Moisture on the filler cap has been a real money makers for disreputable repair shops for half a century. I am glad to see you shine some light on the issue. Thanks.
Definitely gave me some peace of mind! I started up our backup 97 Camry today after it sitting most of a very frigid winter in MN this year. I had fretted all winter about the -30F temps and how the coolant may have been too old and froze up and damaged the engine. The engine smoked a fair bit of white smoke initially on startup, and had some milky stuff on the filler cap. The oil on the dipstick was nice and normal, however, and no apparent loss of coolant. Thanks so much for this video! It at least gives me some confidence driving it instead of starting to tear into it or sell it.
Thank you very much for clarifying the differences. I have been told to worry when the oil cap gets a bit of milk on it and when the exhaust is blowing white smoke in cold weather conditions. In every head gasket symptoms video, they also warn about this without comparing it to a vehicle that just has normal cold weather symptoms. Finally someone who looks at the twofold story about head gaskets!
You are completely correct. I've seen that in my 2003 4Runner but always check my coolant and it's not losing any. You're correct and more people should know this.
Thanks for doing this video!! My 2004 Expedition (5.4L 16 valve) has that same condensation on the cap too. I have a 7 minute daily commute to work and this explained what was going on!!! You da man!!
Ran across this video trying to diagnose my issue thinking I have a blown head gasket. The comparison on these make me think a second time living in the Northeast part of the US. I have a VW and have to say this case covers all makes of vehicles - not just your Ford. Thanks so much for posting as I just need to keep a close eye on this for any future potential issues 👍
I used a bottle of Steel Seal to fix my head gasket, drained the coolant, removed the thermostat, flushed the cooling system really good, Then use a radiator cleaner to clean the cooling system , Make sure to flush out all the cleaner 100%, When engine is 100% cold add steel seal with distilled water, turn heater on high & let idle for 30 mins with the radiator cap off........Let it cool for 1 hour the let idle again for 30 mins with the radiator cap on...........next morning let it idle for another 30 mins then removed all water from the system to let the steel seal cure for 24 hours, Replace the thermostat, fill with coolant and your good to go. Mine has been running perfect for 70k miles now as i use the car for uber & lyft, Only cost me about $120 total.
Thanks Neighbor for the neat check. I use my 5 gas analyzer and check for hydrocarbons at either filler neck or coolant bottle. But of course that water pump internal leak into the crankcase would not show. Excellent information.
You saved my pockets. My qx4 has coffee under the cap and thought it was a blown head gasket. I never thought that cold weather can affect oil like that. Thanks a bunch man.
I never knew all these tricks til now. I thought for years I had a head gasket issue but now I know for certain it's more than likely perfectly fine. You seriously saved me some bucks and a for-sure headache! Thank you!
Thank you for clearing that up. My 4.6 had this happen in the winter. My Jeep 4.7 also had this going on until I revised the PCV system per a TSB they had, I also installed a catch can and have zero pudding on my oil cap now.
Anthony Lee I have chocolate in my coolant...flushed it with 50 gallons of water...it looked clean ...next day more oil...I didn’t start the motor at all. I flushed it so I coul pout blue devil, and wanted to make sure it clean.
Cheers man! Had coolant leak. Everyone is telling me it's the head gasket. Turns out the radiator needs replacing, not the head gasket. Oil is fine, no discolouration. Not using coolant, just slowley leaking it through the top seal of the front radiator.
I’m so glad I. Came across your channel I thought watching other channels that my engine was toast but I realized it was my short drives to work causing the condensation on the cap alone !!!!! Thank you thank you thank you !!!!!
I took my 98 Trans Am to the dealer for an oil change because it was free. They told me and try to convince me my head gasket was blown. That was 10yrs ago and knew he was lying.
Dude, this guy is awesome! His videos are very detailed and informative! They helped me out alot! If he's reading this, man thank you so much! Please keep making videos
Thanks for this. Just saw the gunk in the oil cap, but the dipstick is a black as the night sky. I'm doing a full oil change, dropping out the oil sump, adding new gasket on that and a new gasket on the rocker covers, inside no rust or yellow gunk. It's a 2009 Mini One. Your advice is calming me down 🙂and the winter temp is dropping real fast here in the UK. Cheers and thanks for the video. A well and trusted mechanic.
Can't thank you enough..... Really appreciate this video, I was really panicking, but couldn't understand why I had a small amount of mess under oil cap, but according to dipstick oil colour was fine. Thank you again, much love from the UK 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 =🥇 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎊🎊🎊
Great video, same in in the UK on my volvo V70 2009. Been using alot more recently for sort trips to work, especially during lockdown in order to protect myself from bumping into people during the early hours of the morning or extreme late night shifts I do on the railway. Checked my oil filler cap today and almost sh## myself thinking, bye bye volvo. Oil is OK, water expansion tank ok. Your a life and money saver. Thank you.
Moved to minneapolis and had this on my car thinking the head gasket had blown due to the white goo but none of the other symptoms where there and the oil was clean. Even did a combustion test and it passed. I couldn't figure it out. I lived in Texas prior and never had this issue but have also been driving less. Thanks alot for the information you've really saved me and put my mind at ease.
Interesting stuff this is. I was selling my car today and was confident enough that everything was perfect. NO water leaks, no white smoke or any signs of failure. Today the person who comes to view my car inspected the oil cap. I was shocked to find the amount of condenstation found. I checked the dip stick oil and coolant level which i never topped up for 2 years...trying to figure HOW!? Its impossible....Glad to have found this video which debunks the myth out there. Im debating whether to call them back and say your husband misdiagnosed my vehicle. Vehicle only has done 4000miles in a year and short trips to work 15minutes. 100% condenstation.
unless you see a cloud of steam at the exhaust side of the car when you downshift or decelerate, you probably dont have a bad head gasket. if anyone says you do, make them do a compression test to prove it. getting a tester in to a new car is a giant pain in the ass, so if they are wrong it is fair to make them do it. especially if you have a subaru...
@@lukewarmwater6412 man I don't and won't ever own a new car. I prefer used. I love the idea of having a brand new car but it's just not worth it to me. I also do all mechanic work myself and just about everything else. So people who make videos like this help me out a lot. Thanks for your reply man.
