new user a few ?'s

flatblackratrod · #1 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 07:57 PM

I posted this over in the SD forum and they told me to try posting it here too.

Hello I new to the forums, the F250 and Ford. I recently bought a 99 F250 SD with a 6.8l. I bought the car on a whim and got a....what i thought was a good deal.

Anyway my question should be simple for most, and yes I have searched. When I bout the truck I checked the oil and all the fluids. When I checked the oil I just checked the dipstick and it looked fine (dark but definately fine). The other night I went to change the oil and all went well.....except when I went to fill er up, There was a milky sludge on the filler cap.....My instant thoughts were uh oh headgasket. But after doing research I found that cold weather and short trips(which is what I make) make this a common occurance in these trucks.

It is still in the back of my mind that I may have a blown headgasket, but I have no other signs.

Here if my question finally...and if you have made it this far I thank you. Today when I was playing around under the hood with the truck running I noticed the antifreeze in the overflow drop rapidly and then shortly after it went back up to normal. I assumed that the thermostat had just opened up but I am not sure. I have never noticed it on any of my other vehicles but they are much much smaller smaller. Normally I dont remember being able to visually see it go down (on other SMALL cars)

It sounds like a dumb question to me and I probally wouldnt have even questioned it if it werent for the milky stuff when I changed the oil.

The SD guys reinforced the fact that it was semi normal on these trucks.

Thanks for reading.....and I hope for some positive feedback

NM04FORD · #2 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 09:51 PM

My Ford Ranger used to have the same thing and our Taurus has an almost rusty color sludge under the oil filler cap, have not noticed it on my SD. I do regular oil changes myself on all my vehicles and always just rote it off as a place where condensation collected. As for the overflow tank never noticed it doing what you described.

BareBones · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 10:02 PM

The "snot" is normal.

As long as the coolant level goes back up when you shut the engine down, or at least when it cools down, its normal too. Otherwise, the coolant either went all over your driveway, or mixed in with your oil. If the dipstick reads normal, you're fine.

flatblackratrod · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BareBones

The "snot" is normal.

As long as the coolant level goes back up when you shut the engine down, or at least when it cools down, its normal too. Otherwise, the coolant either went all over your driveway, or mixed in with your oil. If the dipstick reads normal, you're fine.

Best news I have had all day... thanks alot. I
will more than likely have lots more questions in the future.
Again thanks for the piece of mind!

EXMAN123 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 09:56 AM

Take the truck on a extended trip. Get her warmed up really good. The white goop will evaporate and be gone.

The white goop is just condensation and the oil mixing. Once the engine gets hot. It will go way!

The white goop forms when you drive short distances in colder weather.

EXMAN123