Water in Catch Can

[rtd16]

The photos show what I found in my catch can today changing the oil. Last two oil changes there was only about 1/8 to 1/4" of actual oil in the bottom of the can. This time as you can see it was about 2/3 full with fluid, seemed like water (thought I smelled fuel but I think it is going to have some amount of fuel smell from the crankcase anyway). I believe it's water because the normal amount of oil was sitting on top and on the upper screen like mud. Anyone seen this before? Doesn't seem normal to me. Coolant level is still within band. Didn't do anything crazy like deep water off roading or anything. Checked all the hoses were connected properly, so what's in the can came from the engine. It was about 5K miles or so between changes. I understand condensation collects in the crankcase with temperature changes, but that amount seems abnormal to me.

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[LockedBronco]

Do you do a lot of short drives?

 

[rtd16]

Not really, my drive to work is about 30 minutes and I don’t do many short trips in between. Thanks

 

[BigHoof]

Short trips. Moisture has no time to burn off. Sometimes the fill cap will even get like a pudding on the bottom.

 

[Mlarv]

Yup science is at work. Cold moist air has a nice warm place to leave the moisture. The old PVC caps would do the same thing.

 

[rtd16]

Thanks. Just seemed like an awful lot of water even though some condensation forms in the crankcase

 

[Wildfire1]

That’s a lot of condensation in that oil And I mean a lot. Here’s mine at 3000 miles. I have a 2.7. If it’s not condensation keep an eye on your coolant level. If that keeps up get some dye put in the coolant and check if it ends up in the motor. That don’t seem right.

If

 

[NC_Pinz]

It varies by engine and by season. Winter will have more condensation than summer. I wouldn't worry about it as the catch can is doing what it is supposed to do. See the thread below for the 2.3L and see the variation in what everyone is seeing.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/2-3l-catch-can-results.61209/

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