@@Clare.1985 same for me. I bought a 1997 Sunfire convertible with a 2.4L, the body is in near perfect condition, but the suspension, direction, brakes and soft top need complete overhaul. Been doing all the work myself, 5k for all the parts and the car. Like new, for more than a quarter of the price.
Again, you have answered a serious concern I have had! If your spying on me for episode ideas please continue. I have fixed 4 major issues on my f150 with your videos. You are the truck whisper!
Bro, I work for GM, I’m a supervisor here and drive a 00’ ford expo, and this video was a life saver! Thanks man! I’ll keep checking you out as I build this truck into a beast!
This was very helpful! Was definitely worried the used truck I bought might have had a serious issue but after checking inside everything is normal. Plus temps got down to -30 so I think that's a good explanation for the milky oil cap. Thanks!
This channel has saved me thousands. I have a 2000 Ford F150 5.4L that has this cream color on my cap, but dipstick shows normal. I've had two mechanics tell me blown head gasket. I live in a northern climate. I do have a cracked (plastic) upper intake manifold which leaks, is common and the repair is posted on a demo video here on this channel. I still need to know for sure if I have a blown head gasket or cracked gasket. No affordable local repair guys do pressure tests. No equipment. They only focus on the quick repair stuff, more profitable.
Drain the engine oil, send some off to a lab (I recommend Blackstone), they charge $25 to analyze the oil and tell you if it has coolant in it. They also analyze it for excessive fuel dilution and wear metals. Most labs will send you a collection bottle to use for the sample.
@@brianleeper5737 - Thanks Brian. I forgot about them. Will definitely order the kit today. Gas consumption at idle seems to be highly excessive. Long story on why I have to let sit running idle. No idea what is causing it.
That's exactly how the oil cap looked on the Expedition 5.4L I ended up buying. Early in the test drive I pulled the cap and saw "Oh no, white gunk, blown head gasket!". Pulled the dipstick and wiped it on a white towel, oil looks fine, nothing wrong with it. Continued the test drive and after another 10 minutes, when it was warmed up, pulled the oil cap again, no white gunk this time. And I've never seen it since in the month I've owned it. It just had the condensation buildup from sitting on that used lot for what turned out to be FIVE MONTHS. Changed the oil and had no visible water or issues. Has been great so far. I'm working through all the '5.4L tips' on this great channel .
thank you so much... I just replaced my thermostat, and after filling and trying to bleed the air, I decided to do a oil change.... I almost cried, when I removed the oil cap, there was this caramel like substance on the cap. I said to myself, I just blown the head gasket while trying to bleed it. This caramel substance simply came from the fact my thermostat was stuck open, and the engine wasn't able to reach its normal temperature, the arrow was coming just above the C mark, and normally it should be at mid level betweek the C and H mark.... NOW I KNOW the engine was not warm enough to clear the humidity caused by the condensation in the block. I also do short distance with my truck as well. Thanks again.
My Dad’s old and only drives 3 or 4 times a week to the supermarket a mile away. Whenever I visit I always check his oil and coolant levels so his car has less chance of failing. Every time there is a little bit of sludge in his oil filler cap and I tell him not to worry and at least try driving over 25 mph now and then. It must be like driving behind Mr Magoo.
Truly funny . " driving behind Mr. Magoo " You old enough to remember Mr. Magoo says your Dad is up there in years . One question , does he wear his hat when he drives .
I bought the head gasket kit and everything to work on my Tacoma. You probably just saved me a ton of time and $$. I only have that cream color junk on the cap. No low coolant, dip stick looks like plain normal oil. This is a great informative video.
Things to check 1. Coolant overflow tank is empty 2. radiator cap has milky/foamy substance (but may only be accumulated condensation) 3. check for low coolant level in radiator 4. check oil dip stick for browny/milky/foamy mix, not oily look 5. check inside oil fill and look beyond neck to see if inside for milky/foamy deposits Other valid tests: - compression test, coolant chemical test, etc.
My old 57 Chevy had the heavy pudding under the oil fill cap. Turned out that the thermostat had stuck open, and the engine was not getting up to proper temperatures. It was winter time in Pennsylvania.
Great video, I can definitely vouch for seeing the buildup on the oil cap when there are no issues. I see that with my F-150 Ecoboost, and it definitely increases during the winter months.
I get this on my jeep alot in the winter when I only use it to drive up and down my driveway. It's happened for years so I just clean it out often when it does. The first time it happened I did freak out but pulled the dipstick and realized it wasn't a big issue after I drove it for a while and it does burn off. It doesn't happen on my other vehicles even if I drive short trips but I guess I usually drive them more often later. Like I said though I've been seeing this for years now and still runs like a champ with no mixing in the pan.
Hey man didnt know you were in chicago land. I'm in northern Illinios too. I saw the most insane moisture laden oil ever in a 2010 Ford Fusion 2.5. The entire oil sump was milkshaked almost like the Mazda here but still half brown, cardboard colored, and not thick but still the viscosity of normal oil.. So the story is I bought a car to fix it up and the oil was fine, winter started, I pulled it in and out of the shop daily for little over a month just moved to a parking spot. Got on to the valve cover job to do the gaskets and was shocked by the white milky oil in there. Even more freaked when I drained the oil and the whole thing was like that. (after I rebuilt near the whole car). It was Incredible!!! I'm glad I got it changed and will not be doing that again. The oil is normal still after a few weeks of making sure its warmed up every couple moves and take it for short drive to at least get good operating temprature. It had no signs of issues before this. Just in and out the shop not warming up enough.
Thank you for this video. I about crapped my pants when I did an oil change on my F150 this morning when I pulled my oil cap and had some gunk on it. This has helped put me at ease a bit. I live in ND where it’s been extremely cold and I only have a 10 minute commute every day so I’m thinking that’s gotta be it.
Well that makes me feel a little better. I just noticed the cap sludge today (colder than usual out) but I have the same coolant level and my dipstick is clean
To check for a blown head gasket take off the radiator cap and put a balloon (or anything that will stretch over the radiator filler neck and will expand with pressure), then unplug your coil and turn the engine over. If the balloon quickly inflates/deflates then you have a bad head gasket. What you are seeing is the gasses leaking out of the combustion chamber past the head gaskets and into the coolant system and expanding the balloon.
