8 replies to this topic

[bobbym18]

Hi guys me..again.

I just took out my oil filler cap and there was some sort of white/creamy gunky stuff around it, i could see anything anywhere else but i didnt take the rocker cover off....

Any ideas????

[ado15]

Condensation if you are lucky. Head gasket failure if you're not! It's water getting mixed with the oil.

Some cars seem to do it more than others, particularly cars doing short journeys a lot. It's worth taking the rocker box off and cleaning it out. Check the dipstick to see if there are any similar signs there.

Edited by ado15, 11 March 2011 - 04:38 PM.

[bobbym18]

I have been doing mostly short journeys recently, and i took the dip stick out and that was fine, both today and a few days ago....

[ado15]

I have been doing mostly short journeys recently, and i took the dip stick out and that was fine, both today and a few days ago....

I'd suggest it's just condensation then. It can even be down to where the car is parked overnight!

[Cooperman]

Condensation if you are lucky. Head gasket failure if you're not! It's water getting mixed with the oil.

Some cars seem to do it more than others, particularly cars doing short journeys a lot. It's worth taking the rocker box off and cleaning it out. Check the dipstick to see if there are any similar signs there.

Some modern oils do seem to cause this more than others. The old Duckhams seemed prone to this more so than Castrol and the Valvoline 20/50 doesn't seem to have this. Yes, clean out the filler cap and do a reasonably long journey to get the engine nice & warm. Then check again.

[bobbym18]

Its kept in a garage. Ive just taken the rocker cover off and there was more there around the oil filler cap, so ive cleaned it all off and it did seem like there was some moister there, so ive just cleaned everything off and tightened everything up.

Should it be alright? And how would i know if the head gasket had gone???

[Cooperman]

If the HG has gone and water is getting into the oil, the oil level will go up and the water level will go down. Very quickly the rocker cover will be like it's full of mayonaise. In fact, it will be obvious.
It's almost certain that if you've been doing a lot of short journeys over Winter it'll be moisture in the oil just trying to evaporate off and emusfiying in a small amount of oil at the top of the rocker cover. Give it a good long run, use a few revs when it's nice and warm and in order to warm it quickly, start your journey with a piece of cardboard taped over the front grill, removing this once it's good and warm. It may still get a bit of white sludge around the rocker cover, but repeat this. If you feel inclined you could do an oil change and put in a good quality 20w50 oil such as Castrol Classic, Millers, Valvoline or Penrite, plus a new filter, then give it a long run at normal temperature. At this time of year a car may not reach its correct operating temp even on a longish journey.

[bobbym18]

ok cool, well im driving to bracknell tomorrow from portsmouth so i should find out then, i just cant break down on the way!

[Cooperman]

ok cool, well im driving to bracknell tomorrow from portsmouth so i should find out then, i just cant break down on the way!

I'm sure you'll be fine. Have a nice drive.