Why is my Engine Oil Milky Brown?
Should My Engine Oil Be Milky Brown? Olympia Subaru Frequently Asked Service Questions
Have you noticed a frothy, tan-colored liquid under the hood of your Subaru? That might be a sign of a severe problem developing in your engine. The oil in your engine naturally transitions from a translucent golden color to a deep, shiny brown as it ages. But, if it ever goes opaque and roughly the color and consistency of a chocolate milkshake, you’ll want to have the engine assessed by a factory-trained Subaru expert.
Motor oil turns milky brown when its been contaminated by water. Most vehicle coolant systems use a blend of water and antifreeze – and if the coolant system is allowed to leach into the engine oil, that tells us that an engine gasket has failed. When the head gasket is cracked, oil and coolant can mix together deep in the engine. Over time, this leads to severe engine problems like overheating and burning engine oil.
This frothy engine oil most often collects under the oil cap. That makes checking for this problem simple! With the car off and the engine cool, just take off the oil cap and check underneath. If you see a frothy, tan-colored substance, bring your vehicle to your local Subaru dealer for a series of diagnostic tests.
What’s Involved with Head Gasket Repair?
If we find a blown head gasket is indeed the culprit, that’s a major engine failure. It’s also very important to have fixed! Eventually, traveling with a blown head gasket is likely to destroy the engine entirely.
Because it’s located deep in the heart of the engine, we’ll have to dismantle almost the entire engine to access the old head gasket and replace it. This is what makes head gasket repair such a costly and time-consuming process.
The silver lining? While we’re already working deep in the engine, we can carry out other important procedures that are also necessary but difficult or costly to perform because of where the components are located. Components like water and power steering pumps, timing belts and others will be inspected and replaced if necessary. Once we’re done, you’ll have a refurbished engine that won’t overheat, and that’s ready to go another 100,000 miles or more!
For the longest-lasting repairs and highest-quality parts, turn to your local Subaru dealer for all your service needs. Here in Olympia and serving Tenino, Olympia Subaru is proud to serve you! We’re family owned and operated to serve you better.
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