Because of scannerdanner i purchased a used 5 gas micro gas analyzer. I mainly use it for reading ppm hc in over flow to see if the vehicle has an early head gasket failure. In the past i would check the dip stick and rarely the oil fill cap Because of condensation. I used to take dip stick and let a little drip onto manifold to see if water was in the oil by it bubbling burning off vs just smoking like oil. Thumbs up! Didn't know about the internal water pump though. Thanks for that info!
Problem with Ford vehicles that include a degas bottle into the cooling system is that the combustion gases get trapped inside the pockets in the degas bottle so they never make it to the top and gives false reading using a gas analyzer or chemical test. This is why Ford does not recommend those testing methods on their vehicles.
@@FordTechMakuloco thank you for that tidbit of info Brian! I wasn't aware of that either. Thank you for everything you do to make us better. Much appreciated!
Good stuff man! I remember when I was in my early 20's, I had a hot rod '78 Cutlass with a Goodwrench 350 that had the milky cap. I freaked out! Back then I couldn't afford the PARTS for a rebuild, let alone another crate! That's when I learned about condensation in engines from my dad, and other experienced guys. What a relief that was! It's no wonder, too - later on, I found that my Mr. Gasket chrome thermostat housing was made of pot metal, and reacted with the coolant and different metals in the system, and basically became a sacrificial anode. The gasket surface had been completely eaten away! Coolant was just flowing around the t-stat like it wasn't even there! I always wondered why my heat never worked good, and the temp never got above 140°F. On top of that, I lived in suburban Worcester, MA at the time, where everything is literally, "2 miles down the road" - very few long trips. There were even trails of milky oil mixed with good oil on the dipstick, along with rust and condensation towards the top of the dipstick. What a difference after installing a new housing and 195° t-stat! Felt like the heat was melting my face. 😂
well im so glad i came across this video..im in Philadelphia area where it gets cold and also just drives 5 mins to work..short trip..oil is clean..no overheating or misfires but has the milky residue on the oil cap...
I just watched this. I have a mini cooper r57. Live in the UK. We had some very cold weather here the other week. I have only used my car for short trips. Check engine light came on. Checked it with an odp 2. Reading said it was inlet sensor. So I swapped with the outlet to check. While taking out the inlet sensor saw some creamy gunk. Checked the oil cap. Same creamy gunk. However, no loss of coolant. Looks clear inside the engine. Hopefully it's what you mentioned in your video.
good information, I always thought that a milky oil cap meant a blown gasket,crack on the block or head. now I know what to look for thanks to you. good video very informative.
-16 in WI my wife been taking the csr to work bout 5 miles away.. I checked the oil it was low so i went to grab a quart to fill it up and saw the pudding cap.. immediate fear.. watched this video collected my thoughts reanalyzed the situation... the Ford is fine!
That's what I have on my 5-4 and with a clean dipstick I thought the head was leaking, I have only been making short trips in Washington State, good video
Michael Robertson I just noticed this on my 2006 5.4 with 60k. Oil dipstick is clean and coolant reservoir is right where it should be. Maybe I should change the pvc valve and drive it more often.
Great explanation with comparison on 2 different cars/ engines. Very appreciated. This explanation make me feel better and hope that my engine does not have an head gasket leak...I will come back with more comments after i will see a mechanic for my 08jetta mk5 2.0t
This video helped alot! The only difference with my Astra at the moment is that the coolant level did seem lower? I will keep an eye on it and stop with the short distance driving as I HAVE been doing that alot recently
Thank you for this video. I saw the pudding under my cap this morning and assumed the worst, but, yes, my trips have been short lately due to home isolating (10-min drives to grocery store in cold weather). No pudding elsewhere.,,,BIG RELIEF. Thank you!!!!
This was informative. I purchased a 2012 Ford f150 stx V6 pick up and found this the first time I checked the oil. Cleaned out the cap thinking if its a bigger issue it will come back. waited 2 weeks and checked again. it was back. Already been to my mechanic ( I trust ) for a bumper to bumper check ( always get that done about twice a year ) and he said no problems. So, I figured ( as you pointed out ) not a problem just condensation but, your vid put my mind at ease over it. thank you.
This helped me out greatly! My 03 Expedition showed milky pudding in the cap and clean on the dip stick. My 97 wrangler is my daily driver and the water pump is on its way out, so I put the expedition back on the road in the meantime, and stressed out when I saw the cap. Thanks, again! Stephen ( Florida)
Thank you, I was starting to get worried my head gasket was going! But I live in the northeast and my drive to my normal job is only 20 minutes, when I drive to my other job, it’s non existent on the dip stick and oil cap! So made me feel a whole lot better!!
THANKS YOU have helped my decision to strip down engine or not in england atm it is very cold and with short trip could be a great pointer to misdiagnosis ....thanks again
I just bought a 99 f150 the buy said it had a blown head gasket and sure enough it wasn't the case. It just needed a radiator and a good ol fashion tune up. Bought the truck for $400, lol. I asked the guy again about why he thought the head gasket was bad and he said the oil was milky. It runs just fine and I was surprised the timing chain wasn't making the noise that happens when the guides go bad
What? If you have oil on a cooling system and it's not from the engine it needs to come from somewhere, like the transmission. If it was a "radiator" that's the only way
When I used to drive 1/2 mile to and from work during the winter. I pulled my oil cap to perform an oil change and the entire cap was filled with chocolate milk pudding. I was in a hectic panic for about an hour until I learned about the condensation settling at the highest point.
Wow, Thanks so much for this video. I thought something was wrong with my truck because there was this white pasty stuff on the oil cap I was kind of freaking out. But after watching this video I was so relieved thanks again for making the video.
Thanks for this video on this misinterpretation of a blown gasket. I noticed a little milky looking radiator cap in my vw golf a few years ago and I panicked but I kept driving my car and it droved well and then I checked days later and the cap was clean! Phew!
Thanks for your time and consideration quick question about the coolant reservoir in the 93 Thunderbird LX how much trouble with it and it leaking out and where I can most likely find why I have been empty
I just had my mercedes serviced this week. Cap looked the same way! I panicked the service tech made me panic. But I just knew there was a better explanation. I have had no coolant loss, spotless oil, no over heating issues. ALSO I am ocd about checking my oil. It dropped in the 20s this week in GA and lots of rain in the upper 30s. Cold rain. Then my cap looked like this. I am still gonna keep an eye on it but I rolling with your theory for now.
