Diary of an Oil Change - A Condensation Story

[Chaos Theory]

I would like to share my last (well first on my ‘new to me’ 1985 Carrera RoW) oil change experience with the forum to gain some feedback and to find out what others commonly see.

Background info:
I have full documentation history from day one which includes oil changes above and beyond the manufacturer’s recommendations in terms of mileage, however I noticed a few intervals which were a little longer in duration than I would have personally let slide (slightly over a year).

The last previous oil change was performed on 07/31/09 at approx 100500kms, 10.5l of Pennzoil 10w40 with a ZDDP additive to boot. I assume it was only driven on occasion and for short distances after this last oil change until I took possession.

I drove it home from the coast (approx 2000kms in two days), and in the past month have only put on about 1000kms over the course of maybe 15 or 20 drives (only getting close to full operating temp a couple times).

It remains parked in a heated garage and I drive away soon after starting, and my city is not the largest so I generally take the long way to get to my destination. Revs usually hang at a minimum between 3200 and 4200/min. and shifting between 4700 and 6grand when the oil is warmer. The air is cooler here now (close to freezing) and the needle has only reached just above the first line a couple times in the past month or so.

And now for the pics..

Oil drained from the crankcase was a beautiful golden brown, with the magnet picking up the very tiniest metal particulate..


The oil from the tank was of course also a nice hue however there was evidence of moisture accumulation which had settled in the bottom,



it wasn’t a whole lot from what came out but it was definitely not what I wanted to see.



There was also some condensation on the oil filler cap, along with some of that milky stuff in the filler tube, but not a whole lot (sorry, no pic).


When I told my gal I was going to teach her how to change oil she thought it meant that she just got to watch, so she wasn’t dressed appropriately. But she was still willing to get a little dirty and she had a lot of fun she said, and apart from the real dirty stuff she did a lot of the work..



We swapped in some Brad Penn 20w50 semi syn racing green and a new filter.

Questions..
• I could not get the oil return line to open up (was still cool to touch) even after over half an hour of somewhat spirited driving.. I’m thinking I will need to drive harder and longer during these cooler months? Agree? Disagree? Is the weather just too cool?
• I had a thought.. Would I be able to ‘flush’ more of that gunk from the oil tank if I caught the good used oil from the crankcase (no gunk), and poured it back through the oil filler neck and back out?
• Based on these pics what should I do moving forward? Should I be concerned with trying to flush all the oil out of the lines etc? Or should I focus on simply ensuring I reach proper operating temperature more often in order to boil off the condensation.?
• Do any of you guys see this during an oil change? If so what are your typical operating/driving conditions?

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by Chaos Theory

Do any of you guys see this during an oil change?

I never see stuff like that during an oil change

[jsteve340]

I am sorry that I am of no help on your oil change question,but more pics of your girlfriend would be nice.

[nineball]

i wanna know how you left a white hand print on her dress during an oil change...

[UrQuattro]

That's what I was wondering. And definitely, more pics would be helpful with us figuring outthe answer to the mysteryof the handprints.

[Nostril Cheese]

Pics of girlfriend under car, covered in oil would be nice..

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by nineball

i wanna know how you left a white hand print on her dress during an oil change...

It's that "milky residue" from the condensed water in the oil!

Add: I think we have the model to show off Wayne's new coveralls!

[moneymanager]

The answer to all your questions if put the plugs back in place, fill the car with oil, open a bottle of wine and relax. Maybe change the oil a little early next time.

[pete3799]

Condensation (in oil) is normal for a car not reaching operating temp.
Best to run it on longer trips so that the oil heats up.
As far as flushing it out I would sacrifice a quart of new oil as opposed to the drain oil.
Please send your oil change assistant here for proper training.

[rnln]

hey hey guys guys. He was talking about his car, not the gal.
Hey Chaos, are you going to post more pics of your gal? j/k

[teenerted1]

only 3200-4200 revs?
you need to do at least one italian tune up on every drive.

[mickey356]

Chaos,
I'll spare you my comments on your assistant as it seems you've already gotten plenty.
There is a similar thread going on with regard to "normal operating temp" and your issue seems to fall right into the subject being discussed there.
I'm kinda in the same boat you are with it being cold and difficult to get the engine up to operating temp. I'm planning on more frequent oil changes (in your case that doesn't seem like a bad thing ) and maybe a lighter weight oil.
I'm curious to see what responses you get.

[JJ 911SC]

C.T.

Getting cold, Tim Horton coffee & pictures in you garage indicate that you are on the West Coast thus you'll be able to drive "her" for few more weeks???

Unfortunately, here in Central, it's hibernation time...

Thanks for the pics.

J.J.

[84 911 WideBody]

Originally Posted by nineball

i wanna know how you left a white hand print on her dress during an oil change...

condensation.....

[Canada Kev]

Hey JJ, he said he is 2000 km from the coast, so probably in Saskatchewan somewhere - Saskatoon? In Edmonton, it's been unseasonably warm of late. I was tempted to take mine out of hibernation for a good rip this past weekend. Regardless, the Tim's cup is kind of a give away. It might as well be a big red Canuck flag hanging there.

[JJ 911SC]

Kevin

Same thing here last weekend. Wake up with snow on the ground on Friday but on Sunday I was washing the Babe and went for a 2 hours rip, top down, it actually reach 16C (61F) and was sunny.

My next ride is a one way to the storage garage but I'm taking her out on the 1st of April no matter what...

J.J.

P.S. I did read the part about the 2000 miles drive from the Coast bit, but then I saw the oil change pictures and lost track... Is her name Jiffy?

[Superman]

Condensation is relatively normal. And since these cars have no coolant, finding that milky stuff in the oil is not particularly worrisome. Drive the car more.

And take good care of the G/F. She appears to be high-performance.

[OttawaDave]

Good topic - suspect there's a number of fellow Canadians reading this and nodding their heads...

Hey JJ, I think I may have seen you a few times around Rideau Carleton on Wednesdays (likely leaving the cruise night as I head into town for ball), and perhaps at the Swan from time to time...don't think there are too many slant nose cabs in our neck of the woods. I'm out in Osgoode, by the way.

My car officially went into the 'big sleep' on Wednesday....counting down the days until the spring already!!

[NewfieMZ3]

I'll pipe in on this from the east coast. Had a cruise on Wed Morning only about three degrees but beautifully sunny........drove for about two hours and could not get the temp up at all near the first hash mark.......so that was a concern of mine as well. I'll be changing the oil soon so I will keep an eye for this. Funny thing was, by suppertime I was driving my truck in two inches of snow......good old NL weather.......but we all hang on for the bonus driving days. I'm thinking of getting an oil assistant like the one pictured above........does our host sell these, maybe in a life size cutout even?

[vash]

cute special lady friend!

what is the blue metal flake stuff in the 3rd pic? you need to drive the car more often..to hot temps.