1993 Ford Bronco 5.8 Auto

I took off my oil cap the other day and noticed that inside the cap and down in the hole the cap covers i noticed it was dirty with some type of film or something. It is hard to explain but what i did was stuck my finger into the whole and scratched my fingernail up against the metal and got gunk inside my fingernail. I have no idea what this is from and if it is normal, so if anybody has any clue or help it would definatly be appreciated.

 

Sounds like the normal "varnish" that occurs inside of motors. It's a light brownish color right? If so, no biggie.

 

Yeah, it does not sound like a problem.

 

It could be that your engine is running too cold and not getting hot enough to evaporate all the moisture that can build up inside. Make sure that the correct thermostat is installed so that normal operating temperature can be reached. I am not sure but temp should be around 190 degrees. Good luck.

 

As long as the film isn't an ugly grey/brown sludge you are probably just seeing normal oil sludge build-up. If it is that grey/brown coloer you are getting water in the crank case which could be bad. That close to the filler neck though, it could be humidity in the air and a poor seal on the fill cap. If you are really concerned about it drain the oil and see how much of this stuff runs out. If you see streaks of grey in the oil, then the problem may be more serious... head gasket or worse. If the color is just black/brown, and you are concerned that it is building up inside the engine, try running a cleaning additive like CD2 through it next oil change. This producat may not remove it from the inside of the valve covers but it will help free up sticky lifters and rods that may have sludge built up on them.

 

Hey Greystreak92,does the arch have a twist to it? I agree with you on the water in the oil situation. It may or may not be bad but it's a good idea to keep an eye on those kind of things. Better to check.

 

It could be that your engine is running too cold and not getting hot enough to evaporate all the moisture that can build up inside. Make sure that the correct thermostat is installed so that normal operating temperature can be reached. I am not sure but temp should be around 190 degrees. Good luck.



How would i go about getting a new thermostat and how would i know if i needed one?

 

Hey -- let the thread die. They guy has sludge in an old engine. That is normal. We are kicking the issue to death and making the guy think that there is something wrong with his engine when he just has normal sludge.

At the most, he could run an engine cleaner, but I don't even recommend that. If it has never been done, putting it in there now could do more harm than good by releasing sludge and clogging oil passages. That cleaner should only be used on newer motors from day one to keep them clean. IMHO of course.

 

Just check your temperature gauge and see where it is registering. If it is on the cold side,check it with a themometer in the radiator inlet by taking off the cap. Should be about 190 degrees. You can buy a new thermostat at most auto supply stores. don't
forget to add fresh anti-freeze while you're at it.