The first time I saw oil cap pudding it was on my son's Jetta, which had a bad coolant hose flange that leaked externally. It was as bad as you show here on the oil cap, but not on the dipstick. There was no direct coolant contamination of oil, and the problem disappeared when I fixed the external coolant leak. I think trapped air in the cooling system caused mild overheating, forming steam that condensed after short trips.
I have a 04 F-150 with a 4.6L trition and I’m trying to figure out if it has a bad engine or not, this video is helping me thanks. I haven’t drained the oil yet but it’s black and twice as full then it should be, plus lots of misfire codes, any suggestions
On my 2010 Expedition I saw this on my engine oil fill cap too I thought I had a major problem even brought it to the dealership because I was losing coolant also The engine was fine the coolant leak was the radiator seeping and the thermostat housing was leaking . After more research finding that in the oil cap was normal.
You can make a really cheap pressure tester. Use a bicycle pump and a small hose to fit. Removed the small hose that goes to the overflow bottle and put the hose from the bike pump into the radiator nipple. Pump it up whilst feeling the top hose. You can over pressurize it as the valve in the cap prevents that. Then start checking for leaks. If you can't find a leak, then wait for 1 hour to see if you still have pressure. If you have lost pressure, and you are using coolant then remove the spark plugs and crank the engine to see if any water comes out the plug hole.
I have a 2000 ford F150 5.4L that I have oil in my antifreeze reservoir what does this mean blown head gasket or cracked head. You do amazing videos keep up the good work I’ll watch them all.
Well this was a lucky recommendation by TH-cam, My wife bought an older f150 with the Triton motor. that sludgy stuff is always in her cap. she never adds coolant but she does add a lot of oil. could this sludge keep oil from draining back into the oil pan?
So true! I just bought a used F150 from Missouri, sight-unseen, and freaked out when I saw a bit of pudding under the oil cap. It was nothing at all--the truck is just fine.
I had to 1990 Ford F-150 a few years ago and I had the gunk on the oil cap every time I checked it if you don't see it on the dip stick don't worry about it
Oil looks good! My daughter’s 02 jeep liberty keeps splitting the hoses that connect to the overflow. Seems like the pressure just builds till it has to escape. Any help would be appreciated.
THANKS FOR MAKING THIS AWESOME VIDEO!! I have the Chevy 3.4L engine that is known for head gasket and intake gaskets when using GM DexKill I had normal condensation with no real signs of coolant entering the crank case. Your explanation of normal condensation was very helpful, I was really worried at first, but I’m not loosing coolant and my oil is nice n clean … very valuable info!! Thanks
I'm sure I speak for many on here when I say you cannot believe how much I appreciate how thorough you are in all you vids.. I can do most work on my 04 F150 but my problem is when I need a lift, special tools or just the time and space. Is there someone here in SOCAL San Diego area you would recommend for me? I had a good guy but he moved his shop far away from me.
I also had this same thing happen to me in my 01 F150 4.6l, due to worn gaskets around my intake manifold. Once I was able to replace those, no more pudding on the oil cap.
I bought a car on Craigslist for $300 because owner was told based on oil fill cap that car had a bad head gasket. Oil on dipstick was not milky. I changed the cap and oil and drove it for almost 5 years until an accident totaled it.
I tried to explain this to my buddy a while back and he was having none of it. I guess if he wants to not drive his car because of a non existent problem that’s his call lol
I noticed in my 2008 F250 6.4 Diesel a Butterscotch creamy substance in my Degas bottle. So, I flushed system out about a month ago. But, now I'm having a hard time moving shift arm into gear and transmission not smooth. So, I checked degas bottle and transmission stick. Dang if it the creamy stuff wasn't in both places. An area mechanic said I probably need to flush again plus get transmission flushed then replace my radiator. What do you think???
I heard a lot of stories about water pump failures on 3.5/3.7 duratec engines, but I haven’t heard nothing at all about the water pump on the 3.5 ecoboost engine. Heard or seen any water pump failures in the ecoboost? Is it the same as the 3.5/3.7 duratec? I have a 14 Interceptor Sedan with the ecoboost at nearly 130K miles, so I am paranoid.
What about "the milkshake" in my PCV and Crankcase Vent Valve?.. I have a rough idle so I started with these two parts to see if that would help and I noticed white sludge.
Moisture on the filler cap has been a real money makers for disreputable repair shops for half a century. I am glad to see you shine some light on the issue. Thanks.
Definitely gave me some peace of mind! I started up our backup 97 Camry today after it sitting most of a very frigid winter in MN this year. I had fretted all winter about the -30F temps and how the coolant may have been too old and froze up and damaged the engine. The engine smoked a fair bit of white smoke initially on startup, and had some milky stuff on the filler cap. The oil on the dipstick was nice and normal, however, and no apparent loss of coolant. Thanks so much for this video! It at least gives me some confidence driving it instead of starting to tear into it or sell it.
Thank you very much for clarifying the differences. I have been told to worry when the oil cap gets a bit of milk on it and when the exhaust is blowing white smoke in cold weather conditions. In every head gasket symptoms video, they also warn about this without comparing it to a vehicle that just has normal cold weather symptoms. Finally someone who looks at the twofold story about head gaskets!
so how you fix the problem?
Us bank
You are completely correct. I've seen that in my 2003 4Runner but always check my coolant and it's not losing any. You're correct and more people should know this.
Thanks for doing this video!!
My 2004 Expedition (5.4L 16 valve) has that same condensation on the cap too. I have a 7 minute daily commute to work and this explained what was going on!!! You da man!!
Ran across this video trying to diagnose my issue thinking I have a blown head gasket. The comparison on these make me think a second time living in the Northeast part of the US. I have a VW and have to say this case covers all makes of vehicles - not just your Ford. Thanks so much for posting as I just need to keep a close eye on this for any future potential issues 👍
I used a bottle of Steel Seal to fix my head gasket, drained the coolant, removed the thermostat, flushed the cooling system really good, Then use a radiator cleaner to clean the cooling system , Make sure to flush out all the cleaner 100%, When engine is 100% cold add steel seal with distilled water, turn heater on high & let idle for 30 mins with the radiator cap off........Let it cool for 1 hour the let idle again for 30 mins with the radiator cap on...........next morning let it idle for another 30 mins then removed all water from the system to let the steel seal cure for 24 hours, Replace the thermostat, fill with coolant and your good to go. Mine has been running perfect for 70k miles now as i use the car for uber & lyft, Only cost me about $120 total.
