1988 Jeep Cherokee 205,000 miles

I was checking my motor oil yesterday and noticed some whitish sludge on the very tip of the dipstick. The rest of the oil on the dipstick looked fine and it was full. I haven't noticed any change in the way it drives (not really down on power or anything). I still have about another 1000 miles till the next oil change.

Any ideas on what this could be? Is it something I should worry about?

2/26/2009 3:10:35 PM

coolant mixing with oil. headgasket = the fail

2/26/2009 3:28:10 PM

Ok

last summer I did have a coolant resevoir crack and had to drive a few very hot blocks to get it home where I could work on it. The engine did actually cut off once. So that seems like it may be the case

I guess my question now is

If I havent really noticed any change in the way its driving (I just drove it to Charlotte from Raleigh) and the coolant level hasnt been changing is it still going to keep getting worse until its catastrophic? Or is it something that I can just monitor to make sure its not getting out of hand and I can still get a few more miles out of it.

[Edited on February 26, 2009 at 3:41 PM. Reason : I guess does anyone have experience with this type situation is what Im asking]

2/26/2009 3:40:33 PM

Change that oil. Report back how the oil looks.

I'd keep the driving to an absolute minimum.

and if it's a head gasket at the very least you'll need to pull the heads, surface them & replace the head gasket(s).

[Edited on February 26, 2009 at 3:43 PM. Reason : asf]

2/26/2009 3:43:17 PM

Quote :

"coolant mixing with oil. headgasket = the fail"

doesn't have to be. short, cold trips will do exactly the same since condensate doesn't get a chance to evaporate. drive it around for 20 minutes on highway and usually it is gone if it is condensate.

2/26/2009 3:44:25 PM

^Ahh this may be the case

Im commuting by bike right now and I really only drive if Im going somewhere after work/weekends. Even then its usually just around raliegh, stop and go, etc. I'll check the oil again and possibly change it this weekend.


I have probably put about 1000 miles (or more) on it since the overheating incident. When a head gasket is blown isnt your car pretty much done right then and there? ie you arent going to be putting 1000 miles after the fact???


Thanks for all the replies

2/26/2009 3:51:56 PM

Quote :

"When a head gasket is blown isnt your car pretty much done right then and there? ie you arent going to be putting 1000 miles after the fact???"

not necessarily.

2/26/2009 4:33:46 PM

^^^exactly what i was going to say. lots of people freak out over nothing when they see a little bit of milky oil on their dipstick or fill/breather cap.

2/26/2009 4:39:12 PM

Like BBR said...sometimes it's a matter of course, considering your driving habits, how much the truck gets driven, temperatures, etc.

If you owned a GM Quad 4 in anything, you just accepted a little bit of milky deposits on the upper part of the dipstick and the oil fill cap. I've seen a lot of it.

Sporadic driving and trips under 15 or 20 minutes will definitely contribute to such a condition.

2/26/2009 6:02:21 PM

Quote :

"not necessarily."

so it could slowly leak and slowly get worse

I think Ill just change my oil this weekend and I think that will probably give my answer.

2/26/2009 6:09:05 PM

you need this:

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

2/26/2009 9:21:02 PM

didn't they used to put paraffin in oil back in the day??

could it just be build-up??

2/27/2009 2:13:22 PM

Quote :

"so it could slowly leak and slowly get worse I think Ill just change my oil this weekend and I think that will probably give my answer."

yep

But all the other answers are most likely/hopefully correct and from much more knowledgeable people than myself. I'd still change the oil though and just see how it looks at this point.

2/27/2009 2:19:11 PM

condensation on a dip stick is pretty common. milky oil after the engine has gotten hot is something to worry about.

2/27/2009 5:48:50 PM

skeet skeet skeet

2/27/2009 6:35:18 PM