HEAD GASKET - COFFEE COLOURED DEPOSIT ON OIL FILLERCAP

[JULEE]

HI ALL


I have this morning put my head underneath my bonnet to remove a headlight bulb as it needs replacing. Whilst there, I saw that the outside of my engine looked as if it had oil on it near the first two spark plugs (2 furthest left near the oil filler cap).

I thought maybe it was from an oil spill when it was last topped up.

I then removed the oil filler cap and saw a large build up of coffee coloured mayonaise - suggesting oil and water mix.

I then checked my dip stick - the oil level on this was a little on the high side, but not coffee coloured - just the normal dark black/brown.

What other checks can I do to see if it the head gasket?
Could it be something else i.e. oil cooler - if so How would I check this?

Are there some checks I can make to the cooling water i.e. should I be able to see oil in the top of the reservoir.

Note I do not believe that my engine has been running hot - gauge always sits central at around 90 degC. I have had no other warnings. I usually do 2 x 4.5 mile journeys each day - slightly more at the weekend.

Any suggestions for further checks and diagnostics will be greatly welcomed.

JULEE

[graemewelch]

start you r engine and squeeze your water pipes. if they are rock hard then your head has gone.

remove water resevoir cap and look for bubbles, another sign the head has gone.

is there any white smoke coming from exhaust when engine reached op temp

get a compression test done, all four cylinders should be the same, if 1 or more is down somthing is wrong.

[filthy]

A bit of mayo on the oil cap is normal in winter, as condensation forms in the engine, don't worry too much about it....

[saul79]

as said condensation

[JULEE]

Cheers for the replies - I'll do the recommended checks just to be sure I do not run the car to the ground should there be something wrong.

I wasn't aware these oil cap deposits were normal, but it does make sense with the presence of condensation in winter, and the fact that the dip stick was not light brown in colour.


I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks
JULEE

[Mikester]

Or just drive it hard for a month, until you get a THUD and powerloss, then you konw it was going, and has now gone. lol