Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I noticed today when checking the oil on my 11.5 Tecumseh that there was oil/water "cream" on the upper half of the dipstick. I assume this is a result of moisture in the crank case which is forming perhaps from my keeping the blower in a relatively warm place (about 35-40 F) after using it in temps ranging from 32 F-0 F. I would often see this in the breather/filler tube of my Ford 8N tractor which I used the past 11 years for plowing. The Ford was kept ouside in a shed. Is this something I should be concerned about? I have about 8 1/2 hours on the engine. Changed the oil from the 5W-30 to synthetic 0W-30 at the 2 hour mark.

I had that cream on my 1128 LE.  Seems that it was something they put in the engine to help it break in, but you maybe right.  I emailed Mobil awhile back, and they said that the 0W-30 was not the same as regular SAE 30 oil.  I think they recommended 10W-40, but I was told never to use that in an emgine. 

I think I'll just swab it out when I see it. I know that water in oil will result in a creamlike liquid. I had it in the hydraulic/transmission fluid in the 8N and had to drain it. The previous owner had left it outside and water seeped in around the deteriorated gear shift boot.

In my experiance, you would also get the white oatmeal looking stuff in your carb if watter mixed with gas for long periods of time. So with that known, I would not doubt that this white stuff has got something to do with the rain watter from outside.

Hmmm, water in the tranny.  Not good at all.  I didn't my worry about my cream.  The next oil change was around the corner though.  It went away after the change. 

Yes, the "cream" colored sludge that accumulates on a dipstick is moisture coming out of the oil in the crankcase. 

The dipstick may also function as an air vent & this is where minor amounts of moisture, driven out of the oil, as it heats up, meets the cold air & tends to collect.

Air cooled 4 cycle engines in snowblowers tend to contaminate the oil with moisture - lawnmowers contaminate with dust & debris.

Synthetic oils tend to tolerate this moisture better than older solvent refined dinos, either way, this is a good reason for an end -of -season oil change.

Same here. Thats why its important to heat the engine up real good, to evaporate water that colects in the CC.