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[fatmann]

hi guys
i have a 2001 2.6 v6 cdx and need some advice
just went to top up the oil noticed the filler cap and the neck had this brown gunky mayo type stuff
ok im not going to panick i have had the car just a year but the previous owner showed her no love so i worry he had her about a 18 months and didnt look after her had to spend some money when i bought her
i only use the car for short journeys really about 10 miles a day most days only has a blast on the motorway once in a blue moon there is no sign of this gunk on the actual dipstick
any ideas thanks

[Tonka.]

Mayo in the oil filler cap is a sure sign of short journeys. A good blast helps to keep it clear  

[omega trev]

i had the same thing happen on my mig and when i changad the oil it helped a lot. still get the odd bit of mayo on the filler cap when i dont go far but as soon as i get out for a bit of a longer run it disappears its quite normal by all accounts and the guys on here really know their stuff.

[dbug]

Regular oil & filter changes and clean out breathers.  Good howto on here

[Seth]

Give it a damn good blast - it should soon clear away.

[big-o-bob]

Apparently using vx oil helps reduce this.

[Entwood]

If you know the reason .. it helps to dispel the fear ...  

All engines/sumps when cold will hold some moisture from the atmosphere... this is worse on wet days than dry. When you run the engine it warms up and the moisture will change to water vapour but still be present. Water vapour will condense on any cold surface. The oil filler neck is plastic, and somewhat removed from the engine itself, it is therefore , relatively cold, and slow to heat up. Therefore the moisture condenses there and forms the "gunge". It also condenses in the breather system and will eventually block that as well.

A decent long blast of driving heats everything in the engine bay up far more than short runs, including the plastic filler neck. If you can get this nice and warm the condenstaion "gunge" will heat up and evaporate and be removed by the breather system .. IF it is clear ... this also helps keep the breather system clear as well.

If the breathers are blocked the moisture is not removed from the system and when the engine cools the moisture will again condense and remain in the sump.

So, regular oil changes remove any moisture trapped in the sump, clean breathers allow any excess moisture to be removed, decent runs heat up the extremities and reduce condensation ...

Obviously poor oil changes, blocked breathers and many short/cold runs just make things worse ..

HTH

[dbug]

If you know the reason .. it helps to dispel the fear ...  

All engines/sumps when cold will hold some moisture from the atmosphere... this is worse on wet days than dry. When you run the engine it warms up and the moisture will change to water vapour but still be present. Water vapour will condense on any cold surface. The oil filler neck is plastic, and somewhat removed from the engine itself, it is therefore , relatively cold, and slow to heat up. Therefore the moisture condenses there and forms the "gunge". It also condenses in the breather system and will eventually block that as well.

A decent long blast of driving heats everything in the engine bay up far more than short runs, including the plastic filler neck. If you can get this nice and warm the condenstaion "gunge" will heat up and evaporate and be removed by the breather system .. IF it is clear ... this also helps keep the breather system clear as well.

If the breathers are blocked the moisture is not removed from the system and when the engine cools the moisture will again condense and remain in the sump.

So, regular oil changes remove any moisture trapped in the sump, clean breathers allow any excess moisture to be removed, decent runs heat up the extremities and reduce condensation ...

Obviously poor oil changes, blocked breathers and many short/cold runs just make things worse ..

HTH

Thats wot I said

[kingplym]

yep had the same do as the others say and it shall be gone.

when i got my miggy it had been sitting for 7 months! the poor darling was begging for a damn good run. i that is what i gave her(and split the top hose in the process!)

also as they say do an oil change, it too easy, and why not the coolant too if the previous owner was a negligent as you say, stick with the vx oil and antifreeze

[fatmann]

Thanks guys i really appreciate your help and its quite a relief that its no big problem
more question to follow im sure
i know she needs a good service but my local dealership have quote £200 so i have to save up
its really annoying because before this idiot had her she had regular sevices from a dealership so was obviously looked after i have the service booklet but no supporting paperwork any other advice greatly appreciated

[kingplym]

dont save to service at the dealers have a go your self

you will be surprised at the difference just oil n coolant make, as i posted b4 esp if she been neglected

[Andy B]

......
i know she needs a good service but my local dealership have quote £200  .......

£200 will buy you a lot of service parts, ie oil & filters especially if you buy them with a Trade Club card ... £20 b uys you a years membership of the Autobhanstormers Club which comes with Trade Club membership. As long as you wield a spanner or 2, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to service it yourself.  

[Cybertrucker]

i only use the car for short journeys really about 10 miles a day

Yep, that's the answer.  My first car was a Hillman Hunter (yes, I'm that old...), and using it only for going to work and back I got a lot of mayo around the cap.

It's surprising how much water your oil can hold - on one occasion I checked the Hunter's oil before a long trip, when it was all mayo'd up, and it was up to the mark.  I checked when I got back, and I had to put over a pint of oil in it.  It hadn't lost any oil, it had boiled over a pint of water out of it.

It's worth taking your motor out for a blast occasionally to get the water out of it, or change your oil frequently - water is a really rubbish lubricant for big end bearings...