Mayo in the filler cap?

[W.olly]

Hi again all. SWMBO has a pug 207 1.6 petrol, i topped up the oil the other day as it was down a little, i noticed there was the usual white mayo in the filler cap, there is no white mayo on the dip stick and no oil n the res.
Cleaned the filler cap out and then checked it again after 4 days and the mayp is back again, the pics below is how it was after the 4 days.
I know that condensation can cause it but after 4 days this amount, is that possible ?
She only does 4 miles to work then 4 back ever day.

Just hope it is not the head gasket, no water loss either.

 

[gaz1]

thats usually a sure sign of the head gasket gone on en engine

but im also aware of condensation where the valves are but dont think it would cause that much in 4 days

 

[roofman]

its also a sign of a women driver pottering around town full time kills engines with condensation. take it down the M56 for an hour and it will do it the world of good.

 

[Richiew]

Used to get that all the time on a pushrod HCS 1.3 Ford Escort 1990. Just a consequence of condensation and a feature on those engines.

I have no experience of Pugs but I wouldn't assume the worst unless there are other symptoms suggesting the head gasket has gone.

 

[W.olly]

its also a sign of a women driver pottering around town full time kills engines with condensation. take it down the M56 for an hour and it will do it the world of good.

I used to with the diesel just havnt had the time with this one. Worth a try, i do try to tel her to boot a once in while but 30 is the max.

 

[W.olly]

Used to get that all the time on a pushrod HCS 1.3 Ford Escort 1990. Just a consequence of condensation and a feature on those engines.

I have no experience of Pugs but I wouldn't assume the worst unless there are other symptoms suggesting the head gasket has gone.

It just seems a lot doesnt it for 4 days., had many a car like this but just not as bad with condensation. No other matter but for the crap strat from cold but that i think is the ignition pack etc.

 

[hotrodder]

I don't think that's loads of build up for 4 days. Seen more than that with old air cooled Beetles at this time of year and it's back within a day or so of wiping all the gunk out if the cars only used for short journeys

 

[Richiew]

Is there any excess pressure in the coolant expansion tank?

 

[colnerov]

Hi, It's caused by the short journeys and so cold running of the engine, as said by Richiew cars with steel rocker covers are particularly prone to it because they dissipate the heat quickly. You need to get rid of the water from the condensation in the oil otherwise it will just keep doing it. As said take it a good long run and get it stinking hot then drop the oil, remove and clean the rocker cover and refill with oil. You may have to do it more than the once.

Colin

 

[Sean]

short journeys, engine and oil not getting up to temp. sluggish thermostat ?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

^^ As the lads say, give it an 'Italian tune-up'

 

[pedrobedro]

It's the time of year and short trips, stop start motoring. If there is nothing scummy in the header tank don't worry about it.

 

[brightspark]

-for what it costs drop the oil and fit new filter then give it a good hoof up the road every few days. it will run like a bag of crap if not fully warmed up

 

[W.olly]

Good to know i still know a few things then lol. Good to put swmbows mind at rest she just meithers that the worst has happened and never listens to me.

And it will be me doing the italian job, she hates motorways lol.

I will give a un out a fw times a week and see how it goes.

Thanks guys

 

[colnerov]

Honestly it's not worth it unless the oil is nearly due a change anyway.

My Peugeot 1.6 that I used as a taxi (when that was my work) used to get more than that over a week or so of local jobs - an airport run or two and it was gone completely (not harsh driving either, customers on board so 'normal').

Of course, I didn't do many miles in that car - I didn't even add 200,000 miles to it...

Hi, The only trouble is if it gets excessive, which it sounds like it maybe, any surplus condensation will drain down into the sump and sit under the oil.

Colin

 

[wookie]

Good to know i still know a few things then lol. Good to put swmbows mind at rest she just meithers that the worst has happened and never listens to me.

What me and my mate do when our better halves won't listen is just swop cars for a couple of days and give it a good thrashing after it's warmed up fully and then swop back.

It saves arguments in the long run, we usually use the line "I'll drive it for you for a few days, I'll be okay if it misbehaves, you can have my car as I know that one is fine."

 

[james butler]

She only does 4 miles to work then 4 back ever day.

this is why you have mayo in the cap.
take the car for a good blast down the moterway and i mean a good blast for 10-15 miles then see if its still there.
its been really cold lately and that wont help the situation.
if it was the head gasket and you have mayo in the oil then you would be having coolant loss.

 

[james butler]

oil temperature is much higher than water temperature in most parts of the engine and isn't cooled by anything other than what little air hits the sump or a heat exchanger on the oil filter housing.
as a result water has very little chance of sitting in the sump in a hot engine unless the head gasket was really gone which you will notice.

 

[colnerov]

Yes but the engine and oil are not getting hot doing 4 miles a day.

 

[W.olly]

What me and my mate do when our better halves won't listen is just swop cars for a couple of days and give it a good thrashing after it's warmed up fully and then swop back.

It saves arguments in the long run, we usually use the line "I'll drive it for you for a few days, I'll be okay if it misbehaves, you can have my car as I know that one is fine."

lol no way will she drive my FTO, think i put her off fast cars lol.