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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 165
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Oil Butter on plug
Brought the wheels out of storage finally after a looong winter.
Did my routine oil change, and discovered a 'butter-like' substance on my oil plug magnet. Looked like white lithium grease in texture and colour. About a teaspoon amount. Any ideas? I use Castol 20W-50. I change oil once a year, when she goes on the road in May/June. I only put about 3-5000Km over the season before it's back to storage for winter in early November. Doesn't see the track, and it isn't driven hard (normally). Engine temp never over 200.
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06-29-2004, 11:59 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: London Ont Canada
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It's probably an emulsion of water(normal condensation) and oil One of the reasons to change oil more frequently in cold weather or with lots of short trips. If you are only going to change once a year then change before you store so it's stored with fresh oil in it Drive all summer with that fresh oil. Then change again before storage next fall.
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1980 911 SC 3.6 coupe sold 1995 993 coupe 1966 Mustang Shelby clone 1964 Corvair Spyder Turbo gone 2012 Boss 302 |
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06-29-2004, 12:13 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: City of Seattle, WA
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Butter Plug? Excuse me?
In all seriousness, if you replace the oil and nothing else wierd shows up, I wouldn't worry, temperature and humidity may have done strange things to the oil in there over the winter. Expert opinions welcome, however!
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Andy |
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06-29-2004, 12:15 PM
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Location: Laguna Beach, CA
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Oil, are you sure? I can't believe it's not butter
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06-29-2004, 12:58 PM
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Water/Oil condensation. Drive it more and get it hot.
Fear not. Tom
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R Gruppe #111 Early S Registry #235 res ipsa loquitur |
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06-29-2004, 02:53 PM
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Automotive Monomaniac
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Quote:
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06-29-2004, 02:55 PM
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Unregistered
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: a wretched hive of scum and villainy
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Your oil is partially contaminated with di-hydrogen monoxide.
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06-29-2004, 02:57 PM
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Designer King
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Toronto, ON Canada
Posts: 5,499
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It's probably oil and water, as the others said. You can do what johnsjmc said, and/or you could try another brand of oil.
When I had my 77 engine, I would get the substance with Castrol. When I switched to another brand of oil it went away. Paul
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Paul Yellow 77 Sunroof Coupe/cork interior; 3.2L SS '80 engine/10.3:1/No O2; Carrera Tensioners; 11 Blade Fan; Turbo tie rods; Bilstein B6; 28 tube Cooler; SSI, Dansk; MSD/Blaster; 16x7" Fuchs/205/50 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s; PCA/UCR, MID9 Never leave well enough alone |
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06-29-2004, 02:58 PM
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Location: Mercer, PA
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Margarine.
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06-29-2004, 04:17 PM
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Where is that wrench?
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Irvine, CA
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Parkay.
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06-29-2004, 04:25 PM
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Location: Connecticut US
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I can understand why it's not called butter. Seriously I can confirm the water oil emulsion theory, I used to find it in the oil fill cap when I ran my ex 77 in the winter.
Ned
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Ned NYNA 11 87 Carrera targa 98 BMW 528i 98 Volvo V70 |
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06-29-2004, 04:56 PM
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It's a trap...
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di-hydrogen monoxide is very dangerous. I heard there is a group of people trying to get it banned.
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Run like the wind, straining the limits of machine and man.... 2006 Atlas Gray Carrera 4, '81 911SC Black on Tan (SOLD), 2006 Acura RSX Type S, '13 Dodge Durango (wifeys). |
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06-30-2004, 03:37 AM
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Location: Southern California
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I get a similar concoction on the helicopter (which also has an air-cooled flat six). It comes out of a crankcase breather tube. I've been told by my mechanic (who is the guru when it comes to all things Bell 47) that it's perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. So, if it's not going to take a helicopter out of the sky, my guess is that it'll be OK on terra firma, too!
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06-30-2004, 08:48 AM
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Shawzy - had the same thing when changed mine this spring. I'm in Michigan and with all the moisture, etc. it happens. Clean the plug good, change the oil, and run her hard for awhile and you'll get all that nasty water out. Remember, these cars where meant to be driven and not babied!
Enjoy it! I am... Rob
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06-30-2004, 09:21 AM
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Thanks for all the input guys.
Found out the previous owner tried running her on olive oil. Gotta love my fellow tree huggers.  In all seriousness, I'm glad there appears to be no issue here. I will def consider an oil change before storage, and make sure to get her nice and hot.
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06-30-2004, 09:35 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: So. Calif.
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It's sludge, formed by water condensation and other byproducts of combustion. Caused by not getting engine up to operating temperature often enough. If it's on the drain plug, it's also coating other engine parts - ng for heat transfer and perhaps oil circulation.
Cure: Drive far enough to warm up engine or.... change oil more frequently. Sherwood |
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06-30-2004, 10:56 AM
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Speed Buggy
