How Long Does It Take for Engine Oil to Turn White After Water Intrusion?
2 Answers
When a car's engine takes in water, the engine oil will turn white when the water content reaches about one-third of the oil volume. Below is an extended introduction about engine oil: 1. Development Background: In the mid-19th century, people had not yet recognized the importance of gasoline, and kerosene for lamps was widely used at that time. Oil refining relied on simple distillation processes to separate components with different boiling points from crude oil. Kerosene, with its higher boiling point, was safe for lamp use and became the primary product of crude oil refining, while gasoline and other components were often burned as fuel. 2. Carcinogenic Substances: On October 27, 2017, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released a preliminary reference list of carcinogens, classifying engine exhaust and gasoline under Group 2B carcinogens.
I once drove through a deep puddle and immediately felt something was wrong, so I stopped to check. When I pulled out the dipstick, the engine oil had turned milky white like milk—all within just about 5 minutes. The mechanic explained that water had entered the engine while it was running and got violently mixed into the oil at high speeds, causing surprisingly rapid emulsification. If the engine wasn’t shut down immediately, the water could infiltrate the oil passages and corrode internal components, leading to engine damage that would cost at least thousands to repair. He advised drivers to avoid deep water areas and, if water does get in, refrain from starting the car and instead call a tow truck to a professional shop for draining and oil replacement. That experience taught me a lesson—now I always check the oil level before driving after rain, as prevention is better than cure.
