Orange/yellow liquid in oil catch can

[ryst]

I checked my oil catch can today and it had a bunch of yellow liquid in it (pics)

I am running E40, so I'm thinking it might be ethanol causing the yellow. Otherwise, any ideas? I just changed my oil and emptied my OCC so this is all new stuff since then. Also in the pic the black stuff is from the OCC when I changed my oil a few weeks ago (was not yellow, but I wasn't running E40 for most of that time)

 

[D1JL]

What does it taste like?




Dave

 

[ryst]

What does it taste like?




Dave

Dijon mustard.


(Not really)

 

[ryst]

Anyone have any insight? I did some searching and it might just be condensation (we're headed into winter so it wouldn't surprise me). I am just worried about the yellow color.

 

[westcoaST]

Ethanol can and does adsorb water, and water, combined with oil will take on this milky appearance, especially when it is turned from a vapor, back into a liquid. I've seen this on gasoline engine (10% ethanol) cars when I look inside of the oil filler cap. Changes in barometric pressure can increase moisture content in the air and in your tank. I'd let it settle to get the air out of it to see how much water you actually have. Otherwise, I wouldn't be worried. It appears your OCC is working well. I have a locking gas cap on my Mustang, and I wonder if this helps at all keeping moisture out of the tank, vs the open filler in my ST.

 

[ryst]

Ethanol can and does adsorb water, and water, combined with oil will take on this milky appearance, especially when it is turned from a vapor, back into a liquid. I've seen this on gasoline engine (10% ethanol) cars when I look inside of the oil filler cap. Changes in barometric pressure can increase moisture content in the air and in your tank. I'd let it settle to get the air out of it to see how much water you actually have. Otherwise, I wouldn't be worried. It appears your OCC is working well. I have a locking gas cap on my Mustang, and I wonder if this helps at all keeping moisture out of the tank, vs the open filler in my ST.

Makes lots of sense. Temps have been between 70 and 30 lately (up and down a lot), which I'm sure isn't good for condensation. I'm just glad that crap isn't going into my intake manifold. It' sticking to the sides of my OCC, which means it would likely stick to the inside of the intake manifold as well.

 

[razorlab]

It' sticking to the sides of my OCC, which means it would likely stick to the inside of the intake manifold as well.

What you are seeing is normal with Ethanol blends. Also, it won't really see much of the inside of your intake manifold because it's a direct injection car.

 

[ryst]

What you are seeing is normal with Ethanol blends. Also, it won't really see much of the inside of your intake manifold because it's a direct injection car.

The PCV vents to the intake manifold, and my catch can is catching this, which if the OCC wasn't installed it would be going into the manifold.

 

[razorlab]

The PCV vents to the intake manifold, and my catch can is catching this, which if the OCC wasn't installed it would be going into the manifold.

What I meant by that is that your intake manifold won't see as much fuel mixture because it's direct injection. Does that makes sense?

 

[ryst]

What I meant by that is that your intake manifold won't see as much fuel mixture because it's direct injection. Does that makes sense?

Yes, that makes sense.