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[Andy A]

A friend looked at the oil cap on my Omega when I was checking the oil level this morning and he said I might have a head gasket problem because my oil filler cap was bone dry. The oil level was fine.

Is this true about a dry oil cap and could I have a head gasket blown or is this normal?

[tigers_gonads]

Sounds like 'dangle berries' to me 

[05omegav6]

New one on me...

What oil do you use? The amount of condensation formed varies from oil to oil and also with type and amount of use the car gets. ie Castrol magnatec produces alot of cap mayo, whereas GM oil doesn't, lots of short journeys from cold will produce alot of mayo, long runs less so.

I would have thought head gasket failure would cause the oil level to rise, and also produce alot more condensation and therefore mayo, not to mention coolant loss

[The Red Baron]

Sounds like 'dangle berries' to me 

Agree ^^ Dangley doo dars. lol. 

[dbug]

Thats complete bollux mate - suggest you find some new "friends"

[Andy B]

... - suggest you find some new "friends"

or at least more knowledgeable friends 

[Andy A]

I know what you mean. I had to ask because he was so serious about it. Don't know where he got it from. I will make a point to ask him next time.

I don't know wkat oil is in the car. I only bought it 2-3 weeks ago.

Thanks all. 

[ffcgary1]

Do an oil change and filer then put in gm oil, that way you will know for topping up every now and then.
No need to use expensive other brands, gm is a very decent quality and cheap compared to others.

[chrisgixer]

The oil filler cap should have oil on the inner face though, no? Splashed up by the cams or at leat some oil vapour.

Unless it's driven everywhere at tick over rpm....? Or there's an oil flow issue in the head. Or there's a guard to keep the oil off. (I've never had a four pot )

[Andy A]

OK on the GM oil. Got some the other day and a new filter and oil change is on the list. 

If I look down in, there is no guard, I can see the cams. The car has been off the road for the past 2-3 weeks until I complete the work. So I have not driven it since I bought it.

Prior to that the man who had it before me used it every day to and from work mainly on the motorway He's not a slow driver for what I've been told.

I must admit when I test drove it a week before buying it I noticed the cap being bone dry and mentioned it to the other half that I've never seen an oil cap that dry before. not a single drop of oil on it. I checked the oil and it was up to the max level. I thought at the time at least there isn't any sludge on it.

Hope it's not an oil flow issue in the head. 

[martin42]

It might be worth removing the sump and cleaning the oil strainer before doing an oil change,even for a peace of mind,as you might see by some recent threads some engines have blown up due to it being blocked 

[Andy A]

How hard is it to take the sump off a 2.2 petrol, manual, 2003 Z22XE?

Will I need a new gasket?

Will I need to use some instant gasket sealer?

[Grrrrrr]

If he's just bought it and the car hasn't been used maybe the previous owner removed the crud from the cap so he didn't think the gasket had blown?

[Grrrrrr]

And yes, new gasket good idea if you're taking the sump off.

[Andy A]

Just an update.

Looked at the oil cap today and it is wet with oil as it should be. The previous owner must have wiped it dry. Time will tell if why he wiped it off is anything to worry about.

Thanks all for your advice and help.