# Milky substance on oil dip stick **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 26, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881 "2008-12-26T14:35:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![racine\_dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@racine\_dave](https://community.cartalk.com/u/racine_dave)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/1 "2008-12-26T14:35:01Z")
'98 Volvo with 140K. when I checked the oil I noticed a milky substance on the dip stick. Does this mean I hve a bad head gasket? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/2 "2008-12-26T14:51:08Z")
That would be my conclusion also. I suggest that you get the car into the shop a.s.a.p. before serious bearing damage takes place. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/3 "2008-12-26T15:12:00Z")
Are you losing any coolant? ---
**Author:** ![racine\_dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@racine\_dave](https://community.cartalk.com/u/racine_dave)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/4 "2008-12-26T15:54:28Z")
No, not losing any coolant. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/5 "2008-12-26T17:30:20Z")
The milky substance is water in the oil, as you suspect, but it may not mean the head gasket is bad, especially since you say there is no coolant loss. You’re checking the radiator, right, and not just the overflow bottle? Does the car sit a lot, and/or get driven short distances at low speeds in cold weather? If so, you may just need an oil change and a highway drive now and then to cook all the condensation out of the oil. Don’t guess about a head gasket. There are tests that can be performed to verify a bad head gasket. Try the easy, inexpensive things first. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/6 "2008-12-26T17:48:32Z")
Many cars exhibit this during cold weather. Combustion blow-by contains much water vapor. It’s the PVC systems job to purge these vapors from the crankcase. But sometimes this moisture can condense on the cold dipstick and form the sludge you see…It will disappear when the weather warms up. At 140K miles, your PVC system probably needs a good cleaning from end to end…This will improve crankcase ventilation… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/7 "2008-12-26T17:59:02Z")
Yes, the milky substance could simply be the result of excessive moisture condensation in the motor oil. OP–Do you do a lot of short trips (5 miles or less) in the winter months? If so, you REALLY need to change your oil more often and/or make sure that the car is driven for at least 30-40 minutes without shutting it off, at least once per week. Moisture condensation in the motor oil is nowhere near as injurious to the engine as is coolant leaking into the oil, but it is still not a good thing. This has the potential to lead to severe sludging of the engine, and over the long term, this can cause lots of expensive problems. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/8 "2008-12-26T19:16:22Z")
Only on the stick or also on the underside of the fill cap? ---
**Author:** ![racine\_dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@racine\_dave](https://community.cartalk.com/u/racine_dave)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/9 "2008-12-26T19:37:58Z")
I drive 30-40 miles to work & back every day. I live in wisconsin & it’s been very cold the last 2-3 weeks. I’m going to change the oil this week-end. Thanks a lot. ---
**Author:** ![racine\_dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@racine\_dave](https://community.cartalk.com/u/racine_dave)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/10 "2008-12-26T19:38:50Z")
I checked the oil cap & it was okay. ---
**Author:** ![americar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/americar/32/42_2.png) [@americar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/americar)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/milky-substance-on-oil-dip-stick/23881/11 "2008-12-26T19:55:18Z")
I second the PCV Positive crankcase ventilation system needs cleaned/checked