In the first image (not the second), it appears to be some moisture mixed in with the oil....which is not unusual after sitting overnight, or with repeated short trips in a moist environment. That moisture vaporizes as the engine warms up.

Here's an article on it.

http://www.startribune.com/short-com...ine/146178385/

 

how would moisture get into the oil? Unless you have defective gaskets or other seals?

 

It’s in the air that the engine pulls in through the intake.

 

obviously not my area but i thought intake air mixes with gasoline, not oil.

 

Condensation, hot meets cold.
Some air and fuel gets past the rings that's why there is a a PCV system. On some engines the oil gets severely diluted with gasoline such as the recent Honda turbo engines.

 

^^^ all the more reason (and no doubt you'll agree) why we need EVs... soooo much simpler.

 

Well for once in the past I can’t remember how many years I actually checked my oil today, sort of. I was waiting in my car today and scrolling through the vehicle menu and saw there was a diagnostic check for the oil where the system checks the oil level for you instead of having me pop the hood and check the dipstick. As I figured, all is good although my car only has 4,500 mile on it. Since it is so easy and no mess, maybe I will actually check more often.

 

....until moisture starts shorting out electrical wires and contacts.

Moisture doesn't have to come from the air.....it can come up in road spray, from the tires, in wet or rainy weather.