would this water sit in the bottom of the oil pan going undetected. Could it accumulate enough for the oil pump to send the water to the bearings?
WATER IN OIL
- Thread starter VIEWQUEST
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Farmwithjunk
Super Member
There's a litany of reasons why you could have water in the oil. NONE of them are good.
IT could be from a leaky head gasket, or a leak somewhere else in the engine. It could be rain water that leaked in through a poorly fit oil filler cap, or through the air filter intake. It might be simply condensation. I could fill the internet with reasons why.
It probably has seperated from sitting so long. It will mix with the oil when you start running it, should you not take action before hand.
It will do some damage, and POSSIBLY MAJOR damage if it's left in there.
I'd drain everything from the oil pan, re-fill with new oil, then run it a few minutes, followed by another change. However you do it, get that stuff out of the crankcase.
If it re-appears, you have serious troubles.
It will NOT stay put in the bottom of the oil pan should you run the engine.
IT could be from a leaky head gasket, or a leak somewhere else in the engine. It could be rain water that leaked in through a poorly fit oil filler cap, or through the air filter intake. It might be simply condensation. I could fill the internet with reasons why.
It probably has seperated from sitting so long. It will mix with the oil when you start running it, should you not take action before hand.
It will do some damage, and POSSIBLY MAJOR damage if it's left in there.
I'd drain everything from the oil pan, re-fill with new oil, then run it a few minutes, followed by another change. However you do it, get that stuff out of the crankcase.
If it re-appears, you have serious troubles.
It will NOT stay put in the bottom of the oil pan should you run the engine.
Viewquest,
You should head Farmingwithjunk's warnings if you have water in the oil.
However, to directly answer your question. Yes, water can condense from the air into the engine as well as the rear end, transmission and hydraulics. That is one reason why fluid changes go by miles, use hours and months/years - which ever is shorter. It's not just short use, but anytime there is enough thermal uptake to cause the air in the case to expand out, then when night falls and the relative humidity goes up, the air in the case shrinks and it inhales. Park your tractor in a sunny spot and it will happen every day.
If you get enough water, it will ruin the bearings. Can also ruin more stuff too! If you check oil level before use and after use, you will catch it pretty quick. Oil will go milky and it is not a good lubricant at that point.
jb
You should head Farmingwithjunk's warnings if you have water in the oil.
However, to directly answer your question. Yes, water can condense from the air into the engine as well as the rear end, transmission and hydraulics. That is one reason why fluid changes go by miles, use hours and months/years - which ever is shorter. It's not just short use, but anytime there is enough thermal uptake to cause the air in the case to expand out, then when night falls and the relative humidity goes up, the air in the case shrinks and it inhales. Park your tractor in a sunny spot and it will happen every day.
If you get enough water, it will ruin the bearings. Can also ruin more stuff too! If you check oil level before use and after use, you will catch it pretty quick. Oil will go milky and it is not a good lubricant at that point.
jb
GEB
Gold Member
I just found milky oil in my 1953 Jubilee
Over the winter I have made sevral short start-ups.
I also found that my vents were kinda clogged, oil cap
which is low & the vent on the valve cover was clogged.
So between the clogged vents and short starts it was
nothing more than condisation
If you got a bad leak, head - gasket or what ever I would think
you may find your oil over full and your radiator running low.
Anyway changing the oil and gettin up to temp a few times
will tell ya something.
I was lucky and hope you are also /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Gene
Over the winter I have made sevral short start-ups.
I also found that my vents were kinda clogged, oil cap
which is low & the vent on the valve cover was clogged.
So between the clogged vents and short starts it was
nothing more than condisation
If you got a bad leak, head - gasket or what ever I would think
you may find your oil over full and your radiator running low.
Anyway changing the oil and gettin up to temp a few times
will tell ya something.
I was lucky and hope you are also /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Gene
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I've always remembered what my High School Auto Shop teacher said. The car driven by the little old lady once a week to church is gonna have more damage to the engine than one that's driven on the highway every day!!
Everytime you turn off your engine, a certain amount of moisture will develop in the oil. It's so small that it's not something to be worried about. When you get the engine up to operating temps, the small amount of moisture goes away withouth causeing any real damage.
Letting the vehicle sit for long periods of time allows that small amount of moisture to start rusting exposed metal. Again, this is very minute, but it's there. Over time, it builds up adding to the wear of the vehicle.
If you have enough water in your oil to be noticable, you have bigger problems. Drain the tank, flush it again, and than run it to see if the water is really condensation. It's rare that you could get so much condensation that it would be noticable.
Gaskets are usualy the first to go, but heads and blocks do crack from time to time.
Good luck,
Eddie
Everytime you turn off your engine, a certain amount of moisture will develop in the oil. It's so small that it's not something to be worried about. When you get the engine up to operating temps, the small amount of moisture goes away withouth causeing any real damage.
Letting the vehicle sit for long periods of time allows that small amount of moisture to start rusting exposed metal. Again, this is very minute, but it's there. Over time, it builds up adding to the wear of the vehicle.
If you have enough water in your oil to be noticable, you have bigger problems. Drain the tank, flush it again, and than run it to see if the water is really condensation. It's rare that you could get so much condensation that it would be noticable.
Gaskets are usualy the first to go, but heads and blocks do crack from time to time.
Good luck,
Eddie