Help....... Foamy oil ???????????

[Pappibri]

Since I have owned my H3 I have always put Mobile 1 Synthetic in it and Fram Synthetic filters. Since I have 140,000 on my engine I figured that I would put the Mobile 1 High Mileage which is full synthetic as well in it. I always check fluid the next day just to make sure things are copacetic. I pulled out my dipstick and the oil was creamy looking foamy. I thought, maybe it is just additives, or is my head cracked or something else introducing antifreeze into my motor. Antifreeze still same color, and level is not dropping, although I know it would not take that much. After 3 days no change so I said hell with it, took the 30 dollar loss and went and got some regular Mobile 1 and new filter. I let the old stuff drain for 2 hrs just to make sure I could get as much out as possible. Put the new stuff in and 2 days later this oil now looks the same. I have put some Lucas oil stop leak to help see if I have a lil leak it might help plug it. I have some BARS stop leak for the radiator, and the other for the oil but I have heard mixed reviews. Please help with some possible causes and fixes. Much appreciate knowledgeable input

 

[Odimus]

too much oil possibly...I've seen it before where there was too much oil and it caused to for foam up...

 

[650Hawk]

Sure looks like water (antifreeze) in the oil to me. Doesn't take much, so you might not even notice a difference in coolant level.

 

[Pappibri]

Yeah I know.... It sucks because that is true, so trying to figure it out is stumping me.. That is why I am turning to my H40 brethren in hopes of some of our more knowlegable members might be able to give me some ideas. How about BARS leak products...... I have seen mixed reviews online.. I appreciate all of your guys help...

 

[JPaul]

My personal view on the radiator stop leak stuff is that it might be fine for a junker car (ie, one you don't really care about but would prefer to keep going) or a temporary solution, but I would never count on it as a permanent fix. If you're getting coolant in your oil (which that looks like) then you really are going to need to figure out where the leak is and fix it. It could be a cracked head, or a failing headgasket, or a crack in the block or around the water pump. If you don't fix it you're just going to keep having more problems later on and will need to do more extensive repair work later.

 

[SedonaBound]

Better to face the music; it looks like a bad head or head gasket. Barsleak and similar products are for radiators, and old school brass & copper ones at that. If that crap gets into the rings or valve seats, the damage can be far worse.

 

[Paranormal]

That looks like antifreeze to me, unless the coloring in the photo is off. Any product that you use to fix the antifreeze leak is only going to be temporary. If it is too cold where you are ( like me) use it. Wait until it warms up and find the problem and fix it. Good luck.

 

[woodwardsh3]

Is the exhaust putting out white smoke. Pull the plugs and you may see that 1 plug looks different or see coolant in the cylinders. You could rent a radiator pressure tester from auto zone an do a test to see if the pressure drops after pumping it up to the recommended pressure. Is your antifreeze strong enough for the cold weather were having? if it is not it may have froze and cracked something like the block. MY guess is it is the head gasket. Have you ever overheated the engine? and is it the i5 engine?

 

[Pappibri]

Is the exhaust putting out white smoke. Pull the plugs and you may see that 1 plug looks different or see coolant in the cylinders. You could rent a radiator pressure tester from auto zone an do a test to see if the pressure drops after pumping it up to the recommended pressure. Is your antifreeze strong enough for the cold weather were having? if it is not it may have froze and cracked something like the block. MY guess is it is the head gasket. Have you ever overheated the engine? and is it the i5 engine?

In this weather it is hard to tell if it is putting out any smoke. Antifreeze is right for the temps.... I was wondering if it was a blown headgasket or a cracked head.The exhaust does have a stronger smell, and when I have my defrosters on inside the vehicle I get that antifreeze smell I guess thats what the smell is. Head was replaced once at around 70,000...

 

[4speedfunk]

Damn. Thats like looking at a pregnancy test strip....you just don't want to believe what you're seeing. The result is the same....things are about to get real expensive.

 

[justin94tt]

Looks like you might have a blown head gasket, or cracked head
.

 

[Woodtick]

Time to face the the facts. Change the oil and trade it in right away. Pull the motor and rebuild it. At a 140k,it's a tough financial call. You keep driving it,you will blow the motor. 5.3 is an option as well. 5.3's are dirt cheep,but if you have to pay someone to do it,not so much. Best of luck.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I agree with the water-in-the-oil analysis - in rare cases condensation can cause the issue; but it clears up pretty quickly (I had this issue with a jet boat).

that said - avoid "quick fix" solutions like the plague (any kind of "head gasket fix in a can). In more then one case, the person fixes the head and/or gasket and then has the same problem again because that crap plugged up the radiator (and caused it to overheat). They then complain that they aren't getting any heat - which is true, the heater core plugs next. Fortunately, dynamite isn't readily available.

and while they have the head off - flush the motor. I'm going to guess that you weren't religious about changing the anti-freeze. The orange stuff plugs motors if it isn't changed at least as often as manufacturer recommendations. Also, the orange anti-freeze has stuff in it that plugs leaks (was the reason it was developed for aluminum motors - aluminum motors suffer porosity problems).

 

[Pappibri]

I agree with the water-in-the-oil analysis - in rare cases condensation can cause the issue; but it clears up pretty quickly (I had this issue with a jet boat).

that said - avoid "quick fix" solutions like the plague (any kind of "head gasket fix in a can). In more then one case, the person fixes the head and/or gasket and then has the same problem again because that crap plugged up the radiator (and caused it to overheat). They then complain that they aren't getting any heat - which is true, the heater core plugs next. Fortunately, dynamite isn't readily available.

and while they have the head off - flush the motor. I'm going to guess that you weren't religious about changing the anti-freeze. The orange stuff plugs motors if it isn't changed at least as often as manufacturer recommendations. Also, the orange anti-freeze has stuff in it that plugs leaks (was the reason it was developed for aluminum motors - aluminum motors suffer porosity problems).

I bought it with 42,000 they replaced the antifreeze when they put the new head on it at 72,000 and then I did a one at 115,000. Im try to keep good fluids in my rig. In fact I have always put synthetic in it and have never had the change oil light come on. Ill see if it clears up and if not I will try to find a low mileage colorado or maybe go the route of the v8

 

[Bigunit]

Good luck and let us know what you find out.

 

[rascole]

Ouch, as most have said above, you have water in the oil. With luck it is the gasket and no warping or cracked head. New gasket and a good flush is hopefully all you need.