Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I noticed today when checking the oil on my 11.5 Tecumseh that there was oil/water "cream" on the upper half of the dipstick. I assume this is a result of moisture in the crank case which is forming perhaps from my keeping the blower in a relatively warm place (about 35-40 F) after using it in temps ranging from 32 F-0 F. I would often see this in the breather/filler tube of my Ford 8N tractor which I used the past 11 years for plowing. The Ford was kept ouside in a shed. Is this something I should be concerned about? I have about 8 1/2 hours on the engine. Changed the oil from the 5W-30 to synthetic 0W-30 at the 2 hour mark.

Yes, the "cream" colored sludge that accumulates on a dipstick is moisture coming out of the oil in the crankcase. 

The dipstick may also function as an air vent & this is where minor amounts of moisture, driven out of the oil, as it heats up, meets the cold air & tends to collect.

Air cooled 4 cycle engines in snowblowers tend to contaminate the oil with moisture - lawnmowers contaminate with dust & debris.

Synthetic oils tend to tolerate this moisture better than older solvent refined dinos, either way, this is a good reason for an end -of -season oil change.

Same here. Thats why its important to heat the engine up real good, to evaporate water that colects in the CC.