Milky substance in oil.

1. user_53493 Frequent Poster Joined: Jun 2011 Cardiff Posts: 908 Mk4 Fiesta Encore Mk1 Saxo Eastcoast

   #1 19th December 2011, 09:23

   Now I'm guessing this is the head gasket on it's way out, as there's a creamy substance in with the oil. There's hardly any of it though, but it is there. The water is ever so slightly dirty as well, but again hardly anything.
   
   The car's done 70,000 miles and this is the first problem I've noticed on the car. Is there anything else I should keep my eye out for if this is starting to go?
   
   Engine sounds fine, runs great. How much would it be for a garage to fit a new head gasket, and how much would it be if I bought the parts and did it myself?
   
   Ta!
2. mlawlan69 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Sep 2010 leeds Posts: 4389 MCS R53 S/C 16v furiooo

   #2 19th December 2011, 09:30

   Garage would be anywhere from 200+ really. I think parts would set you back 100 max, have a look on euro car parts or similar.
3. holdawayt Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2010 Stourbridge Posts: 7338 Nissan 200sx S14a

   #3 19th December 2011, 10:01

   I'd do it myself personally. Garages charge loads due to the amount off stuff that needs to be removed to get to the gasket. It's not a difficult job it just takes a while and looks daunting. Head might need a skim by the way which could be a nuisance.

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4. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

   #4 19th December 2011, 10:04

   what type of driving do you do?
   
   mostly around town / short journeys ? could just be a build up of condensation . . . save your self a small fortune and get a compression test done first, this will show any sign of leaks / damaged headgasket.
   if it comes back ok, drive abit harder for longer lol.

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5. Pricklep Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 31279 Citroen Saxo VTS, S60 D5

   #5 19th December 2011, 10:41

   As above....
6. user_53493 Frequent Poster Joined: Jun 2011 Cardiff Posts: 908 Mk4 Fiesta Encore Mk1 Saxo Eastcoast

   #6 19th December 2011, 11:09

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Tontsy what type of driving do you do? mostly around town / short journeys ? could just be a build up of condensation . . . save your self a small fortune and get a compression test done first, this will show any sign of leaks / damaged headgasket. if it comes back ok, drive abit harder for longer lol.

   Mostly around town as I live in the city. I do the odd long drive to my parents (45 mins on motorways etc). Nothing too drastic at the moment.
   
   I'll get it looked at, cheers for that. I've got this small bottle from my dad that you apparently pour into a hot / warm radiator, and it'll seal any leaks in the radiator or head gasket if they're minor. Would liquids like this help it?
7. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #7 19th December 2011, 11:53

   As said get a compression test done before spending out money,plus your engine with the short trips you`re doing isn`t really warming up so condensation could be the issue mate.
8. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

   #8 19th December 2011, 13:06

   Very common to see a little mayo under 8V oil caps, especially if you do short journeys.
9. user_53493 Frequent Poster Joined: Jun 2011 Cardiff Posts: 908 Mk4 Fiesta Encore Mk1 Saxo Eastcoast

   #9 19th December 2011, 13:32

   I haven't driven it for 3 weeks as I had an accident - the radiator was ruined and all water / coolant was drained while it sat there for 3 weeks. After fixing it up and getting it running again, it's only now I've noticed the water in the oil. Could that be something to do with it?
10. krisdiamond91 Infrequent Poster Joined: Nov 2011 barry Posts: 138 saxo east coast renault scenic merc c200 2 mo

    #10 20th December 2011, 00:08

    yeah i noticed the same with my little 1.1 small amount of mayo on the cap and some gunk in the rad. i took it for a compression test and its fine on compression. guy told me about the small journey thing and i gotta admit i think the car hadnt moved much. iv done hundreds of miles in it since and its working fine. wouldnt worry to much unless your loosing oil or coolant/overheating.
11. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #11 20th December 2011, 00:52

    The old gaskets break down on the 8vs I find sometimes between the oil ways and the water jacket and not around the fire rings for the cylinders so the compression tests show good results. My old zest did this, but the oil wasnt emulsified just a few blobs of oil showed up the coolant every now and again. I'd have changed it if it got worse but it was fine for all sorts of driving, I should have changed it but I was getting rid. As said in this weather the 8vs can put mayo under the oil caps and in the breathers if the car isnt run for a fair few miles daily
12. krisdiamond91 Infrequent Poster Joined: Nov 2011 barry Posts: 138 saxo east coast renault scenic merc c200 2 mo

    #12 20th December 2011, 00:57

    yeah mate thats gotta be what i got. some gunky coolant. if it gets worse il look into sorting it but its running okay and not loosing any coolant or oil.
13. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #13 20th December 2011, 01:12

    Its something you want to address but not a major problem as in you could keep driving the car normally, just keep your eye on oil and coolant levels as it'll only get worse over a long period of time
14. user_53493 Frequent Poster Joined: Jun 2011 Cardiff Posts: 908 Mk4 Fiesta Encore Mk1 Saxo Eastcoast

    #14 20th December 2011, 09:42

    Ah okay. As you said, it could be due to this weather and not having a drive for a long time, and I haven't It's been standing for 3 weeks in this freezing weather, while the car had hail stones thrown at it and a coating of ice almost every morning. Not nice
15. ChAdS Established Member Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1385

    #15 20th December 2011, 09:54

    I am having this problem, Took the car to have a compression test today and all the readings were the same. I do very short journeys in my vtr and its just built up condensation in the engine In this weather as well its the worst!
16. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #16 21st December 2011, 10:59

    My 1.1 used to fill its breathers with mayo from the short journeys I was doing. Giving it a long run a few times helped to sort it once I'd cleaned it all out. My VTR does it too slightly but luckily the condensation just goes to the catch tank
17. user_53493 Frequent Poster Joined: Jun 2011 Cardiff Posts: 908 Mk4 Fiesta Encore Mk1 Saxo Eastcoast

    #17 21st December 2011, 11:44

    So if it's just condensation in the engine causing this mayo substance, then is this unhealthy for the engine? Or is it fine?
18. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

    #18 21st December 2011, 12:04

    The way I look at it is - Is the oil on the dipstick creamy? if its just a bit under the oil cap and in the breathers its likely condensation from short runs however that is only so providing the oil on the dipstick is clean. If coolant has found its way into the sump and emulsified the oil then I'd suggest a further investigation as its most like the head gasket - its very rare for just condensation to emulsify the oil in the sump in this way.
19. user_53493 Frequent Poster Joined: Jun 2011 Cardiff Posts: 908 Mk4 Fiesta Encore Mk1 Saxo Eastcoast

    #19 21st December 2011, 12:16

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gandi699 The way I look at it is - Is the oil on the dipstick creamy? if its just a bit under the oil cap and in the breathers its likely condensation from short runs however that is only so providing the oil on the dipstick is clean. If coolant has found its way into the sump and emulsified the oil then I'd suggest a further investigation as its most like the head gasket - its very rare for just condensation to emulsify the oil in the sump in this way.

    The oil looks fine in the dipstick actually. It may actually be condensation after all.. I've just never heard of this happening.
20. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

    #20 21st December 2011, 12:18

    As above, you'll probably find the little bit of mayo you have is on top of the rocker cover baffle plate. The oil underneath the plate that lubricates the rocker gear etc should be mayo free.
    
    If it worries you that much, remove the rocker cover and wipe all the gunk off the top of the baffle plate and the underside of the rocker cover. Also check the oil breather pipework isn't blocked. I did this with our 1.1 and we didn't have any more problems with gunk under the oil cap.