Emulsion under oil cap

seanblee · 11-21-2009, 09:57 AM

Hi all,

I'm probably just being a bit paranoid here, so bear with me ;-)

Washed the car this afternoon (just before it poured with rain

). Whilst I was wiping up under the bonnet, I happened to take a look under the oil filler cap just in case, and found a small amount of creamy emulsion (see attached terrible camera phone image). My assumption is that this is because I've been doing a fair few short journeys recently, so it's just oil vapour and water vapour condensing at the highest point, and therefore nothing to worry about. Does that sound reasonable, or is there likely to be something else afoot here?

Thanks in advance

willhollin · 11-21-2009, 10:33 AM

Head gasket.

Tunna_uk · 11-21-2009, 11:07 AM

nothing to worry about. Will be short runs.

doughboy · 11-21-2009, 03:06 PM

Go for a long run and see if it disappears....

Dr Dave · 11-21-2009, 06:11 PM

Agreed; short runs that don't allow the engine to reach full working temperature to enable these emulsions the time & conditions to burn off.

cp2708 · 11-21-2009, 10:14 PM

Nothing to worry about, give it some stick and it will go.

dxb335d · 11-22-2009, 03:04 AM

Usually on smaller engines it does this with short journeys. I would keep an eye on it. How short is short. Time/miles

seanblee · 11-22-2009, 11:10 AM

Thanks guys. We're talking of a number of 5 mile / 10 minute journeys, so not really long enough to warm the engine through. Took it for a proper run today and got the oil up to temperature, then checked again when I got back to find it's pretty much all gone, so I'm happy it's just 'one of those things'

NFS · 11-22-2009, 02:11 PM

Definitely condensation. There is hardly anything there.

If your head gasket had gone there would be great lumps of goo.

dxb335d · 11-22-2009, 02:26 PM

I sometimes only do 1-2 mile Journeys. Never seen that on mine though!

11-21-2009, 09:57 AM	#1
seanblee Captain 50 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 M340i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Enfield, UK iTrader: (2)	Emulsion under oil cap Hi all, I'm probably just being a bit paranoid here, so bear with me ;-) Washed the car this afternoon (just before it poured with rain ). Whilst I was wiping up under the bonnet, I happened to take a look under the oil filler cap just in case, and found a small amount of creamy emulsion (see attached terrible camera phone image). My assumption is that this is because I've been doing a fair few short journeys recently, so it's just oil vapour and water vapour condensing at the highest point, and therefore nothing to worry about. Does that sound reasonable, or is there likely to be something else afoot here? Thanks in advance Attached Images
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11-21-2009, 10:33 AM	#2
willhollin Major General 268 Rep 9,915 Posts Drives: VW T5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Worcestershire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 330d SE [10.00] 2010 Transporter T5 ... [0.00]	Head gasket.
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11-21-2009, 11:07 AM	#3
Tunna_uk Captain 73 Rep 797 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Le Mans Blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Teesside UK iTrader: (0) Garage List E90 BMW 325i M Sport [0.00]	nothing to worry about. Will be short runs.
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11-21-2009, 03:06 PM	#4
doughboy Major General 1546 Rep 8,972 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Go for a long run and see if it disappears....
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11-21-2009, 06:11 PM	#5
Dr Dave Zummerzet Zyder Drinker! 112 Rep 5,541 Posts Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue Join Date: May 2009 Location: Somerset iTrader: (3) Garage List 2006 330d M Sport [0.00]	Agreed; short runs that don't allow the engine to reach full working temperature to enable these emulsions the time & conditions to burn off. __________________
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11-21-2009, 10:14 PM	#6
cp2708 Private 0 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2002 325i, 2012 C63 AMG Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Nothing to worry about, give it some stick and it will go.
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11-22-2009, 03:04 AM	#7
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 955 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Usually on smaller engines it does this with short journeys. I would keep an eye on it. How short is short. Time/miles __________________ 997.2 GT3
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11-22-2009, 11:10 AM	#8
seanblee Captain 50 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 M340i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Enfield, UK iTrader: (2)	Thanks guys. We're talking of a number of 5 mile / 10 minute journeys, so not really long enough to warm the engine through. Took it for a proper run today and got the oil up to temperature, then checked again when I got back to find it's pretty much all gone, so I'm happy it's just 'one of those things'
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11-22-2009, 02:11 PM	#9
NFS Major General 275 Rep 9,218 Posts Drives: M340i Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Definitely condensation. There is hardly anything there. If your head gasket had gone there would be great lumps of goo.
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11-22-2009, 02:26 PM	#10
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 955 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	I sometimes only do 1-2 mile Journeys. Never seen that on mine though! __________________ 997.2 GT3
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