Condensation on oil filler cap

[glenndeweirdt]

I took an early morning Sunday drive (beautiful 45 degree Chicago fall day) with my '83 911SC. I have owned (second owner) this perfect and original 33K miles car for three years.

When filling the tank after 30 minutes of driving I stopped for gas and checked the oil. I noticed a small amount ( >.25cc) of water condensation on the oil filler cap. Also, when I changed the oil earlier this summer I noticed a white emulsion on the magnetic oil tank drain plug.

Is this normal? Should I drive the car more often (I drive it less than 3000 miles/year)? Does this portend some cataclysmic (sp?) future for my poor Porsche? Am I just being paranoid? Is my wife sleeping with my neighbor?

Please help.

[Joe Bob]

Mayonaise....normal. Go drive the HHell out of it....it will dispaear after it heats up.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Generally speaking, that sort of condensation and whitish-beige sludge means the car isn't being driven long enough to get the oil warm. You're barely "boiling out" the inevitable water in the oil (which condenses from the atmosphere on the inside of the crankcase and oil tank as the car sits and cools down) and it'll then go back down into the oil uless you get the engine and oil hot enough to totally steam it away. The sludge is an emulsion of oil and water.

Your wife loves you, but your Porsche won't if you don't hammer that little dear (the car, not the wife) enough to get the temps up. A nice, relaxed, 30-minute cruise evey once in awhile won't do it.

Stephan

[glenndeweirdt]

Thanks Guys! I feel much better now.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Glenn, Let's see some pictures of this SC.

[glenndeweirdt]

Pics by popular demand- or at least one request. Thanks.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Very Nice, Nothing like the lines of a 911 coupe.

[hkspwrsche]

Good thing you didnt ask your local gas/service station. They would have guessed that it was antifreeze from a blown head gasket...lol

[Wil Ferch]

It also suggests that these "pristine" cars are actually misused ( internally)...if such white condensation appears as a normal occurance. Bad history.....

Wil

[sammyg2]

Classic case of contamination by di-hydro-oxide.
Not all that dangerous if taken internally but potentially fatal of inhaled.

The above posts are spot-on.
If a car is to sit for extended periods the oil also needs to be changed more often.
That moisture can combine with byproducts of sulfur combustion and create weak acids in the oil.

[klaucke]

Is the oil temp guage in C or F? Seems it must be in F or that H20 would be boiled off in no time..., however, if it is in F then w/o running sketchy temps, how would it boil off?