How do i know if there is water in engine oil

Question

i checked the oil level in motor oil and when i pulled out the dip stick the oil was light brown instead of dark does this mean it could have water in the oil and level of oil was past the marker its suppose to be at. if it has water whats the best way to fix it and will it get worse.

Answer 1

you only change the oil when it is black.  light brown is fine.  

when you test your oil your car has to be off.  if your car is on when you test your oil it will read  as tho you have to much oil.

if you have water / antifreeze in your engine your oil will look rusty

cp

Answer 2

Hi

If there is water in the engine oil it will appear milky, on the dip stick.

Light brown means it's clean, dark brown usually means it's time for an oil change.

Katie

Answer 3

check coolant level

drain oil and check condition (chocolate milk?)

pressure test cooling system

perform leak down test

possible head gasket, cracked head, leaking intake manifold ( 'V' configured engines)

Answer 4

Sorry Buff-me, but you are wrong!  The oil will look milky if water is present. NOT RUSTY!  Light brown is the color it should be. Take a look at the owner's manual, it will tell how many quarts the car should hold.  It sounds like some one over filled it.  Most cars these days use a small filter, so if you put in the traditional 5 qts, you have just added an extra quart.

Answer 5

First remove your oil cap from your valve cover,and thump the opening upon your palm.Water presence indicates inpending or blown intake manifold gasket,or head gasket.Secondly,many of your other answer's are quite correct on the color the oil will take on,but mostly a chocolate hue and a water/oil feel to the touch.

Answer 6

first thing to check is oil filler cap look for a creamy deposits this first check is on a hot engineafter about 1/2 hour running. light brown is normal. is car useing more water has oil level riseing it do not sound like blown head gasket stop adding antrust to radiator till you have pressure tested radiator the green glycol in anti rust additive turns engine oil to a jelly not good for engine wear

Answer 7

With water in the oil you will have a green milky oil. Yes it will be over the fill level but if someone over filled your crank case then it would be over the fill mark also. Don't wait till your oil is black before you change it.

Good luck

Answer 8

if it is bubbly or really muddy brown, and your exhaust is spewing blue or white smoke then you know for sure that you have coolant or water in the engine

Answer 9

buff is right!it will look like rust if there is water in it. besides if there is water going into your oil, your oil should read high on the stick.

Answer 10

it wil be milky looking not black or clear like oil.. and yes it will get worse. only way of fixing is a head gasket  or heads if they are bad most likely gaskets... and you cant drive it much if any it will burn up the motor

Answer 11

your oil looks milky colored, get it to a mechanic immediately before you hydrolock the engine and have to buy a new engine, you have a bad head gasket or a bad intake gasket, hope for the latter as it's a little cheaper to fix.

Answer 12

>>  if it has water whats the best way to fix it and will it get worse.

Change the oil.  Then figure out why. Probably blown head gasket.

===

If you have water in the oil, the oil would look light brown (like foamy coffee).  Water make the oil foamy / froathy.

Good luck...

Answer 13

If the moisture in the crankcase is clear, then the PCV Valve is not functioning correctly, however if it's the color of antifreeze, then there more serious issues.

In both cases the oil will be a milky color.

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