15 replies to this topic

[A.Bateman]

I have found this under the rocker cover but haven't got a clue what it is. I'm hoping it isn't going to be too bad. What do I need to do to find out the cause? And how to fix it?

[Jordie]

Emulsification (sp?)

Usually a sign of headgasket going or gone. But can be caused by short runs and condensation.

Any signs of oil in the water or water in the oil?

[A.Bateman]

These are photos to help explain!

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[Jordie]

Looking at pics...too much for short runs and condensation. So id be looking at headgasket myself

[A.Bateman]

Ok cheers, yeah only just brought it as a project and the last owner used it occasionally and only ran it short journeys so it wasn't standing around. Would is also cause a small amount of white smoke of the exhaust with a warm engine?

Also there is no oil in the water but a tiny amount in the oil on dipstick.

[Jordie]

White smoke is water in the combustion.

Sounds like head gasket failure to me. For cost of it id be doing head gasket with new oil and coolant.

[A.Bateman]

Okay thank you very much!

[Mini Manannán]

Proper chicken soup there!  Definitely a check your HG job.

[Keith Staley]

+1 for the head gasket blown

[Gr4h4m]

if it is the gasket it would be a good idea to find out why it went.

[midridge2]

Why fix something before you know its broken, do a compression check first.
 

[cal844]

Why fix something before you know its broken, do a compression check first.

+1

[Blatherskite]

Ok cheers, yeah only just brought it as a project and the last owner used it occasionally and only ran it short journeys so it wasn't standing around. Would is also cause a small amount of white smoke of the exhaust with a warm engine?

Also there is no oil in the water but a tiny amount in the oil on dipstick.

If there's no other symptoms, I'd clean that gloop out, change oil & filter, and go for a long run, driving gently. Short journeys means the engine doesn't properly get warm & shift condensation out of the oil. Likewise, white steam from the exhaust is likely condensation blowing out. See how it goes, but don't stress the engine.

[whistler]

 

Ok cheers, yeah only just brought it as a project and the last owner used it occasionally and only ran it short journeys so it wasn't standing around. Would is also cause a small amount of white smoke of the exhaust with a warm engine?

Also there is no oil in the water but a tiny amount in the oil on dipstick.

If there's no other symptoms, I'd clean that gloop out, change oil & filter, and go for a long run, driving gently. Short journeys means the engine doesn't properly get warm & shift condensation out of the oil. Likewise, white steam from the exhaust is likely condensation blowing out. See how it goes, but don't stress the engine.

 

I used to have this when Castrol GTX was first released (20/50). It didn't matter whether the engine was hot or cold. Emulsion in rocker cover. Cleaned it out and went back to Castrol XL 20/50 and no more problem. Clean it out, have the compression checked and change the oil and filter. Use a 20/50, Halfords own is ok. If compression is very low then as others have said, headgasket problem.

[midridge2]

Yep. some oils are terrible at causing emulsion.