Cream colored oil?
02-05-2006, 07:45 AM
#1
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Cream colored oil?
Hey all, has anyone experienced having a cream color type of substance appear on the oil dip stick? I have an 04 S4, with only 7k miles, last oil change was at 5k (although it has been almost 5 months). Dark OIL is still showing at the middle of the min-max line, so I'm not too worried, just a bit perplexed, as to the couple of spots/lines of this color further up the stick. I check the OIL bi-weekly, and this was the 1st time I've noticed this.
Thanks,
Darren
Thanks,
Darren
02-05-2006, 08:04 AM
#2
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I think an oil change with a careful look at what comes out is in order..no need to worry, yet
If all the oil is a milky color, then it might be a water\coolant leak in a bad place, like a head gasket.
But it's probably condensation on the dipstick.
But it's probably condensation on the dipstick.
02-05-2006, 09:47 AM
#5
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If you live in a cold climate and don't get up to operating temperature
for extended periods of time, you may just have condensation in the oil that looks light tan. Look on the under side of the oil filler cap. It will probably have the same appearance. If you live where it is warm, it might be coolant leaking into the oil. Good luck.
02-05-2006, 01:07 PM
#6
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Re: If you live in a cold climate and don't get up to operating temperature
I think you've nailed it for me jherm. The filler cap (which I didn't check earlier) does have the same cream/tan color underneath.
I'm in Canada (nuff said for the weather), and it's been a roller coaster winter, some very mild weeks followed by our usual below freezing. And yes, most of my trips to work are < 10 minutes and only about 7 miles.
An oil change for this week hopefully will fix this problem.
Thanks all, great group of people,
Darren
I'm in Canada (nuff said for the weather), and it's been a roller coaster winter, some very mild weeks followed by our usual below freezing. And yes, most of my trips to work are < 10 minutes and only about 7 miles.
An oil change for this week hopefully will fix this problem.
Thanks all, great group of people,
Darren
02-05-2006, 01:12 PM
#7
AudiWorld Super User
Cream color indicates an oil/water emulsion.
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02-06-2006, 08:01 PM
#10
AudiWorld Member
While oil/water emulsion is likely...
another possibility is an overfull crankcase. You mentioned that it's been a while since a full change but have you possibly topped off lately and got a little too much oil in there. If there is enough oil in the crankcase that the crankshaft is actually churning through it enough to foam the oil, you can see the foam for a while after the engine has been running. Is it more prevelant after running than after sitting (the other way around would support water)? Normally foamed oil is pretty devastating to an engine but we may be able to get away with some amount do to the volume of oil we carry.
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