Is my headgasket soaked or what?

[Grif]

(M42)
I just drained the oil while on the engine stand. The oil looked really clean, but when I looked under the oil pans there seemed to be some coolant mixed in with the oil in places (milky texture and color)
It's not everywhere, just cooped up in places. The Motor was recently powerwashed, and hasn't been turned on yet. What gives? Should I replace it just in case?
Thanks.
-Grif

[Adrian_Visser]

Is it milky white or green? Short trips in the winter can cause condensation in the crankcase. The oil doesn't get hot enough to evaporate and exhaust all the water vapor in the crankcase and you end up with the white shit you're talking about.

[Grif]

Interesting.
The oil itself definitely wasn't green, but the bottom of the crank itself was tinted a little bit green. Couldn't tell if that was normal or not.

So should I replace the gasket?

[SpecM]

I would drive it for another week, as long as you have no other problems. Then drain the oil again and re-inspect

[Grif]

Hmm. On a side note, the motor has about 97k on it.
But your comments are reassuring. I just don't want it to blow and then have to remove the motor all over again. =\

Any second opinions?

[b*saint]

I wouldnt worry about it.

[Streichholzschächtelchen]

Give it the taste test, sweet you have a anti freeze leak that will wipe out besarings, flat taste only condensation. What's your coolant level doing like very slowly going down? Look at the whole picture.

[Grif]

Solved this a few months ago, (It turned out to be just condensation.)

Thanks though!

[burndup]

What are everyone's thoughts on using the tree hugger antifreezes like that Sierra stuff? It has propylene glycol (major ingredient of shampoo) instead of ethylene glycol (the stuff that chews your bearings when you spit the headgasket, and the stuff that will run up major vet bills if it doesn't kill kitty first.)

I bought my car from a true fanatic, its got the blue BMW stuff in it. ;) (ethylene glycol)

Thanks,
Jason