Water in engine oil? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

Dr.K · 12-23-2012, 04:00 PM

Hi first time posting but I have a quick question and was wondering if I could get an opinion on this. I was cleaning around my engine bay today and I opened my Oil cap, I found this whitish sludge under the cap. I remember from shop class that if you mix water with oil you will have a whitish sludge. I was just wondering if this happens alot with bmw's?

Denny347 · 12-23-2012, 05:59 PM

Could it be anti-freeze? Getting water into your engine is actually not all that easy unless you drove through a flooded road and sucked it in the intake.

Dr.K · 12-23-2012, 06:15 PM

I have no clue what It is, I had an oil change 2,000 miles ago at the dealership and I haven't tried turning my car into a boat. I emailed my SA hopefully they can figure out what it is.

chazzz · 12-23-2012, 06:16 PM

That means the coolant has leaked into the oil system. That is not good. You might have a blown head gasket or something like that. Get it fixed ASAP, or the sludge (mixed water & oil) will damage the bearings inside of your engine.
Sorry about that.

gaza01 · 12-23-2012, 06:58 PM

Its most likely condensation. Do you do a lot of short journeys where the car doesn't get up to temperature?...means any moisture that collects in the oil stays in it until the car is run at operating temperature at which point it boils off.

Dr.K · 12-23-2012, 07:03 PM

My job is only 4 miles away from the house so by the time I get there my temp needle hasn't even moved yet. Hopefully that's the case but if its a head gasket thank god I have my warranty!

J02 335i · 12-23-2012, 07:05 PM

Condensation, nothing to worry about here, move along lol...........

bumere90 · 12-23-2012, 07:24 PM

hard to tell
drain the oil first and then go from there

Richurd · 12-23-2012, 07:34 PM

It's condensation, it happened to me. Drove the car so short the temp didn't even budge.

NiVeDh · 12-23-2012, 07:47 PM

Now check your coolant reservoir. If the sludge is there too, I'm willing to bet it's your oil filter housing gasket.

2wheelsrbetter · 12-23-2012, 07:58 PM

a 3rd on condensation. idling and/or short drives does it.

saw this when i 1st got my car and wasn't driving it much. scary, but nothing really

John 070 · 12-23-2012, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bumere90

hard to tell
drain the oil first and then go from there

I agree, draining the oil would be a tell all....if it's totally normal, then I suppose it must be condensation, but I don't really understand why there would be any....short trips doesn't really explain it imho. When my Volvo blew its head gasket the oil looked like that.

Dr.K · 12-23-2012, 08:54 PM

I checked the coolant and its nice and green. Will drain the oil and see what happens. How the heck does condensation get into a sealed engine compartment anyways?

07lilredwagon · 12-23-2012, 10:15 PM

take a look with a flashlight down at the camshaft inside the cover when you have the oil cap off...is there sludge all over the cam and head?....if not, then you may be okay with the condensation theory...if the sludge is all over the inside of the valve cover and cam....you have a bigger problem...

The motor creates heat and its colder outside. just like any container, the top of the valve cover where the oil fill cap is located will act like the top of a glass bottle, or even a 2 liter soda bottle...moisture will collect there and mix with the oil. The pcv valve will vent gasses (which now get recycled in the emissions system) but the engine has to heat up a bit for that process to take effect.

this amount of sludge in the short term is of little concern (if its condensation) but the sludge will begin to build up after time...and this is in fact bad for the engine...***after you confirm its only condensation and not a bigger problem***you have to take that baby out for a few spirited drives and get the temp up...heat up that sludge, mix it with the hot oil and it will begin to vaporize and escape through the emissions system.

Drive drive drive!

JP

Dr.K · 12-24-2012, 12:16 AM

Checked the inside of the camshaft and it was pretty clear, picture attatched. Its pretty amazing what an Iphone can pick up. I guess these cars are meant to be driven! I will follow up with my SA just in case though.

bumere90 · 12-24-2012, 07:02 AM

You are using wrong coolant! Go buy BMW genuine (blue) coolant and drain that cheap stuff.
I would keep a sample of oil and send it to blackstone lab for analysis.

sammk · 12-24-2012, 09:20 AM

Used to happen in my E46 all the time when I lived 2 miles from work. Had to clean it up every few weeks, but there was not a iota of sludge in that engine ever.

Now that I have a 26 mi commute, I don't have that problem on the E92!

