white gunk around oil cap

[tomm]

Hi..
Just topped up my 03 astra 1.6 and noticed a creamy deposit around the oil cap . Read this could be condensation and as my car has spent 3 days covered in snow I am hoping it is that simple . No problems running it that i have noticed . What do you think?

 

[Peter (2)]

Hi..
Just topped up my 03 astra 1.6 and noticed a creamy deposit around the oil cap . Read this could be condensation and as my car has spent 3 days covered in snow I am hoping it is that simple . No problems running it that i have noticed . What do you think?

As long as you aren't losing coolant it should be condensation. Probably nothing to do with the 3 days under snow, but more likely to be the result of short journeys in cold weather. Really you need 10 miles at motorway speeds to get the engine fully hot, even more if it's diesel.

 

[brian whatcott]

As long as you aren't losing coolant it should be condensation. Probably nothing to do with the 3 days under snow, but more likely to be the result of short journeys in cold weather. Really you need 10 miles at motorway speeds to get the engine fully hot, even more if it's diesel.

More likely, a leaky head gasket or a porous block casting.

Brian W

 

[Brim]

If it's one of those yellow plastic Vauxhall oil caps then almost certainly it's condensatiuon caused by short runs in cool temperatures. The old fashioned metal oil caps seemed to get nice and hot and evaporate off the mayo but not the plastic ones.

 

[tomm]

If it's one of those yellow plastic Vauxhall oil caps then almost certainly it's condensatiuon caused by short runs in cool temperatures. The old fashioned metal oil caps seemed to get nice and hot and evaporate off the mayo but not the plastic ones.

It is a yellow plastic cap. It is still happening but my coolant doesnt drop at all. If something is leaking into the oil is it going to be the coolant or could something else leak in ?

 

[brian whatcott]

It is a yellow plastic cap. It is still happening but my coolant doesnt drop at all. If something is leaking into the oil is it going to be the coolant or could something else leak in ?

Could try masking off the air inlet in front, to keep the engine warmer.

Brian W

 

[Brim]

coolant or could something else leak in ?

My wife's 2002 Corsa (which we've had from new) and is only used for short journeys. It's had mayo on the plastic filler cap since the day I first topped up the oil level. Coolant never drops or discolours and oil level does not go up. If oil was leaking into coolant you would get dirty coloured coolant in expansion tank. Is yours nice and clean? If coolant was leaking into combustion chambers the level would drop and white odourless steam would be coming out of exhaust pipe - more than you would expect on these cold winter mornings when some steam is to be expected.

 

[smitty]

Brim wrote in

oups.com:

If it's one of those yellow plastic Vauxhall oil caps then almost certainly it's condensatiuon caused by short runs in cool temperatures. The old fashioned metal oil caps seemed to get nice and hot and evaporate off the mayo but not the plastic ones.

Not a major problem then?

 

[Tony Luxton]

On 02/06/2012 1:01 pm, smitty wrote:

Brim wrote in

oups.com:

> If it's one of those yellow plastic Vauxhall oil caps then
> almost certainly it's condensatiuon caused by short runs in
> cool temperatures. The old fashioned metal oil caps seemed
> to get nice and hot and evaporate off the mayo but not the
> plastic ones.
>
Not a major problem then?

Is it on your dipstick too?