What to Do If Water Gets into the Oil?
3 Answers
Completely drain the gasoline, thoroughly clean the vehicle's fuel tank and fuel system, replace the vehicle's fuel filter, remove the spark plugs, and let them dry. Generally, clean the fuel system every 30,000 to 40,000 kilometers or every three years to avoid fuel system blockages and ensure better fuel supply to the engine.
I was really anxious when I discovered the oil emulsification. The milky white liquid looked like coffee with milk. After checking, I realized it might be due to a deteriorated cylinder head gasket or driving through deep water on rainy days. Last time after a highway run, I felt the power was sluggish, and the fuel consumption suddenly skyrocketed, which scared me into shutting off the engine immediately. Now I've learned my lesson - if I see this situation again, I won't continue driving but will call a tow truck for repairs right away. A friend taught me to drain the old oil first and flush the system with cleaning oil twice, but I dare not try it myself. Any residual moisture could damage the crankshaft bearings. It's recommended to check the oil dipstick every three months to monitor its color - prevention is always cheaper than repairs.
Engine oil contamination with water is a serious issue that poses a risk of lubrication failure. Having disassembled numerous engines, I've found common causes include aging cylinder block seals allowing water seepage or moisture intake during water crossings. In mild cases, you'll notice an emulsified layer in the oil pan, while severe contamination leads to blue smoke emission. When encountering this situation, the first step is to park the vehicle on level ground and absolutely avoid ignition attempts. For DIY handling (only recommended for experienced individuals), drain the contaminated oil by removing the drain plug, replace the filter and refill with full synthetic oil. The critical step is identifying the leak source - like my neighbor who tried saving money by not replacing the cylinder head gasket, only to end up with seized piston rings costing ¥8,000 in repairs.
