I checked my oil this morning and the entire dipstick was covered in rust and moisture. The oil on the stick looked like it had dirt or rust in it, alot of it too. I am going to change my oil soon as possible but should I be worried about this? I don't know if its just the tube or actually inside the motor. We have had really hot, humid weather the past few days and the last time I checked my oil it was not like this. Thanks

 

Change it right away. Rust in the oil is a very bad thing, but it doesn't normally show up in an engine that gets driven. You see it a lot in old motors that have been sitting for years and the crankcase is ventilated to outside air.

 

My truck gets driven everyday, atleast 40 miles. But the crankcase is open to the air. I'll change the oil and keep an eye on things and hope it doesn't happen again.

 

Water that is coming in from say a cracked cylinder wall or blown head gasket will gather on the bottom of your dipstick and look like milk and it will be thick.

 

I changed the dipstick for a shorter one I had on a spare 300 and so far it looks normal. Must have just been that 3 foot long stick playing games with me.

 

If you change them they have to be the same length or you won't read the proper oil level. Rust can be removed with steel wool, file, sandpaper etc.

 

Yup, they were exactly the same length going into the block, just shorter coming out. I figured it would be easier changing it then fighting with steel wool or what not.

 

This is rather common with these newer engines. Moisture condenses in the dipstick tube. As long as there is no water in the oil when you change it, there's nothing to worry about. Sometimes the dipstick tube dries out with driving. Other times, on some vehicles, no matter how much it is driven, the moisture remains.