Thanks Neighbor for the neat check. I use my 5 gas analyzer and check for hydrocarbons at either filler neck or coolant bottle. But of course that water pump internal leak into the crankcase would not show. Excellent information.
You saved my pockets. My qx4 has coffee under the cap and thought it was a blown head gasket. I never thought that cold weather can affect oil like that. Thanks a bunch man.
I never knew all these tricks til now. I thought for years I had a head gasket issue but now I know for certain it's more than likely perfectly fine. You seriously saved me some bucks and a for-sure headache! Thank you!
Thank you for clearing that up. My 4.6 had this happen in the winter. My Jeep 4.7 also had this going on until I revised the PCV system per a TSB they had, I also installed a catch can and have zero pudding on my oil cap now.
Saved Feelings and Pockets when I saw that gunk in the cap of my 2015 Ecoboost Explorer Sport. Thank You!!!
Chocolate milk in the crank case is not where it belongs.
Thanks Ford Whisperer
Anthony Lee I have chocolate in my coolant...flushed it with 50 gallons of water...it looked clean ...next day more oil...I didn’t start the motor at all. I flushed it so I coul pout blue devil, and wanted to make sure it clean.
Cheers man! Had coolant leak. Everyone is telling me it's the head gasket. Turns out the radiator needs replacing, not the head gasket. Oil is fine, no discolouration. Not using coolant, just slowley leaking it through the top seal of the front radiator.
I’m so glad I. Came across your channel
I thought watching other channels that my engine was toast but I realized it was my short drives to work causing the condensation on the cap alone !!!!! Thank you thank you thank you !!!!!
Great video. Very helpful. On the bad engine, can you smell the antifreeze in the exhaust gas when you start up the car?
I took my 98 Trans Am to the dealer for an oil change because it was free. They told me and try to convince me my head gasket was blown. That was 10yrs ago and knew he was lying.
Lol. There is no such thing as "free". There is always a catch.
To be fair he may have actually thought that. And didn’t do the actual tests to prove it since it was a look over.
Most dealers are not Mechanics there just fitters.
Over priced with no skill
Most dealerships do that
Dude, this guy is awesome! His videos are very detailed and informative! They helped me out alot! If he's reading this, man thank you so much! Please keep making videos
Thanks for this. Just saw the gunk in the oil cap, but the dipstick is a black as the night sky.
I'm doing a full oil change, dropping out the oil sump, adding new gasket on that and a new gasket on the rocker covers, inside no rust or yellow gunk.
It's a 2009 Mini One.
Your advice is calming me down 🙂and the winter temp is dropping real fast here in the UK.
Cheers and thanks for the video. A well and trusted mechanic.
Can't thank you enough..... Really appreciate this video, I was really panicking, but couldn't understand why I had a small amount of mess under oil cap, but according to dipstick oil colour was fine. Thank you again, much love from the UK 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 =🥇 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎊🎊🎊
You're a lifesaver man!! I've been going crazy thinking my truck is dying on me.
Bryce Reigle lmao same here
basically, avoid short trips.. plan your trips, avoid traffic jams. Keep fluids changed on schedule or sooner..
Me too I just use my truck to go to work and back a few minutes from my house, I had the same symptoms as the expedition in the video
Great video, same in in the UK on my volvo V70 2009. Been using alot more recently for sort trips to work, especially during lockdown in order to protect myself from bumping into people during the early hours of the morning or extreme late night shifts I do on the railway. Checked my oil filler cap today and almost sh## myself thinking, bye bye volvo. Oil is OK, water expansion tank ok. Your a life and money saver. Thank you.
same bro I was kinda of freaking out
Moved to minneapolis and had this on my car thinking the head gasket had blown due to the white goo but none of the other symptoms where there and the oil was clean. Even did a combustion test and it passed. I couldn't figure it out. I lived in Texas prior and never had this issue but have also been driving less. Thanks alot for the information you've really saved me and put my mind at ease.
Interesting stuff this is. I was selling my car today and was confident enough that everything was perfect. NO water leaks, no white smoke or any signs of failure. Today the person who comes to view my car inspected the oil cap. I was shocked to find the amount of condenstation found. I checked the dip stick oil and coolant level which i never topped up for 2 years...trying to figure HOW!? Its impossible....Glad to have found this video which debunks the myth out there. Im debating whether to call them back and say your husband misdiagnosed my vehicle. Vehicle only has done 4000miles in a year and short trips to work 15minutes. 100% condenstation.
My old Volkswagen Jetta was bad to pudding on the cap, but it went over 300k miles with no problems.
Thanks for speaking the truth!
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! I was one of the misinformed idiots thinking the milky oil cap meant a failing head gasket! You are the man!
unless you see a cloud of steam at the exhaust side of the car when you downshift or decelerate, you probably dont have a bad head gasket. if anyone says you do, make them do a compression test to prove it. getting a tester in to a new car is a giant pain in the ass, so if they are wrong it is fair to make them do it. especially if you have a subaru...
@@lukewarmwater6412 man I don't and won't ever own a new car. I prefer used. I love the idea of having a brand new car but it's just not worth it to me. I also do all mechanic work myself and just about everything else. So people who make videos like this help me out a lot. Thanks for your reply man.
@@Clare.1985 same for me. I bought a 1997 Sunfire convertible with a 2.4L, the body is in near perfect condition, but the suspension, direction, brakes and soft top need complete overhaul. Been doing all the work myself, 5k for all the parts and the car. Like new, for more than a quarter of the price.
@@OldSchoolZ-wy2yx $5000 for a 97 sunfire??? Are you out of your brain? That's a 200 dollar car....
Again, you have answered a serious concern I have had! If your spying on me for episode ideas please continue. I have fixed 4 major issues on my f150 with your videos. You are the truck whisper!
Lol
Can't help but love this guy.
Watching your video's is like being in college again. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Bro, I work for GM, I’m a supervisor here and drive a 00’ ford expo, and this video was a life saver! Thanks man! I’ll keep checking you out as I build this truck into a beast!