As the others said, drive!

fun2drive · 12-24-2012, 02:06 PM

Condensation no doubt and you need to drive the car for a while like an hour a week to flash that off. No big deal...

Malibu1 · 12-24-2012, 03:02 PM

Check your dipstick. If it looks like a milkshake on it, then its water in the oil. Oh wait, BMW Engineers did not think we needed a dipstick.

volkswackin · 12-24-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malibu1

Check your dipstick. If it looks like a milkshake on it, then its water in the oil. Oh wait, BMW Engineers did not think we needed a dipstick.

As others have stated-condensation

BEAR-AvHistory · 12-25-2012, 03:24 PM

You really need to get it up to full operating temp at least once a week.

slowSwede · 12-25-2012, 09:05 PM

As everyone else have said, condensation.
Don't know why BMW's are extra sensitive to it though, as on every Bmw I have owned I've had it.

12-23-2012, 04:00 PM	#1
Dr.K New Member Drives: 2009 E92 335xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: boston Posts: 20 iTrader: (2)	Water in engine oil? Hi first time posting but I have a quick question and was wondering if I could get an opinion on this. I was cleaning around my engine bay today and I opened my Oil cap, I found this whitish sludge under the cap. I remember from shop class that if you mix water with oil you will have a whitish sludge. I was just wondering if this happens alot with bmw's? Attached Images Last edited by Dr.K; 12-23-2012 at 04:09 PM.
	Tweet

12-23-2012, 06:16 PM	#4
chazzz Captain Drives: BMW 335i Sedan Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 626 iTrader: (3)	That means the coolant has leaked into the oil system. That is not good. You might have a blown head gasket or something like that. Get it fixed ASAP, or the sludge (mixed water & oil) will damage the bearings inside of your engine. Sorry about that. __________________ 2007 BMW 335i Sedan, Montego Blue with Lemon seats, AluFelgen CS7 rims & Continental DW tires

12-23-2012, 07:05 PM	#7
J02 335i Major Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,492 iTrader: (0)	Condensation, nothing to worry about here, move along lol........... __________________ Sport pack, JB3, Dci, factory oil cooler, 18" M3 reps, Michelin PSS, painted trim, black grills, smoked side markers, LED plate lights, H&R coils, muffler delete

12-23-2012, 07:34 PM	#9
Richurd Lieutenant Drives: Too slow. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: nyc Posts: 567 iTrader: (6)	It's condensation, it happened to me. Drove the car so short the temp didn't even budge. __________________ 07 e92 335i \| BSM \| SB \| Gray Poplar Wood Trim \| 6MT \| Premium \| Sport \| Cold Weather \| iDrive \| Logic7 \| Comfort Access \|

12-23-2012, 07:58 PM	#11
2wheelsrbetter First Lieutenant Drives: AW 07 e90 335i Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bucks County PA Posts: 379 iTrader: (9)	a 3rd on condensation. idling and/or short drives does it. saw this when i 1st got my car and wasn't driving it much. scary, but nothing really __________________ mods: missing exhaust, fmic, condensor, radiator, oil cooler, ps cooler, trans heat exchanger, turbo charge pipe

12-23-2012, 05:59 PM	#2
Denny347 Second Lieutenant Drives: SGM 2006 330i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 279 iTrader: (0)	Could it be anti-freeze? Getting water into your engine is actually not all that easy unless you drove through a flooded road and sucked it in the intake.

12-23-2012, 06:15 PM	#3
Dr.K New Member Drives: 2009 E92 335xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: boston Posts: 20 iTrader: (2)	I have no clue what It is, I had an oil change 2,000 miles ago at the dealership and I haven't tried turning my car into a boat. I emailed my SA hopefully they can figure out what it is.

12-23-2012, 06:58 PM	#5
gaza01 Lieutenant Drives: E93 325i Msport Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: London Posts: 444 iTrader: (0)	Its most likely condensation. Do you do a lot of short journeys where the car doesn't get up to temperature?...means any moisture that collects in the oil stays in it until the car is run at operating temperature at which point it boils off.

12-23-2012, 07:03 PM	#6
Dr.K New Member Drives: 2009 E92 335xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: boston Posts: 20 iTrader: (2)	My job is only 4 miles away from the house so by the time I get there my temp needle hasn't even moved yet. Hopefully that's the case but if its a head gasket thank god I have my warranty!

