Oil Change - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jhobo4 · 11-22-2006, 11:10 AM

While changing my oil today I noticed a thick yellow residue on the dipstick and on the inside of the oil cap. Is this normal?

boone · 11-22-2006, 11:28 AM

What type of oil was in there? Did you add any additives?

jhobo4 · 11-22-2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boone

What type of oil was in there? Did you add any additives?

mobil one synthetic with the mobil one filter

boone · 11-22-2006, 11:35 AM

Was it baked on or was it like a honey/goo type substance?

jhobo4 · 11-22-2006, 11:39 AM

like honey goo

boone · 11-22-2006, 11:47 AM

Well assuming it didn't smell like fuel, you probably have a decent amount of condensation building up in your engine over your oil change interval. Do you take a lot of short trips? Like less than 10 miles or 10 minutes?

jhobo4 · 11-22-2006, 11:48 AM

yeah

boone · 11-22-2006, 12:03 PM

Ok. Well you have a few options to correct the problem. It's not detrimental, but water mixing with oil isn't a good thing. It prevents your expensive Mobil1 oil from doing it's job properly.

Option 1 - Take the long way. Get your engine up to temp, each and every trip you take. Combine trips so that you get in and out before the engines slightly warms, then gets cold again, then slightly warm again. This is likely what is causing the goo.

Option 2 - Shorten your oil change intervals. Probably not the best option considering you are spending close to $50 an oil change. Might as well get what you paid for out of your oil.

Option 3 - This is what I would do. Add an additive that reduces oxidation and scavenges the water. LC20 is excellent for that: http://lubecontrol.com/lube.htm

Get the smaller 32oz bottle. It will probably last you about a year following the application directions. It will save that Mobil1 for a few extra dollars an oil change.

DoOb · 11-22-2006, 04:28 PM

i change my oil about every 4k, i have a 2 hour commute (round trip, mostly highway) everyday. You think i could go up to 5k with regular oil, stay at 4K or change the type of oil. Just wondering.

forbye · 11-22-2006, 04:34 PM

if that is working for you., dont change a thing..hows the oil look at 4k?

***humanoid*** · 11-22-2006, 05:21 PM

It doesn't matter how the oil looks. The only way to tell if you can go longer between changes is to do an oil analysis. Dark oil doesn't mean it's necessarily mean it's time to change the oil.