Wispy smoke from OIL filler tube when engine warm, not running: normal?

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#1
The title should read "from OIL filler tube," just FYI. Anyway, if this were my old car I wouldn't have even batted an eye, but this is my newish Fiesta ST and I'm still not familiar with all the quirks and oddities of this vehicle.

Basically I warmed the car up for an oil change, turned her off, started to drain the oil, then opened up the oil filler cap. I saw very wispy smoke (and I'm talking almost non-existent) coming from the tube and thought to myself, "hm, that's interesting." First time I've done an oil change on this car and just wondering if this is normal. I know this is pretty normal for other cars, how about ours?

Planning on calling the dealer Tuesday but wanted to know what y'all thought too.
 


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#2
I have noticed the same after a drive. I will open the oil cap and notice the same smoke or I will even be willing to guess it is steam. I suspect it is normal with our engines regardless of what it is. I have not experienced any problems with my car nor is my oil level fluctuating so I am guessing it is just a quirk.

I'll be interested to hear what others have to say...

-William
 


OP
H
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Thread Starter #3
It does seem almost like steam, very similar in appearance and temperature. There was also very little odor, if any odor at all.

It's just a hair unusual that there's enough moisture in the crankcase to create steam but there's very little in the air where I live (SoCal, basically in the desert).
 


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#5
Completely normal. Every car does it after running, you just don't see it so much on some cars if there are baffles under the 710 cap. Ours doesn't, so you see it more. It's the same vapor the PCV system is designed for, and the same vapor that goes in to a catch can if you have one.
 


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#6
Completely normal. Every car does it after running, you just don't see it so much on some cars if there are baffles under the 710 cap. Ours doesn't, so you see it more. It's the same vapor the PCV system is designed for, and the same vapor that goes in to a catch can if you have one.
I noticed this on my FiST today as well it kind of had me freaking out. But if it's normal I guess everything is ok.
 




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