[24RedRidgeBE]

Hello ROC, today i got quite a surprise. I changed my oil for the first time at 8457 miles as requested by the MM. Everything was as expected until i opened the fill cap to refill my oil and found this:

Needless to say, i was shocked and did not expect to see this on a brand new vehicle. Wierdly there was no indication of water contamination in the oil when i dranined it and the little i could see down the fill hole i couldn't see any milkshake in the valvetrain area. So, did water only somehow get into the cap area and stay there? Or is there somethingseriously wrong with my brand new Ridge? Has anyone else here encountered this or something similar?

 

[Allen_Labradragon]

Hello ROC, today i got quite a surprise. I changed my oil for the first time at 8457 miles as requested by the MM. Everything was as expected until i opened the fill cap to refill my oil and found this: View attachment 461556
View attachment 461555
View attachment 461554
Needless to say, i was shocked and did not expect to see this on a brand new vehicle. Wierdly there was no indication of water contamination in the oil when i dranined it and the little i could see down the fill hole i couldn't see any milkshake in the valvetrain area. So, did water only somehow get into the cap area and stay there? Or is there somethingseriously wrong with my brand new Ridge? Has anyone else here encountered this or something similar?

That looks like lithium grease. What does it feel like?

 

[24RedRidgeBE]

That looks like lithium grease. What does it feel like?

Hard to tell, it definitely felt oily. And in the cap itself there was a single drop of clear water, not colored like coolant, but perfectly clear water. So i really don't know what to think right now. . .

 

[slomtbr]

Have you been driving short distances? Condensation in the crankcase isn't unheard of. It will accumulate at the oil filler and can be exacerbated by short drives.

 

[24RedRidgeBE]

Have you been driving short distances? Condensation in the crankcase isn't unheard of. It will accumulate at the oil filler and can be exacerbated by short drives.

Not too very much, as a matter of fact i drove 130 miles before i changed the oil. I usually do longer drives with it.

 

[Wisconsin_Mike]

Over the years I've seen what I've referred to as mayonnaise in the oil cap on lots of cars. It sure makes your heart skip a beat the first time you see it! It's caused by water condensing inside the relatively cooler cap, which happens when it gets cold outside. Obviously if it gets worse then you should do a compression test and radiator leak-down test because it could also indicate a blown head gasket, but I doubt it.

 

[johnson-rod]

Condensation from short duration trips.

Take the long way home.

 

[24RedRidgeBE]

Over the years I've seen what I've referred to as mayonnaise in the oil cap on lots of cars. It sure makes your heart skip a beat the first time you see it! It's caused by water condensing inside the relatively cooler cap, which happens when it gets cold outside. Obviously if it gets worse then you should do a compression test and radiator leak-down test because it could also indicate a blown head gasket, but I doubt it.

Well, it has been cold here. Didn't even get above freezing today. Hopefully that's all it is. I mean, it's still well under warranty, so it's not really a huge problem to me, but i don't want it locked uo in a dealership for who knows how long needing a major repair either. . .

 

[fdeno]

Over the years I've seen what I've referred to as mayonnaise in the oil cap on lots of cars. It sure makes your heart skip a beat the first time you see it! It's caused by water condensing inside the relatively cooler cap, which happens when it gets cold outside. Obviously if it gets worse then you should do a compression test and radiator leak-down test because it could also indicate a blown head gasket, but I doubt it.

We have a winner!

I used to scoop gobs of this out of the valve covers on older cars, particularly the old Chrysler slant 6 motors.
It doesn't have to be really all that cold to collect condensation. Its temperature differential mostly.

I would continue to drive the car and be observant at the next oil change.

 

[BoulderBuster]

I've seen this with other vehicles.

In one case I drove the car a lot. Even in the winter. The problem was not that I was not driving the car enough but I was driving it in a way that apparently kept the engine cooler than it might otherwise get. I thought my 150 miles trip to see my folks about every week would ensure the engine got hot and stayed hot and this would remove the water from the oil.

