foamy oil?

rgood · Feb 5, 2008

Guys, I went to check the oil on my tractor's dipstick and some of the oil is foamy - The color is normal - At the time I didn't think to smell the oil. The level of oil is OK - I'm not getting any smoke out of the exhaust.

What are your thoughts?

ihookem · Feb 5, 2008

I always thoug it was soot. That's bad, it might be bad oil .

Diamondpilot · Feb 5, 2008

First thing I think of is water. Check your head gasket. You can do this by blowing air in the engine through a spark plug hole or glow plug hole and watching the radiator for bubbles with the cap off.

Chris

257NH · Feb 5, 2008

I think diamond is right,water will make a milkshake out of your oil.Just make sure you dont run it in that condition.

lambs · Feb 5, 2008

I think it will foam if you have too much oil in the crankcase. But if your engine was cold and had not been running before you checked it, I think water is the culprit as well.

rgood · Feb 5, 2008

Thanks for the replies - The engine had been running before I checked it as I backed it out of it's spot so I could see better.

If water was the issue, wouldn't the color be milky?

john_bud · Feb 5, 2008

Water will make a chocolate milk looking mess. Straight foam is from too much oil in the sump. The crank slaps it around and foams it up. It is really BAD lubricant when full of air.

Let it sit for 15 min, check the level and adjust as needed.

jb

DUMBDOG · Feb 5, 2008

In the engine that I have had an experience with water in the oil, the oil was not the normal color but grayish or milky colored, this was in a gas engine which has a little lighter oil color than a diesel.

If the oil level does not rise, it is not likely that water is being added to the crankcase.