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Old 02-05-2019, 10:47 AM   #1
Rjcsjc62
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This morning I tried to help a friend who is having a problem with her car.

The car was parked outside last night, and it did start this morning, but she said it sounded really rough, and the dashboard indicator told her to there was no/low oil, and turn the car off (is there really an indicator that says that?)

She was trying to put fresh oil in, but couldn't get the cap off, so that's where I got involved.

The dip tube barely showed any oil.

And the cap was really tough to turn, but I got it off with the help of my large channel lock pliers.

What I saw next was the real surprise... The engine was full, to the top with oil, and it was frozen solid.

A quick google search confirmed what I thought, that engine oil doesn't freeze, so my best guess is that there is water in there.

If there is water in there, then how can it get in? is this a sign of a much bigger problem? I'm not sure.

When I saw the frozen oil, I shut the hood and gave her a ride where she needed to go. I was too afraid to try and start the car myself.

Anybody have experience with this or any thoughts on what the problem/solution could be?

Thanks.
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Old 02-05-2019, 10:49 AM   #2
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Oops, I totally meant for this to go in the off topic forum.
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Old 02-05-2019, 10:54 AM   #3
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Is it possible that she had a coolant leak, like a bad head gasket?
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Old 02-05-2019, 10:57 AM   #4
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Was there a milky buildup on the top of the oil cap?


http://www.offroaders.com/tech/milky...er-oil-cap.htm


And no, oil should not freeze solid...and you shouldn't really see it if you open the filler cap. If it had a bunch of water in it, and has frozen and expanded that could be not not not not good.



What kind of vehicle, age etc?
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Old 02-05-2019, 10:59 AM   #5
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:04 AM   #6
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I guess you could say it is milky, it wasn't a solid, or consistent shade of brown. It was murky which you can sort of see from the photo.

Its a 2007 Suzuki XL7
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:04 AM   #7
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Oh man, is that solid ice all the way to the top where the oil goes? With leaf chunks in it?
I'm by no means a mechanic, but that is definitely a real big problem.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:07 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch View Post
Is it possible that she had a coolant leak, like a bad head gasket?
At this point, I guess anything is possible, I dont really know the vehicle's history.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:07 AM   #9
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Any water that would be in oil should be lying right in the bottom of the oil pan, with the oil sitting on top. If it is frozen on top of the valve cover, I have never seen that.

I would suspect failure of the head gadget, but again your coolant shouldn't freeze, and would produce a milky substance.

The fact that the oil filler cap was frozen on, is it possible that someone poured washer fluid into it?
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:08 AM   #10
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Based on very limited info, I'd wager she has a coolant leak into the engine block.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:08 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubc80 View Post
Oh man, is that solid ice all the way to the top where the oil goes? With leaf chunks in it?
I'm by no means a mechanic, but that is definitely a real big problem.
The photo makes it look like the oil is just heavy, or really viscous, and no I don't believe there are leaf chunks. but yes frozen to the top.

Let me tell you, its frozen. We jammed a knife at it, and it doesn't chip away. Like Hockey Ice frozen. Not slurpee frozen.

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Old 02-05-2019, 11:10 AM   #12
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Can you push it into a heated garage?
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:14 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flacker View Post
Any water that would be in oil should be lying right in the bottom of the oil pan, with the oil sitting on top. If it is frozen on top of the valve cover, I have never seen that.

I would suspect failure of the head gadget, but again your coolant shouldn't freeze, and would produce a milky substance.

The fact that the oil filler cap was frozen on, is it possible that someone poured washer fluid into it?
I guess you could call it milky, but I'd have to look again.

The filler cap was really tough to get off. It was frozen on too.

I doubt that she would put wiper fluid in. She said the last time that cap would have been off, would have been her most recent oil change, +- 2 months ago.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:15 AM   #14
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There is often a metal plate over where you pour the oil in, so is it possible what you say is frozen oil is just that piece of metal covered in a layer of frozen oil?


Honestly though, whatever is going on, she will need to tow it to a garage to have it properly assessed if she wants to use it anytime soon. Maybe Thursday warms up enough, but I doubt it.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:17 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Weitz View Post
Can you push it into a heated garage?
I am back at work now, but yes, I think that is what is happening today.

I guess I was hoping there would be a "good case scenario" answer. That is why I posted here.

But all of the responses are sort of validating my "worse case scenario" instinct, which is that its a main gasket, or split engine block or something terrible.

Thank you to everybody for replying.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:29 AM   #16
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That's the craziest thing I've ever seen.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:30 AM   #17
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I too had to get my oil cap off with pliers in -40 last winter, not fun.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:32 AM   #18
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Push it into a garage, but personally, I wouldn't even try to start that car when it thaws. I'd get it towed to a garage. My guess just looking at that is that its a head gasket or coolant leak, and if you try to run, it, you'll make things really bad.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:32 AM   #19
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Maybe try a blow dryer in the area. It's possible that it's not as bad as it looks.
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Old 02-05-2019, 11:39 AM   #20
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Tow it to a mechanic, it needs to be put somewhere warm to thaw and go from there. Do not start it.
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