Condensation On Oil Cap
08-24-2005, 08:15 AM
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Location: Central Ohio (Hebron) Zephyrhills Fla.
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[quote name='scottystraub' date='Aug 24 2005, 04:44 AM']my last motor and my new motor are doing this, when i remove the oil cap there is some water droplets on it, looks like condensation? it is clean water not coolant. any ideas??????????????????
[/quote]
When an engine is run, the heated volume of the sump has displaced an amount of air in proportion to its temperature, because that heated volume has expanded.
When the engine cools after use, that volume of air is replaced with outside air.
Depending on the water content of that replacement air, an amount of water will be entrained in the sump and oil.
The greater the spread between daytime and night time temps the more water
will be collected.
More a problem in northern areas than southern, More in spring and fall when there are big temperature swings and high humidity.
Running the car long enough to get the oil above 190 degrees will vaporize most of the water and force it out through the breather. Temps above 212 at sea level will get it all on a long trip. If there is no thermostat to limit oil flow to the oil cooler, you can tape over part of the cooler for around town driving.
Change oil more often. Install a thermostat bypass around the cooler, if not so equipped.
Drive some distance once each week to build some oil temp and clear out the sump.
If there is condensate on the windows in the morning, there will be some in the sump as well.
Lynn E. Hanover
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[/quote]
When an engine is run, the heated volume of the sump has displaced an amount of air in proportion to its temperature, because that heated volume has expanded.
When the engine cools after use, that volume of air is replaced with outside air.
Depending on the water content of that replacement air, an amount of water will be entrained in the sump and oil.
The greater the spread between daytime and night time temps the more water
will be collected.
More a problem in northern areas than southern, More in spring and fall when there are big temperature swings and high humidity.
Running the car long enough to get the oil above 190 degrees will vaporize most of the water and force it out through the breather. Temps above 212 at sea level will get it all on a long trip. If there is no thermostat to limit oil flow to the oil cooler, you can tape over part of the cooler for around town driving.
Change oil more often. Install a thermostat bypass around the cooler, if not so equipped.
Drive some distance once each week to build some oil temp and clear out the sump.
If there is condensate on the windows in the morning, there will be some in the sump as well.
Lynn E. Hanover
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