Oil gone funny....

[EssexIbiza1985]

Checked my oil today and when I took the cap off to fill up, it had a milky light brown oilly residue all over it. I put my finger inside and it was on the underside of the cam cover also. Oil in the sump was ok though.
I am not losing any water so dont think my head gasket has blown but was wondering if it could be condensation in the oil since its been so cold?? Does anyone else get this?

I have had a breather filter on the crank case breather over the summer but reconnected it to the air box earlier this month as engine takes ages to warm up in this weather.

Oh and its a 1.4

Cheers...

 

[andyj]

Do you give the car a regular 'long' run ?!?

or do you just do a lot of short journeys??

The girlfriends 1.4 Mk2 has got the same, but that's definitely condensation, as she only does 3miles to work and back, so the engine doesn't even get hot by the time she gets there !!!!

Try giving it a really good run out, should help

 

[EssexIbiza1985]

No I don't... 9 miles is longest journey twice a week. I go to my gym a lot which is just down the road (sorry environmentalists) and gauge doesn't even move by time I get there.

I am going to norwich Tuesday though (about 105 miles) so will see if it disappears then!!

 

[andyj]

you probably won't find it will 'dissappear' with just a single run out....

what you will need to do to get rid of the 'gunk', is to use an engine oil flush, then change the oil....

then, take the car for a good run-out at least once a week or so...... to ensure that the gunk doesn't come back again

 

[EssexIbiza1985]

Lame! I only changed the oil like a month ago! Does 'the gunk' matter that much if its just on the cam cover? will it harm my engine in any way?
I used to get that gunk in the breather pipe before I put a filter on it!

 

[Mckellar]

in non technical terms its refered to as mayonaise.

condensation in the oil makes it go the milky white colour.
Short journeys kill your car ; and your MPG.

 

[jenk]

Check and clean all you breather pipes, change the oil and filter, and then throw away that crank case filter

 

[surcalation]

If the gym is so close the gauge doesn't move, why not jog down?

Save money on petrol and from repairs to the car

 

[Cupra Kid]

I wouldnt worry my mum ran a 1.4 with that happening for 7 years!!!

 

[chris285]

yeah sounds like short journeys, mine used to do that when i used to stay with my ex a fair bit. now runs great with no problems touch wood, due for a service after xmas anyway

 

[Gm8]

in non technical terms its refered to as mayonaise.

condensation in the oil makes it go the milky white colour.
Short journeys kill your car ; and your MPG.

yeah mayo somtimes = head gasket

 

[Roelích]

yeah mayo somtimes = head gasket

That's what I suspected when I saw this thread.