This was very helpful! Was definitely worried the used truck I bought might have had a serious issue but after checking inside everything is normal. Plus temps got down to -30 so I think that's a good explanation for the milky oil cap. Thanks!
6
Honest techs are hard to find. Keep up the good job. Thank you.
This channel has saved me thousands. I have a 2000 Ford F150 5.4L that has this cream color on my cap, but dipstick shows normal. I've had two mechanics tell me blown head gasket. I live in a northern climate. I do have a cracked (plastic) upper intake manifold which leaks, is common and the repair is posted on a demo video here on this channel. I still need to know for sure if I have a blown head gasket or cracked gasket. No affordable local repair guys do pressure tests. No equipment. They only focus on the quick repair stuff, more profitable.
Drain the engine oil, send some off to a lab (I recommend Blackstone), they charge $25 to analyze the oil and tell you if it has coolant in it. They also analyze it for excessive fuel dilution and wear metals. Most labs will send you a collection bottle to use for the sample.
@@brianleeper5737 - Thanks Brian. I forgot about them. Will definitely order the kit today. Gas consumption at idle seems to be highly excessive. Long story on why I have to let sit running idle. No idea what is causing it.
That's exactly how the oil cap looked on the Expedition 5.4L I ended up buying. Early in the test drive I pulled the cap and saw "Oh no, white gunk, blown head gasket!". Pulled the dipstick and wiped it on a white towel, oil looks fine, nothing wrong with it.
Continued the test drive and after another 10 minutes, when it was warmed up, pulled the oil cap again, no white gunk this time. And I've never seen it since in the month I've owned it.
It just had the condensation buildup from sitting on that used lot for what turned out to be FIVE MONTHS. Changed the oil and had no visible water or issues. Has been great so far. I'm working through all the '5.4L tips' on this great channel .
thank you so much... I just replaced my thermostat, and after filling and trying to bleed the air, I decided to do a oil change.... I almost cried, when I removed the oil cap, there was this caramel like substance on the cap. I said to myself, I just blown the head gasket while trying to bleed it. This caramel substance simply came from the fact my thermostat was stuck open, and the engine wasn't able to reach its normal temperature, the arrow was coming just above the C mark, and normally it should be at mid level betweek the C and H mark.... NOW I KNOW the engine was not warm enough to clear the humidity caused by the condensation in the block. I also do short distance with my truck as well. Thanks again.
My Dad’s old and only drives 3 or 4 times a week to the supermarket a mile away. Whenever I visit I always check his oil and coolant levels so his car has less chance of failing. Every time there is a little bit of sludge in his oil filler cap and I tell him not to worry and at least try driving over 25 mph now and then. It must be like driving behind Mr Magoo.
Truly funny . " driving behind Mr. Magoo " You old enough to remember Mr. Magoo says your Dad is up there in years . One question , does he wear his hat when he drives .
By George McGoo
So happy to watch this
Dip stick is clean and my drive is 4 miles there and back everyday
Saw the sludge and about lost it! Thank you!!
I bought the head gasket kit and everything to work on my Tacoma. You probably just saved me a ton of time and $$.
I only have that cream color junk on the cap. No low coolant, dip stick looks like plain normal oil. This is a great informative video.
Very informative. I see this a lot myself, and most of the time, it's just condensation.
Things to check
1. Coolant overflow tank is empty
2. radiator cap has milky/foamy substance (but may only be accumulated condensation)
3. check for low coolant level in radiator
4. check oil dip stick for browny/milky/foamy mix, not oily look
5. check inside oil fill and look beyond neck to see if inside for milky/foamy deposits
Other valid tests:
- compression test, coolant chemical test, etc.
My old 57 Chevy had the heavy pudding under the oil fill cap. Turned out that the thermostat had stuck open, and the engine was not getting up to proper temperatures. It was winter time in Pennsylvania.
Good video. This helped ease my mind about this exact pudding in the cap issue on my car. Its on the cap not in the oil or in the valves.
Great video, I can definitely vouch for seeing the buildup on the oil cap when there are no issues. I see that with my F-150 Ecoboost, and it definitely increases during the winter months.
I have a ecoboost 228,000 miles, never seen this on mine.
I get this on my jeep alot in the winter when I only use it to drive up and down my driveway. It's happened for years so I just clean it out often when it does. The first time it happened I did freak out but pulled the dipstick and realized it wasn't a big issue after I drove it for a while and it does burn off. It doesn't happen on my other vehicles even if I drive short trips but I guess I usually drive them more often later. Like I said though I've been seeing this for years now and still runs like a champ with no mixing in the pan.
Hey man didnt know you were in chicago land. I'm in northern Illinios too. I saw the most insane moisture laden oil ever in a 2010 Ford Fusion 2.5. The entire oil sump was milkshaked almost like the Mazda here but still half brown, cardboard colored, and not thick but still the viscosity of normal oil.. So the story is I bought a car to fix it up and the oil was fine, winter started, I pulled it in and out of the shop daily for little over a month just moved to a parking spot. Got on to the valve cover job to do the gaskets and was shocked by the white milky oil in there. Even more freaked when I drained the oil and the whole thing was like that. (after I rebuilt near the whole car). It was Incredible!!! I'm glad I got it changed and will not be doing that again. The oil is normal still after a few weeks of making sure its warmed up every couple moves and take it for short drive to at least get good operating temprature. It had no signs of issues before this. Just in and out the shop not warming up enough.
Thank you for this video. I about crapped my pants when I did an oil change on my F150 this morning when I pulled my oil cap and had some gunk on it. This has helped put me at ease a bit. I live in ND where it’s been extremely cold and I only have a 10 minute commute every day so I’m thinking that’s gotta be it.
Well that makes me feel a little better. I just noticed the cap sludge today (colder than usual out) but I have the same coolant level and my dipstick is clean
To check for a blown head gasket take off the radiator cap and put a balloon (or anything that will stretch over the radiator filler neck and will expand with pressure), then unplug your coil and turn the engine over. If the balloon quickly inflates/deflates then you have a bad head gasket. What you are seeing is the gasses leaking out of the combustion chamber past the head gaskets and into the coolant system and expanding the balloon.
This is by far the best camera penetration into the details ...
