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mml4


Snow is good,
Deep snow is better!


Joined: Dec 31, 2003
Points: 544

Oil waxing on dipstick
Original Message   Jan 28, 2005 6:09 pm
Richie stated in another thread that he noticed a white waxy substance on his engines dipstick. Same material observed on mine . This is always present regardless of engine manufacture and the oil used . Only seen on snow throwers so I am pretty sure it is temperature relatsd. What is it and does it cause any trouble?

Marc 

SnapperV210P,Toro22177,TroyBilt42010Snowthrower,Craftsman Shredder,American Turbo Pressure Washer HondaGX200,Stihl011Saw,EchoPas260Trimmer Edger,EchoPB602Blower,EchoHCR150Hedge Clipper
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Richie


Bring On The White Stuff

Location: Long Island, New York
Joined: Dec 12, 2003
Points: 562

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #1   Jan 28, 2005 6:23 pm
Hi Marc,

Thanks for creating a new thread on this one  I'm sure it has to do with condensation but the fact it happened so quickly after my two hour servicing, it made me really take notice.  In fact, the Mobil One oil has only about 40 minutes run time on it.  What I did is go right to the source, early this morning, rather than email Toro since the snowblower itself is fantastic.  I look at this strickly as a Tecumseh issue, so I emailed Tecumseh directly.  I gave them all the information for my engine including model number, build date, etc.  I also mentioned the surging problem I experienced after running it for about 25 minutes that lasted for less than two minutes and corrected itself somehow.  I made sure I explained to them that my snowblower is brand new with only a few hours on it so they don't get the impression its old and simply needs a carb rebuilt or something.  If they get back to me, I'll be sure to let the forum know about it.  Thanks.

Richie
TheKneebiter


Joined: Oct 22, 2004
Points: 233

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #2   Jan 28, 2005 6:26 pm
this is moisture/condensation. mixing with the oil dino or synthetic will cause a white wax type film. normal and harmless. if you look under your oil fill cap in your car sometimes you will see this also.

Richie


Bring On The White Stuff

Location: Long Island, New York
Joined: Dec 12, 2003
Points: 562

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #3   Jan 28, 2005 6:30 pm
Knee,

Moisture or condensation in the oil, what does that do for lubrication? Clearly it's in the sump of the engine.

Richie
mml4


Snow is good,
Deep snow is better!


Joined: Dec 31, 2003
Points: 544

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #4   Jan 28, 2005 7:03 pm
Richie, I'm not so sure it'sin the sump. I have never seen it when I change the oil. It always appears in my experience on the dipstick metal and on the walls of the plastic dip stick tube. It kind of plates out  at the interface of hot and cold surfaces where oil is present.

Marc 

SnapperV210P,Toro22177,TroyBilt42010Snowthrower,Craftsman Shredder,American Turbo Pressure Washer HondaGX200,Stihl011Saw,EchoPas260Trimmer Edger,EchoPB602Blower,EchoHCR150Hedge Clipper
Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #5   Jan 28, 2005 7:20 pm
Is it almost foamy lokking?
TheKneebiter


Joined: Oct 22, 2004
Points: 233

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #6   Jan 28, 2005 7:29 pm
the moisture try's to escape up the dipstick tube. almost like steam and causes this. it is not enough to cause a problem. if you were to let your snowblower run for 4 hours in the snow everyday you most likely would not see this. when it is cold out and the engine gets hot this happens. we only use the snowblower enough to create it and then they sit again untill the next time. we dont use them long enough to burn it away. if you have a car that you only use for short trips in the winter say under 5 miles to work and back you will see this under the oil cap. i have it on my car and my wife has it. now if you drive some distance to work then you will not have it because you get hort enough to burn it away.  the first time a noticed this was on my wifes new car which came from the factory with mobil 1 and has no dipstick just a fill cap, im sure some of you know what brand car this is, i found it under the cap and called service right away. it was explained to me by a tech. i then looked under my cap again a newer car only driven 3 miles to work and back, same thing. my buddy who has the same car as me and drives 25 miles to work does not have it. nothing to worry about.
This message was modified Jan 28, 2005 by TheKneebiter


Termy


Location: Washington
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Points: 960

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #7   Jan 28, 2005 7:31 pm
Please smell the oil on the dipstick. If you smell gas, then you have gas in your oil. If this is the case, you need to drain it immidiatly and fill up your crankcase with new oil!


Richie


Bring On The White Stuff

Location: Long Island, New York
Joined: Dec 12, 2003
Points: 562

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #8   Jan 28, 2005 7:33 pm
Marc,

When I did the first oil change I didn't notice any of the goo coming out of the drain tube, so you may be right.  If it isn't in the sump then my next thing to do is look at the O-ring seal on the dip stick.  I do tighten it down sufficiently, but maybe that thin O-ring seal isn't doing its job.  I may have to find something to help it seal.  I wonder if a very thin amount of vaseline rubbed on it will make a difference.  I'll have to find out if petroleum products will deteriorate it over time.

Richie
mml4


Snow is good,
Deep snow is better!


Joined: Dec 31, 2003
Points: 544

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #9   Jan 28, 2005 8:01 pm
Richie I really don't know if you can keep that stuff rom forming in cold weather. I just would like to know what it is!

Marc

SnapperV210P,Toro22177,TroyBilt42010Snowthrower,Craftsman Shredder,American Turbo Pressure Washer HondaGX200,Stihl011Saw,EchoPas260Trimmer Edger,EchoPB602Blower,EchoHCR150Hedge Clipper
TheKneebiter


Joined: Oct 22, 2004
Points: 233

Re: Oil waxing on dipstick
Reply #10   Jan 28, 2005 11:30 pm
Moisture,condensation mixed with oil. GET IT ?????mml4 wrote:
Richie I really don't know if you can keep that stuff rom forming in cold weather. I just would like to know what it is!

Marc



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