2024 Hybrid 2.5 engine milkshake

[Pointyears]

Common issue. Water will condense at the coldest point, which would be the oil cap. If you see the same on the dipstick or during an oil drain/change, THEN you have problems.

But that doesn't explain the coolant loss....

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[Quest]

An oil sample analysis would answer the head gasket theory but it very common, especially on hybrids as they spend more time off & have a hard time generating heat
That's why they put the heat exchanger in the exhaust

 

[Chops]

There are Hybrid Specific motor oils that help mitigate the condensation. Valvoline uses “Trap & Lock Technology” in their hybrid specific motor oil. Mobil One also has a hybrid specific oil with the dispersant additives to help with the effects of condensation and dilution.

If I had a hybrid I would use a hybrid specific motor oil and change every 5000mi (or 8mo whichever comes first) to keep it “fresh”. Everyone has their own opinion of course!

 

[Chops]

An oil sample analysis would answer the head gasket theory but it very common, especially on hybrids as they spend more time off & have a hard time generating heat
That's why they put the heat exchanger in the exhaust

If coolant showed up in an oil sample analysis - it would be too late to do anything

I think our OP just has the normal hybrid condensation blues…or yellows

 

[Backin15]

There is definitely moisture in the oil, the question is where it came from. The fact that the coolant has been low twice is very suspicious, a simple pressure test of the cooling system should tell you if that is the cause. It certainly could be condensation, I had a car that had the same issue, actually worse. It happened in the winter and the car was used for short trips. My mechanic told me to change brands of oil and get it out on the freeway once a week and the problem went away. Once the weather warmed the freeway trips were no longer necessary.

 

[surfstar]

“Condensation…”

Have never seen that in 40 years and 7 cars, 2 bikes, and who knows how many lawnmowers, living from the Gulf Coast to the desert.

Granted, I’ve never owned a hybrid. Is this exacerbated by the engine not getting up to temp enough?

I've never experienced it in living in Cen/So California, with hybrids.

Its a cold weather, short trip thing.

 

[Jay123]

Oil analysis then you have a base for warranty repair

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I've never experienced it in living in Cen/So California, with hybrids.

Its a cold weather, short trip thing.

Me either living in a desert Southwest. Easily 110°+ F in the summer and I've never had to add coolant.
All photos taken this morning.
Conditions 61° in the garage, 29% humidity. 84 MI on the truck since the oil change last week. Most recent Drive was 2 miles yesterday.

One of the advantages of living in the bone dry desert. This is why I change my oil based on mileage only. Very little humidity.

 

[rlhdweman]

The oil fill cap on my 50 year old forklift looks just like that. Maybe I don't have to worry about it.

 

[Chops]

But that doesn't explain the coolant loss....

There are plenty of ways & causes for coolant to leak. Leaking into the engine is the most difficult way. The engine block of the Atkinson is not known to crack Workhorse.

And like a Workhorse breathing in cold weather - lots of condensation in its breath!

 

[Ryom]

There are plenty of ways & causes for coolant to leak. Leaking into the engine is the most difficult way. The engine block of the Atkinson is not known to crack Workhorse.

And like a Workhorse breathing in cold weather - lots of condensation in its breath!

Coolant on the ground is pretty easy to spot.

Unexplained coolant loss AND foamy oil is definitely a reason for a prompt service inspection.

 

[Chops]

Coolant on the ground is pretty easy to spot.

Unexplained coolant loss AND foamy oil is definitely a reason for a prompt service inspection.

Sure, Heybales might have a blown head gasket or cracked block enabling coolant to mix with the oil. But I think condensation unrelated to coolant.

Overfilling your coolant can cause leaks. Do our Mavericks have pressure release valves in our caps?

Of course my opinion here is totally unfounded & uneducated. I’m not a professional by any stretch. Just chiming in

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Sure, Heybales might have a blown head gasket or cracked block enabling coolant to mix with the oil. But I think condensation unrelated to coolant.

Overfilling your coolant can cause leaks. Do our Mavericks have pressure release valves in our caps?

Of course my opinion here is totally unfounded & uneducated. I’m not a professional by any stretch. Just chiming in

Both hybrid coolant caps appear to be identical.
Looking at the caps it certainly looks like there is a pressure relief spring inside same as the old ones.
As you unscrew the cap it will allow excess pressure to vent around the sides.
Just a guess.

 

[Timothyd]

I’ve never ever owned a hybrid. Is it a hybrid thing?!

Let me go check.

 

[Hosenose]

We used to see that decades ago in the oil filler cap of my dad's '62 VW Beetle in very cold weather near Detroit. The oil always looked fine on the dipstick and it looked fine when we changed the oil. That air-cooled engine obviously didn't have a coolant leak, but it would not warm up really well in very cold weather. Since it's pretty clearly a water/oil emulsion, we called it mayonnaise. Never tried consuming it...

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