Because of scannerdanner i purchased a used 5 gas micro gas analyzer. I mainly use it for reading ppm hc in over flow to see if the vehicle has an early head gasket failure. In the past i would check the dip stick and rarely the oil fill cap Because of condensation. I used to take dip stick and let a little drip onto manifold to see if water was in the oil by it bubbling burning off vs just smoking like oil. Thumbs up! Didn't know about the internal water pump though. Thanks for that info!
Problem with Ford vehicles that include a degas bottle into the cooling system is that the combustion gases get trapped inside the pockets in the degas bottle so they never make it to the top and gives false reading using a gas analyzer or chemical test. This is why Ford does not recommend those testing methods on their vehicles.
@@FordTechMakuloco thank you for that tidbit of info Brian! I wasn't aware of that either. Thank you for everything you do to make us better. Much appreciated!
Good stuff man! I remember when I was in my early 20's, I had a hot rod '78 Cutlass with a Goodwrench 350 that had the milky cap. I freaked out! Back then I couldn't afford the PARTS for a rebuild, let alone another crate! That's when I learned about condensation in engines from my dad, and other experienced guys. What a relief that was!
It's no wonder, too - later on, I found that my Mr. Gasket chrome thermostat housing was made of pot metal, and reacted with the coolant and different metals in the system, and basically became a sacrificial anode. The gasket surface had been completely eaten away! Coolant was just flowing around the t-stat like it wasn't even there! I always wondered why my heat never worked good, and the temp never got above 140°F. On top of that, I lived in suburban Worcester, MA at the time, where everything is literally, "2 miles down the road" - very few long trips. There were even trails of milky oil mixed with good oil on the dipstick, along with rust and condensation towards the top of the dipstick. What a difference after installing a new housing and 195° t-stat! Felt like the heat was melting my face. 😂
Watch every video all the through! Super series on the 4.0 timing chains. Thank u!!
well im so glad i came across this video..im in Philadelphia area where it gets cold and also just drives 5 mins to work..short trip..oil is clean..no overheating or misfires but has the milky residue on the oil cap...
I am SOOO glad you made this video! I had every right to believe my gasket (03 Explorer 4.0) was leaking.
Just moved to Springfield IL from FL and feared I'd have to replace some gaskets soon. Thanks for saving me mucho time and money yet again!
I just watched this. I have a mini cooper r57. Live in the UK. We had some very cold weather here the other week. I have only used my car for short trips. Check engine light came on. Checked it with an odp 2. Reading said it was inlet sensor. So I swapped with the outlet to check. While taking out the inlet sensor saw some creamy gunk. Checked the oil cap. Same creamy gunk. However, no loss of coolant. Looks clear inside the engine. Hopefully it's what you mentioned in your video.
Excellent presentation, thanks matey. Everyone checking out a used car over ?three years old should know these points to make an informed purchase.
good information, I always thought that a milky oil cap meant a blown gasket,crack on the block or head. now I know what to look for thanks to you. good video very informative.
-16 in WI my wife been taking the csr to work bout 5 miles away.. I checked the oil it was low so i went to grab a quart to fill it up and saw the pudding cap.. immediate fear.. watched this video collected my thoughts reanalyzed the situation... the Ford is fine!
That's what I have on my 5-4 and with a clean dipstick I thought the head was leaking, I have only been making short trips in Washington State, good video
Michael Robertson I just noticed this on my 2006 5.4 with 60k. Oil dipstick is clean and coolant reservoir is right where it should be. Maybe I should change the pvc valve and drive it more often.
Great camera work...and answering all the questions with blown head gasket.
Great explanation with comparison on 2 different cars/ engines. Very appreciated. This explanation make me feel better and hope that my engine does not have an head gasket leak...I will come back with more comments after i will see a mechanic for my 08jetta mk5 2.0t
This video helped alot! The only difference with my Astra at the moment is that the coolant level did seem lower? I will keep an eye on it and stop with the short distance driving as I HAVE been doing that alot recently
Thank you for this video. I saw the pudding under my cap this morning and assumed the worst, but, yes, my trips have been short lately due to home isolating (10-min drives to grocery store in cold weather). No pudding elsewhere.,,,BIG RELIEF. Thank you!!!!
Im late to this party as they say, but the way you explained this and show this made me subscribe. Thank you.
This was informative. I purchased a 2012 Ford f150 stx V6 pick up and found this the first time I checked the oil. Cleaned out the cap thinking if its a bigger issue it will come back. waited 2 weeks and checked again. it was back. Already been to my mechanic ( I trust ) for a bumper to bumper check ( always get that done about twice a year ) and he said no problems. So, I figured ( as you pointed out ) not a problem just condensation but, your vid put my mind at ease over it. thank you.
This helped me out greatly! My 03 Expedition showed milky pudding in the cap and clean on the dip stick. My 97 wrangler is my daily driver and the water pump is on its way out, so I put the expedition back on the road in the meantime, and stressed out when I saw the cap. Thanks, again!
Stephen ( Florida)
Thank you, I was starting to get worried my head gasket was going! But I live in the northeast and my drive to my normal job is only 20 minutes, when I drive to my other job, it’s non existent on the dip stick and oil cap! So made me feel a whole lot better!!
THANKS YOU have helped my decision to strip down engine or not in england atm it is very cold and with short trip could be a great pointer to misdiagnosis ....thanks again
I just bought a 99 f150 the buy said it had a blown head gasket and sure enough it wasn't the case. It just needed a radiator and a good ol fashion tune up. Bought the truck for $400, lol. I asked the guy again about why he thought the head gasket was bad and he said the oil was milky. It runs just fine and I was surprised the timing chain wasn't making the noise that happens when the guides go bad
What? If you have oil on a cooling system and it's not from the engine it needs to come from somewhere, like the transmission. If it was a "radiator" that's the only way
When I used to drive 1/2 mile to and from work during the winter. I pulled my oil cap to perform an oil change and the entire cap was filled with chocolate milk pudding. I was in a hectic panic for about an hour until I learned about the condensation settling at the highest point.
Wow, Thanks so much for this video. I thought something was wrong with my truck because there was this white pasty stuff on the oil cap I was kind of freaking out. But after watching this video I was so relieved thanks again for making the video.
