1991 Testarossa with milky oil...Help!

Dear Testarossa Gurus,

My 91 TR # 89218 is at the dealer for a oil change. When the drain the oil they found the oil is mixed with water and they saved it for me to see. It looks like a cup of chocolate milk but the color is light brown. I got the car from CA last October and has yet to drive it after it is shipped to NJ for some minor paint job and a oil change.
I was told that the head gasket might have a leak causing the water to get in. They suggest me to drive the car and replace the oil every 200 miles for 3-4 times and see if the problem will go away.

I am not mechanical at all. Is what I am describing serious? The car had a major service in late 2004 (less than 2000 miles ago) do I need a major again now to take care of the problem? is there a problem driving it like this? I was told by them that this is one of the best TR engine sound they've ever heard but they do worry about this water in oil problem. The car is in Classic Coach Ferrari in Elizabeth New Jersey.

Thanks

 

Wow... that sounds serious.. Milky oil is not good. Somehow water entered the engine - and was run with the water in it.. Head gasket maybe but antifreeze coloring and or smell should be evident. The car may have been involved in a flood where the water seeped in. Whatever happened it should be drained and removed... I would not driv the car in 200 mile intervals until you know exactly what the problem is. Was she running a high temp at all while at idle. They should be able to run some tests to see if a headgasket is blown.... Maybe they left the car outside and snow built up on the rear gate. Once snow melted in entered the air box and entered the motor via the air intake. Was you air filter wet.. I would do some investigating.. This is serious...

Robbie

 

If the shop is recommending driving the car before you find out what is going on I would find a new shop.

 

Melting snow??

Anyways- it is easy to check for a blown head gasket. Pressurize the cooling system and see if it bleds down. Also if you have water cloud and antifreeze smell from exhaust.

It is possible that water can condense into the oil while the engine cools off. But this should vaporize off when the engine gets hot again. Also the amount of water seems really excessive. Being a dry sump car there shouldn't be a low point where water can collect in the oil tank.

I would push to check the engine out and make sure you are not causing more damage from driving it.

 

Have a leak down test done.

 

Time for some well thought out detective work. There are some other possibilities for the source of the water besides the head gasket. The biggest risk here is the potential damage to bearing surfaces caused by replacing oil with the oil/water mixture.

Draining and refilling the oil is a short-term fix that will give you time to locate the problem. It is entirely possible that this is not a new problem and some damage has been done before you bought the car.

Both a cooling system pressure test and a leakdown test should be helpful in narrowing down the possibilities.

I hope you got a good deal on the car last fall.

 

I remember one incident where an owner, older gentleman, accidentally added water to the oil tank thinking the coolant level was low. He then had the car in the shop for some other issue, the mechanic told him that there was LOTS of water in the oil. Then the owner confessed what he had done, and he thought for sure he ruined the motor. He was ready to sell the car for cheap on the spot!!! The mechanic changed drained out all the swill in there, put in fresh oil, and all was well.

 

contact these guys: blackstone-labs.com and get a test kit. then send them a sample of your oil for analysis. wait a few weeks, and you'll know exactly what's up with your oil.

 

There's apparently water in the oil.

I don't think you'll learn where it came from with an oil analysis.

 

Thanks guys, I knew you you experts out there would have some thoughts about this problem.
Yes, they are doing the leakdown test and the pressure test now. The car did come from CA in which never seen snow or temp below 30 degree and we did have a few days this year here in Jersey that went in the single digit temperature. I doubt the car was outside collecting snow at the shop.

So, let's say the head gasket is bad, how much do you guys think this is going to cost me? the car drove and sound great when I bought it and still does but this is just very upsetting!

 

This is possibly a total non issue. These cars are known for condensing water into the oil especially if short tripped where oil doesn't get hot enough to boil off condensed water. This often shows up as milk/water on oil cap/dip stick. After car warms up is there smoke in the exhaust? Bringing car from warm garage/clime and leaving it outside in cold can cause this.

 

Yup.

Put the cart before the horse here. I have seen air cooled VW's with baby s##t in the crankcase. It didn't come from a blown head gasket.

 

LOL!

 

My dragboat use to do this, but then again, it was a boat...

 

a blown headgastket will cause overheating. If engine temps are normal, then use a cheap oil to drain it a couple of times. fill it up, let it idle 10-15 minutes, check oil color, then repeat process. Do not drive it for whatever reason, as you will incur more damage. If it was me, I'd cut my losses, sell it, and get another one. If I had the car for a few years already, then I would fix it regardless of cost.

 

If it is condensate you will only get rid of it one way. Change the oil and filter and run it with the new oil in such a way as to get and keep the oil temp over 212 degrees for an hour or two. If it still looks like a soiled baby diaper you got a problem.

 

OK, Oil changed, have not hear anything back from them yet but I hope they know to leave the car running for couple of hours first before driving it around.

 

Why anticipate the worse-case scenario? This could well be nothing more than condensation from change in climate and lack of running at operating temperature. As many have suggested, change oil and filter, and I would drive it. Recheck oil for foam (milk). I do not believe harm will be incurred driving the car with fresh oil, unless overheating occurs from water leakage. If the heads have never been off the car, and the car has never run hot (beyond specification), then these heads are rather bullet proof. Has anyone heard of a virgin head leaking water into oil on a TR?

Jim S.

 

I have been told to be cautious about running an engine with Ethylene Glycol (anti-freeze) in the oil. Supposedly bad for the crank and rod bearings.

 

No. I have seen many with external leakage due to an overheat or failure to retorque heads but I have never seen them mix fluids.

 

It can be if the quantity is high enough but with fresh oil the proportion should be very low. Also I am betting it is condensation.

 

I am hoping that is the case, I spoke to the previous tech that serviced the car (Geoff Provo) and he said it might be the 2 water pump seal but there is no way of telling without a engine out service.
The car has 10255 miles on it, the last time the car was driven for more than 10 minutes was more than a year ago. I am getting service records from Geoff to see when the oil was last changed.
I really hope there is nothing more than condensation, can't afford a engine out service any time soon.

 

Plus the fact there is 16 quarts in the TR versus the typical 6 or 7 in the common car. Makes sense.

 

There is an external passage for water to escape if the waterpump seal fails. It is rather large and the water will leak down the front of the motor and off the right front corner onto the floor. It is designed that way so the water pressure will not force the water backwards through the oil seal that is behind the water seal and into the crankcase.

 

Do you retorque the heads at a belt service? If not, do you reference a rebuilt engine?
Rgds,
Vince