yellow sludge

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 25, 2013 | 07:17 PM

schafer407

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

yellow sludge

My 351m oil dip stick was leaking and the oil dripping looked normal but maybe a little watery. I pulled the dip stick after driving it and it was covered in yellow sludge. Is it a blown hg? Intake gasket? It doesn't over heat, it sounds fine but is steadily leading brown oil from dip stick. Is there a way to narrow it down to the exact problem?

Thanks, Justin

Apr 25, 2013 | 07:32 PM

HIO Silver

Fleet Owner

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 20,678

Likes: 83

From: NorCal

Somehow ya got water in your oil... sometimes it's just condensation and evaporates with a longer running time.... but sometimes the problem is more than that.

It's hard to ascertain what is causing the leakage without disassembling the engine. I'm not a pro on 351Ms but someone who is will chime in soon... there might be some common malady with them that causes your issue.

Apr 25, 2013 | 08:31 PM

schafer407

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Mar 2013

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

And the yellow sludge was in the valve cover when I replaced the gasket a month or so back

Apr 25, 2013 | 09:10 PM

devino246

Post Fiend

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 8,501

Likes: 4

From: Lynchburg, VA

If your truck is subject to frequent short trips, some frothy buildup is normal, even on late-model trucks. This question comes up often enough that, a while back, I took this picture of an oil fill cap off a late-model Toyota Tacoma.

Apr 25, 2013 | 09:13 PM

billgrant

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2013

Posts: 115

Likes: 0

From: Nevada

Pull the plugs, get a compression tester and do a test of each cyl. that will tell you if you have a blown head gasket. if that √'s out say all cyl are 110-140 you then may have a cracked head or block.

Sep 15, 2014 | 07:07 PM

R Henry's Garage

New User

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 12

Likes: 0

is the sludge a puke or milkshake color? also, check your radiator cap or cooland overflow tank.

Sep 15, 2014 | 07:44 PM

Blue and White

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 2,553

Likes: 10

Other things to check 1)The PCV system - it helps pull the moisture out. 2) Thermostat and operating temperature. I consider 180 degrees minimum and OE 190-195 better. Too low and the moisture won't evaporate quickly enough.

Personally I'd let it settle for a few hours minimum and change the oil. If you get visible water/coolant out the bottom of the pan that would be a cause for concern. Antifreeze is not kind to bearings. If not, change the oil, check the stuff above out and run it at full operating temperature for a while and see if it clears up.