Thanks dude! I may be ok after spending the day thinking I was screwed.
I had this same issue with a 98 Ford Expedition and you told me it was condensation great video
chipete1 I have the same problem 98 expedition 5.4 v8
@@brendonmurphy7768 mine is in shop now Expedition
Thanks for this video on this misinterpretation of a blown gasket. I noticed a little milky looking radiator cap in my vw golf a few years ago and I panicked but I kept driving my car and it droved well and then I checked days later and the cap was clean! Phew!
Really great video. Good explanation camera shots and no crappy music in the background
What about when you see the "pudding" on the coolant overflow tank filler cap, but no symptoms on the dipstick or oil filler cap?
Thanks for your time and consideration quick question about the coolant reservoir in the 93 Thunderbird LX how much trouble with it and it leaking out and where I can most likely find why I have been empty
Can you supply the pressure fitting adapter part # that screws onto the recovery tank for a 6.0-6.4 and a 6.7 diesels? Thank you!
Watching this video help me out a lot. I have a 07 F150 5.4. Oil cap buildup in the top. Thank you
You sir, are the best, most informative Ford tech out there!!! Thank you.
Thanks dude!! I've seen the same thing on my cap but nothing on the stick
I just had my mercedes serviced this week. Cap looked the same way! I panicked the service tech made me panic. But I just knew there was a better explanation. I have had no coolant loss, spotless oil, no over heating issues. ALSO I am ocd about checking my oil. It dropped in the 20s this week in GA and lots of rain in the upper 30s. Cold rain. Then my cap looked like this. I am still gonna keep an eye on it but I rolling with your theory for now.
Oh and I do not drive the car but a few miles per day. Just long enough to get some heat going then I am at work for 10 hrs a day.
The first time I saw oil cap pudding it was on my son's Jetta, which had a bad coolant hose flange that leaked externally. It was as bad as you show here on the oil cap, but not on the dipstick. There was no direct coolant contamination of oil, and the problem disappeared when I fixed the external coolant leak. I think trapped air in the cooling system caused mild overheating, forming steam that condensed after short trips.
I have a 04 F-150 with a 4.6L trition and I’m trying to figure out if it has a bad engine or not, this video is helping me thanks. I haven’t drained the oil yet but it’s black and twice as full then it should be, plus lots of misfire codes, any suggestions
I have watched many of your videos. You are very credible. Thank you.
On my 2010 Expedition I saw this on my engine oil fill cap too I thought I had a major problem even brought it to the dealership because I was losing coolant also The engine was fine the coolant leak was the radiator seeping and the thermostat housing was leaking . After more research finding that in the oil cap was normal.
You can make a really cheap pressure tester. Use a bicycle pump and a small hose to fit. Removed the small hose that goes to the overflow bottle and put the hose from the bike pump into the radiator nipple. Pump it up whilst feeling the top hose. You can over pressurize it as the valve in the cap prevents that. Then start checking for leaks. If you can't find a leak, then wait for 1 hour to see if you still have pressure. If you have lost pressure, and you are using coolant then remove the spark plugs and crank the engine to see if any water comes out the plug hole.
I have a 2000 ford F150 5.4L that I have oil in my antifreeze reservoir what does this mean blown head gasket or cracked head. You do amazing videos keep up the good work I’ll watch them all.
Well this was a lucky recommendation by TH-cam, My wife bought an older f150 with the Triton motor. that sludgy stuff is always in her cap. she never adds coolant but she does add a lot of oil. could this sludge keep oil from draining back into the oil pan?
So true! I just bought a used F150 from Missouri, sight-unseen, and freaked out when I saw a bit of pudding under the oil cap. It was nothing at all--the truck is just fine.
I had to 1990 Ford F-150 a few years ago and I had the gunk on the oil cap every time I checked it if you don't see it on the dip stick don't worry about it
When you find the so called Milk shake that’s your car giving you a tasty treat for being a good owner, enjoy 🥛
😂😂 very own milkshake machine
Beautiful
Oil looks good! My daughter’s 02 jeep liberty keeps splitting the hoses that connect to the overflow. Seems like the pressure just builds till it has to escape. Any help would be appreciated.
THANKS FOR MAKING THIS AWESOME VIDEO!! I have the Chevy 3.4L engine that is known for head gasket and intake gaskets when using GM DexKill I had normal condensation with no real signs of coolant entering the crank case. Your explanation of normal condensation was very helpful, I was really worried at first, but I’m not loosing coolant and my oil is nice n clean … very valuable info!! Thanks
Great video, dealing with an issue just like this basically! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
I'm sure I speak for many on here when I say you cannot believe how much I appreciate how thorough you are in all you vids..
I can do most work on my 04 F150 but my problem is when I need a lift, special tools or just the time and space.
Is there someone here in SOCAL San Diego area you would recommend for me? I had a good guy but he moved his shop far away from me.
I also had this same thing happen to me in my 01 F150 4.6l, due to worn gaskets around my intake manifold. Once I was able to replace those, no more pudding on the oil cap.
I bought a car on Craigslist for $300 because owner was told based on oil fill cap that car had a bad head gasket. Oil on dipstick was not milky. I changed the cap and oil and drove it for almost 5 years until an accident totaled it.
Cool story, bro!
I tried to explain this to my buddy a while back and he was having none of it. I guess if he wants to not drive his car because of a non existent problem that’s his call lol
I noticed in my 2008 F250 6.4 Diesel a Butterscotch creamy substance in my Degas bottle. So, I flushed system out about a month ago. But, now I'm having a hard time moving shift arm into gear and transmission not smooth. So, I checked degas bottle and transmission stick. Dang if it the creamy stuff wasn't in both places. An area mechanic said I probably need to flush again plus get transmission flushed then replace my radiator. What do you think???
I heard a lot of stories about water pump failures on 3.5/3.7 duratec engines, but I haven’t heard nothing at all about the water pump on the 3.5 ecoboost engine. Heard or seen any water pump failures in the ecoboost? Is it the same as the 3.5/3.7 duratec? I have a 14 Interceptor Sedan with the ecoboost at nearly 130K miles, so I am paranoid.
Same base engine and the same problem yes.
What about "the milkshake" in my PCV and Crankcase Vent Valve?.. I have a rough idle so I started with these two parts to see if that would help and I noticed white sludge.