What to Do When Engine Oil Gets Water Contamination?

[Graham]

Solution for water-contaminated engine oil: Drain all the contaminated oil completely and refill with fresh oil. Water contamination causes emulsification and deterioration of oil, significantly reducing its lubricating properties. Engine oil, often referred to as the lifeblood of an engine, serves critical functions including lubrication, heat dissipation, cleaning, and sealing within the engine. If oil emulsifies due to water ingress, its lubricating capability drastically declines, potentially causing abnormal engine wear. After identifying water-contaminated oil, it's essential to diagnose the source. Possible causes include cracked cylinder head gaskets or engine block waterways allowing coolant leakage into the oil system. For minor cases where contamination occurred accidentally (e.g., water spillage during oil cap removal), simply replacing the affected oil with new oil suffices.