2023 Hybrid Oil Change Pudding Surprise!

[budpalumbo]

That is condensation from short trips, the engine not reaching operating temps, and ambient conditions. Also depends on how much hot oil can actually splash in the bottom of the cap during operation.

It is normal. I've actually had to scoop that out of oil fill holes to add oil during a change. (I don't work on Fords)

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[DJWarner]

Water vapor from combustion products getting past the rings is the source. As the engine sits overnight, it is subject to radiational cooling and its temperature can fall below the dew point. When this happens, the vapor condenses into a liquid. The old saying "water and oil don't mix" isn't exactly true. Water will mix with oil up to about 1/2% by volume.

The oil has to be heated up to about 180+ degrees in order to drive out the water. Numerous short drives never heat the oil sufficiently to drive out the water.

 

[Zotman]

And 180 degrees F is where the 4th bar of the Temperature Gauge illuminates on the Lariat.

 

[Mavboy2023]

2023 Hybrid, Toronto Canada
Took delivery Aug 2023, now (Nov) has 5000km / 3000mi. Weather has turned colder.

Decided I would do an early [first] oil change and found this under the filler cap.

I know this indicates moisture in the engine. But I also know: - the coolant level hasn't changed
- no white smoke out the tail pipe
- no rough starts
- the oil that I drained out was NOT cloudy or foamy or light colored.

Admitedly the truck is used mostly for very short trips and the engine rarely warms to full operating temp.

Have any of you (in a colder climate), driving short trips, experienced this on their Hybrid Maverick?

Could this be a pcv thing?

I've owned a dozen cars in the Toronto area over several decades and never experienced this... even when some of those cars were used I'm the same way for short trips.

I'll see what the dealer says and report back.

Not good....please update when you can, best of luck!!!!!

 

[GPSMan]

I saw this over 50 years ago in my 66 Chevy Impala. Fortunately my Dad was a mechanic, it was emulsified oil from a small water leak in the head gasket allowing water into the oil. A little water in the oil and the engine 'churns' it like butter.

I could see that. Does look like mayonnaise.

 

[GPSMan]

In XL and XLT

Temp needle "just" starts to move at 120-122°F.

The first division mark is 155°F.

The thermostat is 180°F and the needle is not quite vertical at 180°F.
At this point "for your convenience" the needle stops moving. It won't move any higher until there is trouble. Then it will go high all at once. Kinda sucks. But that's the reality. So I added an aftermarket multi-gauge "ScanGauge" that gives me temperature in 1 degree increments.

 

[KathyG]

Thank you. FTM made a good general video on the topic... and said same: probably fine if everything else checks out.

Thanks for posting that video! Never seen this - but we are in a pretty mild climate!
Kathy

 

[KDay]

I just took delivery of my 24 hybrid Friday night 11/17/23. I am switching from 2.0 EB to hybrid because I do a lot of short trips in traffic and that type of driving is where the hybrid's advantage is. I watched the FTM video. I noticed that the oil cap in the video and apparently the cap shown by the OP are recessed, a place to accumulate the white gunk. I think the engineers designed the caps that way because it is a common occurance? I will add that in the 11 years my wife drove her 2011 Prius mostly short trips around the 'hood, I did not see the white gunk but then again, we live in a temperate climate where at 7:am Sunday it is 62 F. with drizzle.

Good thought. Maybe that recessed cap is there for that purpose.

 

[KDay]

That is condensation from short trips, the engine not reaching operating temps, and ambient conditions. Also depends on how much hot oil can actually splash in the bottom of the cap during operation.

It is normal. I've actually had to scoop that out of oil fill holes to add oil during a change. (I don't work on Fords)

Thanks. That's reassuring. I know from outboard motors that 'creamy oil' in the bottom end is bad news... so when I opened my Mav oil cap and saw the 'pudding', I freaked a bit. Seems the solution is simply to drive it

 

[Ponypower50]

Doesn't look good to me. My Hybrid Mavericks cap is clean. I have 6K on it. I would have it checked out by the dealer.

 

[KDay]

2023 Hybrid, Toronto Canada
Took delivery Aug 2023, now (Nov) has 5000km / 3000mi. Weather has turned colder.

Decided I would do an early [first] oil change and found this under the filler cap.

I know this indicates moisture in the engine. But I also know: - the coolant level hasn't changed
- no white smoke out the tail pipe
- no rough starts
- the oil that I drained out was NOT cloudy or foamy or light colored.

Admitedly the truck is used mostly for very short trips and the engine rarely warms to full operating temp.

Have any of you (in a colder climate), driving short trips, experienced this on their Hybrid Maverick?

Could this be a pcv thing?

I've owned a dozen cars in the Toronto area over several decades and never experienced this... even when some of those cars were used I'm the same way for short trips.

I'll see what the dealer says and report back.

*UPDATE* After visiting Ford service dept:

I was able to speak with a Ford tech at the dealership (not merely a 'service advisor'). He confirmed it's a sign of moisture in the engine and given that there is no other evidence of a head gasket problem, suspects "PCV blow-by". But before jumping into swapping parts, wants me to monitor it for the next month or so, especially now that Toronto weather has turned colder. Side note: the technician also applauded me for not only reporting the issue, but changing the oil as soon as I did. He even encouraged me to keep changing it every 3000-5000mi (5000-8000km). [He knows I change my own oil so it wasn't a ploy to get me spending more money with them].

My gut says this 'pudding' is not normal and I'll be headed back for a PCV investigation but I'm happy to drive it for a while and prove it wasn't somehow just moisture that got in between manufacture and delivery.

I attached another pic of the original issue (did NOT recur... yet), and a sample of the factory oil that I drained (and 'mini' factory filter).

 

[SteveM]

This is due to moisture in the oil. If your trips are all very short, the likely cause is that the engine is not getting warmed up to full operating temp, and maintaining that temp long enough to "boil" the moisture out of the oil.

 

[MinntoMich]

Yup that's condensation in your crankcase and if the drain oil is fine and all other things are normal your okay, although that does look thick. I've seen it in all my cars from about Halloween to Easter or so. Long drives at operating temps are the only fix which is the opposite reason for buying the hybrid.

Don't know why the PCV would be the problem, could be but I'd be changing the oil a bit more often than the manual suggests.

 

[KDay]

Yup that's condensation in your crankcase and if the drain oil is fine and all other things are normal your okay, although that does look thick. I've seen it in all my cars from about Halloween to Easter or so. Long drives at operating temps are the only fix which is the opposite reason for buying the hybrid.

Don't know why the PCV would be the problem, could be but I'd be changing the oil a bit more often than the manual suggests.

Thank you. That all aligns with what the Ford tech told me, too. This is my first hybrid and I'm now stuck in a catch-22... for exactly what you just said: I purposely bought it for the short, in-town trips we make.

 

[OntarioPaul]

Nothing to worry about I had it in my 93 ranger just get the engine up to temp once in a while and it will go away

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