12-23-2012, 07:24 PM	#8
bumere90 Grozniy Drives: E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL Posts: 2,303 iTrader: (11)	hard to tell drain the oil first and then go from there

12-23-2012, 07:47 PM	#10
NiVeDh Major General Drives: '08 E90 335i 6MT BSM Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Atlanta / Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 8,020 iTrader: (131) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [4.46]	Now check your coolant reservoir. If the sludge is there too, I'm willing to bet it's your oil filter housing gasket.

12-23-2012, 08:54 PM	#13
Dr.K New Member Drives: 2009 E92 335xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: boston Posts: 20 iTrader: (2)	I checked the coolant and its nice and green. Will drain the oil and see what happens. How the heck does condensation get into a sealed engine compartment anyways?

12-23-2012, 10:15 PM	#14
07lilredwagon First Lieutenant Drives: 07 328 wagon Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: New York Posts: 393 iTrader: (0)	take a look with a flashlight down at the camshaft inside the cover when you have the oil cap off...is there sludge all over the cam and head?....if not, then you may be okay with the condensation theory...if the sludge is all over the inside of the valve cover and cam....you have a bigger problem... The motor creates heat and its colder outside. just like any container, the top of the valve cover where the oil fill cap is located will act like the top of a glass bottle, or even a 2 liter soda bottle...moisture will collect there and mix with the oil. The pcv valve will vent gasses (which now get recycled in the emissions system) but the engine has to heat up a bit for that process to take effect. this amount of sludge in the short term is of little concern (if its condensation) but the sludge will begin to build up after time...and this is in fact bad for the engine...*after you confirm its only condensation and not a bigger problem*you have to take that baby out for a few spirited drives and get the temp up...heat up that sludge, mix it with the hot oil and it will begin to vaporize and escape through the emissions system. Drive drive drive! JP

12-24-2012, 12:16 AM	#15
Dr.K New Member Drives: 2009 E92 335xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: boston Posts: 20 iTrader: (2)	Checked the inside of the camshaft and it was pretty clear, picture attatched. Its pretty amazing what an Iphone can pick up. I guess these cars are meant to be driven! I will follow up with my SA just in case though. Attached Images

12-24-2012, 07:02 AM	#16
bumere90 Grozniy Drives: E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL Posts: 2,303 iTrader: (11)	You are using wrong coolant! Go buy BMW genuine (blue) coolant and drain that cheap stuff. I would keep a sample of oil and send it to blackstone lab for analysis.

12-24-2012, 09:20 AM	#17
sammk Private First Class Drives: 2008 328i Coupe Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 173 iTrader: (1)	Used to happen in my E46 all the time when I lived 2 miles from work. Had to clean it up every few weeks, but there was not a iota of sludge in that engine ever. Now that I have a 26 mi commute, I don't have that problem on the E92! As the others said, drive! __________________

12-24-2012, 02:06 PM	#18
fun2drive BMWCCA 149159 Drives: E93 335 Vert E36 M3/4 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 378 iTrader: (1)	Condensation no doubt and you need to drive the car for a while like an hour a week to flash that off. No big deal...

12-24-2012, 03:02 PM	#19
Malibu1 Private First Class Drives: 2007 335i Sedan 6MT Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Washington State Posts: 159 iTrader: (2)	Check your dipstick. If it looks like a milkshake on it, then its water in the oil. Oh wait, BMW Engineers did not think we needed a dipstick. __________________ 2007 335I 6MT, 1965 Backdraft Cobra Replica, 2006 Ford Harley F150, 2009 Scion XB and 2004 Malibu VLX

12-25-2012, 03:24 PM	#21
BEAR-AvHistory 335is 7DCT/JB4-G5/ISO Drives: 2011 335is/JB4-G5/ISO Coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NC - USA Posts: 1,344 iTrader: (0)	You really need to get it up to full operating temp at least once a week. __________________ Kevin 2013 135is Cab 6MT - 2011 335is JB4/ISO - 2010 BMW X3 - 2009 V-Star 2009 Ford Expedition EL 4X4 - 2003 Xterra 4X4 - 1998 Ranger 4X4

12-25-2012, 09:05 PM	#22
slowSwede Lieutenant Drives: 335 coupe Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Skåne Posts: 547 iTrader: (0)	As everyone else have said, condensation. Don't know why BMW's are extra sensitive to it though, as on every Bmw I have owned I've had it.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search