But an oil analysis -- I was curious -- found in 4K miles of winter driving 7% water in the oil! No coolant leak. Just water from the combustion process.

I changed the oil/filter ASAP. (The factory called for 15K mile oil/filter services. I cut these down to 5K miles.)

Not long after this I took a new job in CA -- I had been living/working in the midwest -- and cold weather was a thing of the past.

But my job involved writing software for automotive test equipment and I found with my testing that the coolant temperature stayed down on the freeway. But around town just the normal driving would get the coolant much hotter.

Later when I had cars with an oil temperature gauge I found the oil temperature on the freeway would hover around 200F (barely 200F). But in town driving the oil temperature could climb to 220F or even higher.

So my advice would be to consider more frequent oil/filter services. You can take the long way home but through town rather than via the highway might get the engine hotter and keep it hotter and reduce the build up of what you see.

 

[24RedRidgeBE]

Just want to thank everyone for their insight into this anomaly. I've done many oil changes (more than i could count) over the years and never run into this before. Glad to hear it's most likely just condensation. I will continue to monitor it, but thanks to everyone for helping to set my mind at ease.

 

[Blaec]

I've seen this with other vehicles.

In one case I drove the car a lot. Even in the winter. The problem was not that I was not driving the car enough but I was driving it in a way that apparently kept the engine cooler than it might otherwise get. I thought my 150 miles trip to see my folks about every week would ensure the engine got hot and stayed hot and this would remove the water from the oil.

But an oil analysis -- I was curious -- found in 4K miles of winter driving 7% water in the oil! No coolant leak. Just water from the combustion process.

I changed the oil/filter ASAP. (The factory called for 15K mile oil/filter services. I cut these down to 5K miles.)

Not long after this I took a new job in CA -- I had been living/working in the midwest -- and cold weather was a thing of the past.

But my job involved writing software for automotive test equipment and I found with my testing that the coolant temperature stayed down on the freeway. But around town just the normal driving would get the coolant much hotter.

Later when I had cars with an oil temperature gauge I found the oil temperature on the freeway would hover around 200F (barely 200F). But in town driving the oil temperature could climb to 220F or even higher.

So my advice would be to consider more frequent oil/filter services. You can take the long way home but through town rather than via the highway might get the engine hotter and keep it hotter and reduce the build up of what you see.

This is another reason why the 10K first oil change recommended by the Honda Manual should be ignored! The first oil change in my 24 Ridgeline was at 4K. First oil change is critical and waiting 10K is just too long.

 

[24RedRidgeBE]

This is another reason why the 10K first oil change recommended by the Honda Manual should be ignored! The first oil change in my 24 Ridgeline was at 4K. First oil change is critical and waiting 10K is just too long.

While i tend to agree with this. I would also tend to think that Honda would know better than me. And with as many high mileage engines as i've seen on this forum that are strictly following Honda's Maintanence Minder, i've decided to trust the experts in this regard. Besides, if there is a serious problem, it will be covered by warranty, so at the end of the day, not my problem.

 

[Blaec]

While i tend to agree with this. I would also tend to think that Honda would know better than me. And with as many high mileage engines as i've seen on this forum that are strictly following Honda's Maintanence Minder, i've decided to trust the experts in this regard. Besides, if there is a serious problem, it will be covered by warranty, so at the end of the day, not my problem.

I totally understand your position. My recommendation is based upon what a Honda Technician told me a few years ago. He said that all car / truck companies base their service intervals on having the fewest problems while under warranty and not for the longevity of the customer's product. That seems a bit severe but oil changes are cheap and engines are expensive. I want my truck to last 20 years. I figure it will require extra attention to make that goal. For example I plan to replace the timing belt, tensioner and water pump at 60K rather than waiting until later (It should be replaced before 105K or 7 years). Oh don't forget the valve lash adjustments, Honda uses that tried and true old design. Hey if it works I'm all for it. You'll love your truck!