17 replies to this topic

[holmesy]

I know this is an oil and water mix issue but I changed the crapy head gasket which was leaking oil for the Payen 450 and I've just topped up my oil to find the white foam is back! but not as much as last time, could this be from residue water or foam from before or is there anywhere else the water and oil could transfer other than the head gasket?

[jaydee]

Didnt you change the oil did you?

[seancv1]

could be a crack in the head itself ?

[Chance]

If you changed the oil and it's running ok then clean it out and re torque the head then see if it returns

[sonikk4]

Are you doing short jouneys?? does the car warm up and reach operating temperature.

[Tommyboy12]

It could be that the cold time of year and water that is present in the engine block naturally (from air moisture, etc) will condense on the much colder rocker cover (because of the weather) and emulsify with any flicked up oil from the rockers. My Mini suffers from this every winter!

[Ethel]

There's loads of nooks 'n crannies for condensation to hang out in an engine, so if you had a blown gasket plenty would remain after it was replaced. Steam is also a bi-product of burning petrol, so some will be blown past the pistons in any engine - have you got the crankcase breathers hooked up to suck it out?

[dklawson]

Wipe out the foam, change the oil, take the car for an extended drive (30 minutes or more to really get it up to temperature under load) then check the valve cover the next day before you start the engine (cold).

If the mayonnaise is back, you have a problem. If it is gone, you are dealing with the seasonal cool, damp weather, short drive, condensation problem... which means your engine is fine.

[holmesy]

got a crank case breather on the timing cover, I had changed the water and oil when I did the head gasket. I do have a poor ring end gap so I have a high crankcase pressure. it does seem to of started since the cold weather has settled in and it is the metro engine with the alloy rocker cover so was wondering if that is causing condensation

[jaydee]

Its usually a problem of poor oil and/or short trips, the alloy rocker cover is not the culript.
Halfords/comma oil or short trips and you're likely to get mayo due to the oil not being able to burn water contamination off.

Edited by jaydee, 09 December 2012 - 03:55 PM.

[holmesy]

I am using wilcos oil but it's just pissing it out of the crank seal at about 1 litre a week

[absx2]

I have had mayo in the rocker box for about 5 years in my daily driver. I do 4 mile trips each way and thats about it although I managed a 200 mile trip in September. I have tried a few different oils and i`m on halfords 20/50 at the moment, I change the oil about 3 or 4 times a year. I clean the rocker box every now and then and drive on as i`m 100% sure its down to slow warm up and short trips as I don`t think my standard a+ 998 produces enough HP to generate the heat to burn off the condensation in the oil. 200 psi on all cylinders, no oil/coolant loss and 38 ish mpg.

Edited by absx2, 09 December 2012 - 06:04 PM.

[mini danny]

When my head gasket went the first time i had to clean the rocker out 5-6 times after i changed the oil.

when i done the head the second time i got cheap 20w50 put it in run it to temp and drained it then i put my better oil in and all good now

[jaydee]

I am using wilcos oil but it's just pissing it out of the crank seal at about 1 litre a week

Fix the seal and try millers..1 lt a week gonna hurt your pocket!

[andylep]

i have same problem i got crank breathers on i do 20 min half hour trips and im not losing water, i think its the season too