Oil question?

[White89SR5]

Today I was standing around with some friends with my hood up and the car running, I knew I was coming up on time for an oil change so I decided to take a look and see what the oil looked like to see if is in really bad shape or not. When I pulled the dipstick out to check the level there were little air bubbles mixed in the with the oil!! I didn't think it was normal to have that!! Is this a sign of something going wrong in the engine or was it just because the car was running when I pulled the dipstick?

[Flashmn]

dipstick out to check the level there were little air bubbles mixed in the with the oil!! I didn't think it was normal to have that!! Is this a sign of something going wrong in the engine or was it just because the car was running when I pulled the dipstick?

First of all, why did you pull the dipstick out when the car was running? Thats just dumb.
Yes there can be little air bubbles mixed in the oil, nothing wrong with that. You do realize theres a pump sucking oil, Crank case air, and a bigass crankshaft with connecting rods turning just above the oil in the oilpan.

Is it just me or are alot of posts nowadays regarding silly assumptions about engine condition, but they have no sense in reality. I mean, I'm not trying to make you feel upset, but doing silly things like pulling the dipstick out when the engine is running isnt exactly going to tell you anything. This trend goes into other threads aswell.
Maybe people who dont have knowledge on mechanical things, shouldnt attempt to do any checkups on the engine condition, but rather have professionals who can spot the problems (not some kids at walmart oilchange)

[White89SR5]

There is no need to attack my mechanical abilities because I had a simply question. I have done all of the work on my car since day one and the car now runs as well as the day it was built. If you read my post you know that that I wasn't trying to find out anything about the engine itself, I was just trying to see if I should change the oil earlier than my normal 3000 miles, which is something you can tell by looking at your oil. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think any damage will come from pulling the dipstick while it is running. It will effect the reading on dipstick but once again I wasn't checking the level of the oil just the condition it was in!! I am still learning about cars and I have not studied all of the attributes of oil so if i have a question I have no problems asking questions after all I thought that was what this forum was for!! By the way it is not Wal-marts it is Marietta Toyota!!

[Chris Corolla S]

It's normal.
Pulling out the dipstick while the engine is running is fine if you just want to see what color the oil is.

[Flashmn]

There is no need to attack my mechanical abilities because I had a simply question.

I wasnt attacking you, it was a general statement.

I was just trying to see if I should change the oil earlier than my normal 3000 miles, which is something you can tell by looking at your oil. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think any damage will come from pulling the dipstick while it is running.

Actually you really cant tell if oils are old by looking at them, they turn black relatively quick. With modern oils 3000miles is quite soon, you can drive ~10000miles with modern oils without problems.
Yes you're right, with an old engine like a 4A-F/FE theres no damage to the engine pulling the dipstick out, but with newer engines, the engine will just stall. Some modern engines wont even start if the oilcap is open. But a general rule is, turn the engine off when you pull the dipstick out.

[cashcrazy]

I bet it was just air bubbles. If the oil was "milky" then you have problems.

[Liter]

maybe you accidently changed your oil with coca cola....could be the reason for the bubbles

[Flashmn]

Oil gets slushed around inside the engine and air gets trapped in it, airbubbles are no problem, its normal. If you'd have mayonnaise under your oilcap, then I'd be worried.

[White89SR5]

It didn't taste like Coca-Cola so maybe it is something else!! Anyway thanks for the input everybody and no more dumb questions from me!!

[crockdaddy420]

Put sierra nevada pale ale in my rolla dolla (dries up mad quick, should work though), but at 9 bucks (probally cheapa in cali), gets a little pricey. Back to the dollar oil (na, just that halvoline reg stuff).