LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Oil cap condensation?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 11:03 AM
  #1  
86formula's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879
Likes: 0
Default Oil cap condensation?

has anyone gotten condensation in their oil cap that almost made it look like a blown head gasket only to drain the oil and have it come out fine? its really the only thing that i can think of being the reason for the milky cap.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 11:21 AM
  #2  
the_merv's Avatar
11 Second Club
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (88)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,019
Likes: 893
From: The Beach...
Default

Yup..that's what it is.

Rookie..
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 11:44 AM
  #3  
RamAir95TA's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,467
Likes: 8
From: South Jersey
Default

Yep - a small amount of crankcase condensation is normal.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 11:53 AM
  #4  
StealthFormula's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (35)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,798
Likes: 54
From: Skippack, PA
Default

I always get the same, no worries.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 12:09 PM
  #5  
86formula's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by the_merv
Yup..that's what it is.

Rookie..
Never had it happen before lol. maybe because its been sitting more since the snow?
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 12:47 PM
  #6  
AChotrod's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,896
Likes: 1
From: Chicago area
Default

you prob didnt check it, then it burns off after a few miles.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 02:04 PM
  #7  
MasterTomos's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,509
Likes: 4
From: Midwest
Default

happens all the time in winter/cold weather.

saw it everyday over last winter when I worked at a Tire/Lube express.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 02:08 PM
  #8  
the_merv's Avatar
11 Second Club
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (88)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,019
Likes: 893
From: The Beach...
Default

Originally Posted by 86formula
Never had it happen before lol. maybe because its been sitting more since the snow?
No it did it cause it knew you would freak out and ask..
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 03:00 PM
  #9  
86formula's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by the_merv
No it did it cause it knew you would freak out and ask..
haha its not even my car, well not anymore. its my g/fs now (me being the mechanic was included in the sale apparently lol) thanks guys, i wouldve felt bad telling her that her car was going to be down until i came home from iraq haha
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2010 | 10:36 PM
  #10  
the_merv's Avatar
11 Second Club
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (88)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,019
Likes: 893
From: The Beach...
Default

You being the mechanic..ya she's going to think that till she sees you getting on here asking us.
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 08:50 AM
  #11  
WARDOG's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Default

Good damn that a relief. I just rebuilt my engine and i saw that on the oil cap. Its good to hear that its just a some condensation. I was about to head over to my engine rebuilders house and raise hell. Now thats solved i gotta go find out WTF is goin on with my 4800-5200 rpm miss....
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 01:28 PM
  #12  
86formula's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by the_merv
You being the mechanic..ya she's going to think that till she sees you getting on here asking us.
I'm glad she doesn't visit car forums
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 01:58 PM
  #13  
SPEED#1's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: Naperville,IL
Default

Tell her you only work on racecars
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 02:09 PM
  #14  
the_merv's Avatar
11 Second Club
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (88)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,019
Likes: 893
From: The Beach...
Default

**** then she'd be thinking it was a Race Car and run everyone..
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 02:46 PM
  #15  
JAKEJR's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Kempner, TX
Default

I know what you've read is what you were hoping for, but I disagree that it's "normal". But I'll hold off on going farther until the other shoe drops.

In the meantime, I suggest you pressure check the cooling system with the pressure testing tool borrowed from AutoZone, O'Reilly's, etc. to head off killing your bearings.

Jake
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 06:02 PM
  #16  
86formula's Avatar
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 879
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by the_merv
**** then she'd be thinking it was a Race Car and run everyone..
she tried to run my heads/cam car, it discouraged her from racing people
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2010 | 08:47 PM
  #17  
the_merv's Avatar
11 Second Club
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (88)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,019
Likes: 893
From: The Beach...
Default

Originally Posted by JAKEJR
I know what you've read is what you were hoping for, but I disagree that it's "normal".
I've seen it quite a few times with my car..and that's a brand-new Engine.

Last edited by the_merv; Jan 13, 2010 at 02:19 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 02:06 PM
  #18  
JAKEJR's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Kempner, TX
Default

The flip side of that coin is neither my 388 LT1, my previous 355, my 415 L98 nor my son's 96 LT1 (just to name a few) ever had that issue and that's not to mention all the other engines I've built and worked on. So, for me, it's not "normal".

My thinking, and the way I approach issues like these, is it's better to test to be sure rather than to assume it's "normal".

My thinking also makes me wonder why it is that I see so many posts about spun rod bearings on all the Forums I visit. Could this be one possible cause and that the engine's trying to tell something but no one's listening?

Of course those who are experiencing this condition can choose to write it off and ignore it. It's just I wouldn't.

I'm just trying to help by giving the best advice I can, not start a fight over this.

Jake
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 02:20 PM
  #19  
the_merv's Avatar
11 Second Club
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (88)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 21,019
Likes: 893
From: The Beach...
Default

Or it could be the fact we live in humid climates.

I'm willing to bet that when I get back from Iraq here in may and I pop my Oil Cap off of my Car and my Truck that it will be milky looking..and they both went in to the Storage Unit running flawlessely.

It's looked like that every other time I have gone..

Last edited by the_merv; Jan 13, 2010 at 03:03 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2010 | 02:54 PM
  #20  
Badazz 97 TA's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
Default

Happens to my car every winter. normal.....



what state do you live in JakeJR?
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:18 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE