If you do mostly short trips of less than five miles, and particularly if you live in a cold and/or damp climate, that's a normal indication -- and an indication that you'd better be religious about oil changes every three months or 3,000 miles. In these cases, it's just atmospheric moisture drawn into the crankcase (primarily by the PCV system) condensing as the engine cools after shutdown. That moisture is always drawn in, but short trips don't get the engine up to temperature long enough to evaporate it back out again so it builds up over time.

That might just be unnecessary overkill. Since you're unenjoyed right now and have lots of free time, you might do well to dig out your flashlight and inspection mirror(s) and pore over every square inch of the engine and cooling system. It'll be a lot easier if you can get your hands on a cooling system pressure tester so you might be able to use your ears as well as your eyes.

It doesn't cost anything at all to look the thing over, even if it might mean pulling the fan, shroud, accessory bracket, bell housing inspection cover, and so on.

Good luck with it!

 

I get the same thing in the winter, the dipstick doesn't get hot enough to evaporate condensation. There's never any water in the oil when I change it.

How fast does it use water once the reservoir runs dry? Mine uses coolant (I have a seeping freeze plug on the back of the block) a LOT slower after the reservoir is dry, dunno why, same thing with my Bronco II.

 

check your timing cover gasket, my old dodge had a similar problem and will cause water in your oil depending where on the gasket it is leaking. some will also leak externally and not cause water in the oil and just weep coolant drop by drop until they get worse

 

I am seeing dripping from the back of the harmonic balance as in steady dripping but not all the time. I have to refill the reservoir every couple of days. that's not a good sign. Its so hard to really see the source of where its coming from. I am going to do another oil change in the next week to double check if there is or not water in the oil. The temp gets to I would say 198 degrees with in about ten minutes of driving but doesnt even reach the 210 degree mark at half way so its not getting hot, which is good at this point. you can smell the leak I am thinking. My landlord said its antifreeze that I am smelling. As far as I have looked. the freeze plugs look fine. Like I said, the only leak I do see is it dripping from below which is making me question the water pump as well. That has a lifetime warranty from NAPA.

I will keep you posted. I'm not going to rest till I solve this mystery. Thanks guys.

 

Dripping off the balancer? Most likely the water pump then. It's right above the balancer....

 

I am going to find a way to check the water pump. I just replaced it a short while back. That may be where most of my water loss it but that still doesn't answer my water all the way up the dip stick issue. Im thinking to be safe is to get the head gasket kit and just do the whole thing and go from there. Its too much of a risk to not do at this point. The water pump was a lifetime guarantee with NAPA. I will call them about that. I just don't see if the water is going down and off the harmonic balance , wheres the smell coming from? Its the anti freeze that I am smelling..

 

We already told you why there's water on the dipstick. If there isn't water in the oil when you drain it, don't worry about it.

 

Ya gotta look at how the dipstick is routed as well.... it really is a kludge.... the tube goes into the front of the timing cover, and then the stick goes into a 'sleeve' welded to the side of the oil pan...... to guide it back to the sump. If you get a bit of a mess in there, it will basically NEVER come out, till you drop the pan, and clean it out.

 

Thanks guys. I am going to contact NAPA about a new water pump this weeks to exchange it. It suppose to be a lifetime warranty on it.

Hey You, I understand about the dip stick running through the timing cover but it a solid tune correct? I will be doing another oil changes since it seems to me to be white up the whole stick at this point so I am going to double check the oil to see if anything has changed. At that time, I may just drop the pan if there's no water in the oil and clean the tube and see what happens next. I just really want to make sure whats going on before I go into the motor itself. Whats a good way to clean such a small tube? I think until the tube is clear of any moisture or I will never know whats going on. The if it reappears, then I know I have a problem. I just hate taking the pan off for its just a pain in the butt. lol Thanks guys for all the help so far.

 

+1.... the timing cover gasket was most likely damaged during WP replacement. If the WP is not leaking from the weep hole. It's not defective. Check thermostat housing, upper hose, bypass hose, and ECT also.