substance under oil cap?

  1. L-plater Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 78
    #1
    ok, so ive just lifted off my oil cap to find a load of this creamy coloured substance underneath it and all over the hole that it plugs.

    now i only do short trips and i know that could be why its there but how long are you supposed to have the car running before it dissappears?

    thanks
  2. Established Member Joined: Nov 2010 manchester Posts: 2099 2000 1.6 furio
    #2
    some one correct me if im wrong

    but im sure the oil goes creamy when mixed with water so maybe your head gasket has gone
    and im sure it doesnt just go creamy from short journeys
  3. West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL
    #3
    Short journeys mean tbe cars not warming up and it doesnt get the oil warm and lubricate properly

    However creamy goo in the cap is head gasket failiure
  4. Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2010 Weston super mare / Wareham dorset Posts: 535 106 1.4 quiksilver
    #4
    100% head gasket. you will need to replace it sooner the better as it can end up damaging other parts of the engine making un drivable or almost undrivable
  5. L-plater Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 78
    #5
    oh, GREAT!

    so how much are we talking here?
  6. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #6
    Clean off the creamy substance take it for a long run then check the cap.Other way of checking hg failure is to sniff the coolant if it smells of petrol then hg has gone.

    Steve.
    1 user thanked this post:
  7. Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2011 darley dale, derbyshire Posts: 194 99 vtr 97 vr6 highline
    #7
    headgasket kit you can get of ebay for £20, mayaswell do timing belt at the same time £10 of ebay new oil £10 thats all the parts you will need if your handy do it yourself the only tricky bit is timing the engine after

    i live in darley dale not far from chesterfield if your near im free at weekends would give you a hand man
  8. L-plater Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 78
    #8
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    Clean off the creamy substance take it for a long run then check the cap.Other way of checking hg failure is to sniff the coolant if it smells of petrol then hg has gone.

    Steve.
    ive sniffed the coolant and it doesnt smell of petrol....it just stinks...like a dirty smell, and it looks to be a browny colour aswell, not sure what this means?

    and apparently my oil and timing belt where done when i got the car, less than a year ago.

    and what would a headgasket kit do? mine looks to be ok with no leaks...
  9. Established Member Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1057
    #9
    Could just be condensation due to the short journeys. My Astra and my Clio were bad for that. But it wasn't head gasket failure.

    Clean it off, take the car for a good run and see what happens.
    1 user thanked this post:
  10. Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2011 darley dale, derbyshire Posts: 194 99 vtr 97 vr6 highline
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by rockrocks View Post
    ive sniffed the coolant and it doesnt smell of petrol....it just stinks...like a dirty smell, and it looks to be a browny colour aswell, not sure what this means?

    and apparently my oil and timing belt where done when i got the car, less than a year ago.

    and what would a headgasket kit do? mine looks to be ok with no leaks...
    creamy colour means you have a leak in the gasket allowing water to reach the oil

    it wont leak on the outside matey it is %100 the headgasket i would put my life on it if you carry on driving the car you will warp the head and end up spending a fortune having it skimmed etc
  11. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #11
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by rockrocks View Post
    ive sniffed the coolant and it doesnt smell of petrol....it just stinks...like a dirty smell, and it looks to be a browny colour aswell, not sure what this means?

    and apparently my oil and timing belt where done when i got the car, less than a year ago.

    and what would a headgasket kit do? mine looks to be ok with no leaks...
    A head gasket kit is for when you take the cylinder head off,& then want to re-assemble everything.It 1.provides a seal between the head & block & 2.You need it for proper compression of the engine.Along with the gasket you get new head bolts etc & oil seals as well mate.

    Steve.
  12. Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2011 darley dale, derbyshire Posts: 194 99 vtr 97 vr6 highline
    #12
    if you warm up your car properly short jurneys shouldnt make any difference if you jump in and drive 5mins then stop it could be condensation but if you carry on doing that you will get hgf sooner rather than later always warm up your car especially if your going on short jurneys very bad practice
  13. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #13
    I'd clean it off first and take it for a spin could just be the condenstation from it not being used alot, u might be lucky
  14. Established Member Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 1057
    #14
    Check your dipstick. If that is clean, no creamy substance then your issue will probably be just condensation.
  15. L-plater Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 78
    #15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Malky View Post
    Check your dipstick. If that is clean, no creamy substance then your issue will probably be just condensation.
    ye ive done that and its fine, just got clear oil on it, well, clean oil.

    right, i think what im gonna do is clean the muck off the underside of the oil cap (should i clean the stuff out of the hole it plugs aswell?) and then take it for a spin.

    and ye im only doin short trips in it, seems most people think its due to this ive got this substance.

    if it doesnt go away after a few runs then it could be something else like people have said, if so then its off to the garage...
  16. Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2011 darley dale, derbyshire Posts: 194 99 vtr 97 vr6 highline
    #16
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by rockrocks View Post
    ye ive done that and its fine, just got clear oil on it, well, clean oil.

    right, i think what im gonna do is clean the muck off the underside of the oil cap (should i clean the stuff out of the hole it plugs aswell?) and then take it for a spin.

    and ye im only doin short trips in it, seems most people think its due to this ive got this substance.

    if it doesnt go away after a few runs then it could be something else like people have said, if so then its off to the garage...
    clean all the gunk off that you can see let the car warm for 5mins or so then do a good 50mile trip let the car cool for 20mins and check the cap if there is still mayo take it in
  17. L-plater Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 78
    #17
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by vtr_matt1983 View Post
    clean all the gunk off that you can see let the car warm for 5mins or so then do a good 50mile trip let the car cool for 20mins and check the cap if there is still mayo take it in
    HA! mayo....love that.

    ye ok then i'll do that.

    thanks again guys.
  18. L-plater Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 78
    #18
    forgot to ask.

    would it be worth buying a headgasket set anyway, even if the stuff does dissappear, or would it be a waste of money?
  19. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Mar 2009 Stoke-on-trent Posts: 2640 Mk5 Golf GTTDI Mk2 VTR Project
    #19
    No, if its all clear would'nt worry about it.
  20. L-plater Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 78
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ben_SaxoForte View Post
    No, if its all clear would'nt worry about it.
    rightyo guys,

    thanks again.
  21. Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2011 darley dale, derbyshire Posts: 194 99 vtr 97 vr6 highline
    #21
    let us know when you done it all got my fingers crossed for ya bro
  22. Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 330
    #22
    Are you losing water,if not short trips=condensation