XJ-92

well today i was checking all my fluids because im driving 3 hours tomorrow morning to go home from college. well everything checked out alright and nothing was low. i just got an oil change about 3 weeks ago since it needed one. well i went to check the oild and at the top of dip stick was little amounts of rust and a small bit of copper looking fluid on it. at the bottom of the dip stick there was the same copper looking fluid on the very tip. it wasnt milky and dipped off just like oil does. my coolant levels are good and oil levels are the same from when i got the oil change and within the safe marks. i also checked the oil cap and it was just plain oil like nothing was wrong. i checked all fluid when the engine was warm

could it be possible my head gasket is starting to blow? or could it been that the dip stick wasnt seated on the tube and moisture got in there? we just had about 3 weeks of rain and snow just about every day.

Thanks in advance

Firestorm500

Bearing material, possibly.

XJ-92

thats what i thought at first but didnt think much of that because of the spotted rust on the top of dip stick by the handle that wasnt there 3 weeks ago and was damp where the rust was. thats why i kinda thought it was just water going down the tube

Firestorm500

A little condensation may have cause that at the very top, where the oil doesn't get.

But not at the bottom. When the outer coating of the main or cam bearings has worn away, then you start seeing the copper stuff.

Usually, a spun main bearing is not far off.

I hope I'm wrong.

XJ-92

i hope your wrong also haha. but there was also the copper fluid at the top. is there any thing i should look out for or notice while driving it? it was just driving great without a hickup ten minutes before i checked it.

freegdr

beearing material would be in the drain pan not on the dip stick most likely its rust from the top of stick when you pull it out scrapeing the upper tube...jm2cw...

XJ-92

thanks ill try getting the rest of the rust off and i seated the dip stick on all the way so i guess i will see what happens after a 3 hour trip.

fishtaconc

How long of a commute do you normally have? As condensation collecting is normal if you only drive short distances, this doesn't allow the oil to get up to temp to evaporate.

XJ-92

when i drive it is when i go to work which is about 30 minutes or so of highway driving but i havent had to work this past week so it only got driven a couple of times for about 30 minutes. today tho it was run just long enough to heat up. i didnt even think about that at all. thanks.

XJ-92

well after my 3 hour trip everything ran great without issues. i checked the oil again after i got home and about 30 minutes after and nothing was present on the dip stick so i dont think there is a problem, but i will keep a close eye on it for the next few weeks

freegdr

DFlintstone

X2, ^ was thinking the same. A neighbor had a Volvo she parked in the rain/shade and didn't drive far often. We figure the dipstick condensation is from that and her hard O ring on the dipstick.

I would expect any bearing material that didn't sink to end up in the filter.

Firestorm500

"I would expect any bearing material that didn't sink to end up in the filter."

Very small particles could be held in suspension in the oil, especially if the engine had just been ran.

XJ-92

there was not even a shine in the oil as you would see if a metal material was in there. it just looked like some what fresh oil.

Firestorm500

Put some on a slide and look at it under a microscope.