Condensation under oil fill cap

[2gsquad]

I've noticed that there was a bit of condensation on the bottom of my filler cap this morning. I checked the oil and there was moisture at the top of the dipstick but the oil looked normal. When I drove to work (about 10 minutes), I checked again, and the moisture on the dipstick and the cap are gone.

This is scaring me because I also noticed white smoke, but it didn't smell sweet, only like normal exhaust.

Could I have a blown head gasket or is it something less serious?

 

[97gsxIA]

If you have frothy or milky oil, it would be time to check for headgasket.

If it's condensation droplets you've most likely been driving it for short trips, not allowing it to heat up properly for the PCV system to draw the moisture out of the crank case.
Not a big deal, although usually, you'd see it more in colder temps.

 

[raizen]

If your head gasket was bad it would your oil would look like a milk shake. If you want to check your head gasket a quick way to do would be: With the engine cold, start the car, put it in drive, step on the brake and hold it, give it gas for 30 seconds, shut it off, if the head gasket is good there will be no pressure when you remove the radiator cap. If there is then its time for a head gasket change. 97gsxIA is right about how the PCV system works so if that's the case you don't have anything to worry about.

 

[Calan]

If your head gasket was bad it would your oil would look like a milk shake. If you want to check your head gasket a quick way to do would be: With the engine cold, start the car, put it in drive, step on the brake and hold it, give it gas for 30 seconds, shut it off, if the head gasket is good there will be no pressure when you remove the radiator cap. If there is then its time for a head gasket change. 97gsxIA is right about how the PCV system works so if that's the case you don't have anything to worry about.

There are lots of ways a headgasket can be bad, and your pressure test won't really determine if it is truly leaking coolant. (And the milk shake oil could be caused by a leaking oil filter cooler; not just a headgasket).

Do you have a blown headgasket?

OP - A bit of condensation is normal, depending on the car. What type of PCV setup do you have?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

If your head gasket was bad it would your oil would look like a milk shake. If you want to check your head gasket a quick way to do would be: With the engine cold, start the car, put it in drive, step on the brake and hold it, give it gas for 30 seconds, shut it off, if the head gasket is good there will be no pressure when you remove the radiator cap. If there is then its time for a head gasket change. 97gsxIA is right about how the PCV system works so if that's the case you don't have anything to worry about.

Wow, I'm speechless. I would rather just do a cylinder leak down test and be done with it.

 

[raizen]

That is true but that is the quickest way to check a head gasket and I have used it before on my different cars and it has worked without issue.

 

[boost97gst]

Have had that condensation on my expedition for 150,000 miles now. Never a head problem. Its normal, dont pay it any mind.

 

[bryanwheat]

That is true but that is the quickest way to check a head gasket and I have used it before on my different cars and it has worked without issue.

What you are not understanding is that a head gasket can blow in different places. It can blow between the compression chamber and water, compression chamber and crank case, water to crank case and so on. If you are leaking from the cooling system to the crank case, than what you are talking about won't help in any way. The correct way to test this would be to use a cooling system pressure tester and pressurize the system and see if it holds at the proper pressure. If it does and coolant levels don't go down than all is well.

 

[keltalon]

Could I have a blown head gasket or is it something less serious?

Nope! How far are you from lake Michigan? just curious. If you had something as serious as a blown head gasket trust me your dsm will let you know very quickly

 

[2gsquad]

Nope! How far are you from lake Michigan? just curious. If you had something as serious as a blown head gasket trust me your dsm will let you know very quickly

About an hour drive haha. Where I live I experience a lot of weather related effects from the lake.

 

[keltalon]

About an hour drive haha. Where I live I experience a lot of weather related effects from the lake.

I was just curious about the humidity from the lake and how this could have an effect on your issue.

 

[raizen]

I understand what your saying but again it is a quick and easy way to check to see if there is an issue. Not everyone has a coolant pressure tester at their disposal. I have used this method and it works. There is more than one way to skin a cat. This is just another way to do it.

 

[Calan]

I understand what your saying but again it is a quick and easy way to check to see if there is an issue.

No, it's not. Your method of testing won't prove anything at all. Even if it did show up, pressure in the coolant could be coming from a cracked head, etc, and no pressure in the coolant after simply warming up the engine and running it with no load doesn't mean the headgasket is good.

If OP really wants to find out what is going on, the best way to do it is with a leak-down test, and/or what Bryanwheat suggested below.

There are lots of ways a headgasket can be bad, and your pressure test won't really determine if it is truly leaking coolant. (And the milk shake oil could be caused by a leaking oil filter cooler; not just a headgasket).

Do you have a blown headgasket?

What you are not understanding is that a head gasket can blow in different places. It can blow between the compression chamber and water, compression chamber and crank case, water to crank case and so on. If you are leaking from the cooling system to the crank case, than what you are talking about won't help in any way. The correct way to test this would be to use a cooling system pressure tester and pressurize the system and see if it holds at the proper pressure. If it does and coolant levels don't go down than all is well.

 

[raizen]

Well to each his own. I HAVE used it many times and it has never failed me. If you DO NOT want to use the method I suggested then that is fine. It is an alternative method that I was taught if you do not have a tool to check coolant pressure.