Updated at: 22-11-2021 - By: Lucas

Many motorists are perplexed as to why their oil dipstick has bubbles. The oil dipstick is used to check the oil level and the cleanliness and dirtiness of the oil in your automobile. Because oil is your car’s lifeblood, you must keep it clean and in good shape.

You must have an oil dipstick in order to examine the condition and status of your oil. There is a good chance that you observed some bubbles in your oil when you checked it with your oil dipstick and are wondering what caused them.

This article is a must-read if you’re curious about the probable causes of bubbles on your oil dipstick. Keep reading to find out more about this topic.

Why Does My Oil Dipstick Have Bubbles?

Bubbles on your oil dipstick are a sign that something is wrong with your vehicle. An oil dipstick with brown bubbles and an oil level line with bubbles could indicate that your engine is currently leaking water or antifreeze (or a mixture of the two).

Alternatively, you may notice that the oil on your dipstick or in the oil tank is brown or black in color. So, antifreeze in your oil is one of the most likely causes. A burst head gasket or a broken block are both possibilities if you find antifreeze or coolant in your engine oil.

Using your finger, you can remove the oil dipstick and then rub a little bit of the oil out of it. Rub your thumb over the finger to remove any remaining residue. Antifreeze or coolant may be present in your motor oil if the residue feels a little tacky.

The sooner you get your car checked out in this situation, the better. In addition to smelling the bubbles, you can also see them. Water or coolant may be to blame for some people’s bubbles.

There is a distinct fragrance to the coolant as compared to the water. If the oil is milky, you may have a problem with your gasket or a crack in the block, which will allow coolant to enter the engine oil system, as previously stated.

Is it safe to have bubbles on the dipstick after an oil change?

Engines with internal combustion are analogous to pumps using air. That is to say, the air mixture must be moved into and out of the combustion chamber in order for heat to be transferred into motion. Air will also be displaced on the pistons’ lower surfaces, or inside the crankcase of the engine.

Crankshaft rotation is the cause of this noise. The pistons are pushing in only one direction, as are the connecting rods. So to put it simply, the crankcase is a raging place to be.

Taking off the oil dipstick while the engine is still running is an option. Because of the turbulence in the crankcase, the motor oil will become frothy as a result of the oil mixing with the surrounding air. You may notice bubbles in your dipstick, which is perfectly normal if you’re using an engine oil that hasn’t been contaminated.

As a result, there are instances when bubbles in the oil dipstick do not just signal that the crankcase is filled with turbulence. It is critical to have the car inspected in this situation.

Is It Bad If The Dipstick Has Bubbles?

To some extent, yes. Except for the bubbles created by the normal movement within the crankcase, a high-quality motor oil should not foam or have bubbles. To prevent foam, the oil contains anti-foaming ingredients.

If you see bubbles and discoloration in your motor oil, you may have overfilled your lump. Oil with bubbles can do a great deal of harm.

You may also have water or coolant contamination if the foam or bubbles are mild. It’s possible that your gasket head is leaking or that your engine block has a crack.

Draining and refilling your oil tank would be the best solution. Even a mechanic is an option if you prefer.

Why Do I Have Bubbles On My Transmission Dipstick?

There may be a coolant or antifreeze contamination if you see bubbles over the oil level line on your dipstick and on your oil filter. Your engine may be leaking water or antifreeze. If you find coolant in your engine oil, you may need to get it fixed right away.

For example, the oil dipstick may show bubbles and the transmission is slipping and engaging slowly if the ATF level is too low. Adding air to the fluid intake of the oil pump is also possible. Depressurization of the oil route and leaking of ATF into seals and gaskets are also possible.

The transmission fluid level must be adjusted, and any ATF leaks in the transmission unit must be sought out. Alternatively, you can visit a local transmission shop, and your transmission dipstick has bubbles in it. While your oil dipstick shows bubbles, the ATF is clean and the transmission is running and engaging smoothly, in another scene.

Mixing transmission fluids, using outdated ATF, the improper fluid type, and overflowing the transmission fluid level are all probable causes of this. Having your transmission flushed is the best way to fix the problem.

Conclusion

There are a number of drivers who have noticed bubbles on their oil dipsticks, and this is a problem. Drivers have been pondering the various causes of the bubbles on their oil dipstick and brainstorming ways to remedy them.

If there is no pollution in the crankshaft, the bubbles may be caused by the turbulence in the crankshaft itself. It’s imperative that you get in touch with a mechanic as soon as possible if you’re experiencing any of these issues.