Hey guys! I bought a car this past Friday-without- checking the oil first. I know I know, rookie mistake. But after getting it home and parking it, I opened the cap to see like a milky substance in the top. I’ve tried to bring the car back to have it looked at but I’m pretty sure they will be of no help. With that being said I have prepared myself for the worst, I suspect it’s a blown head gasket. I know absolutely nothing about cars, but I am bound and determined to get this one fixed. What other things could cause oil to look milky? How much does new head gaskets cost? I should also mention that on the way home from the dealership, the car overheated. After a bunch of back and forth with the mechanic, he stated he had done a valve cover job and forgot to put the water back in the car. There was also apparently no oil in the car but after some inspection it was the wrong dipstick for the car. I have a new dipstick specifically for this car coming, and I have been given advice to change the oil. Should I start with that and go from there? I hope this post makes sense, I can clarify anything if need be!

 

Don't assume anything. Get the fluids straightened out and see what that reveals. Have the oil and coolant checked before you throw the old stuff out. See if there are products of combustion in the coolant. See it there is coolant in the oil. Do a compression check. These are relatively inexpensive checks that can determine if there's a head gasket problem. The car is 13 years old and who knows what kind of maintenance it has had. Transmission and brake fluids should also be checked.

Oh, and close the gas filler door.

 

Thank you, I will do that! We changed the oil yesterday and to my very amateur eyes, it looks like regular oil. This is what was in the oils cap on that made my suspicions rise


when new oil got put into it the car started to run better and I took it out for a ride, no overheating or running funky from what I heard, but it do something weird. At a red light the car was put in neutral, and a red zigzag light came on and the car shut off. When turned back on it acted like it didn’t want to get gas to the engine to accelerate. I got into a parking lot, cut it off for a minute, and then turned it back on and it acted normal, no weird sounds or lights and accelerating fine.

 

Regarding the "milkie oil", check your PVC valve. Do get your codes read as well . I think your car may be going into Limp home mode

Dcotter's advice is rite on and do keep us posted. This is getting interesting.

 

So 300lover, how did it all sort out ?