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[Sir Tigger KC]

So today I've nursed my car back home from Wales approximately 130 miles and she's been fine! 

To recap. Yesterday it took ages to get up to temp and the LPG to switch.  There was also a strong smell of coolant, both inside and out and a steady drip of 'mayo' from the back of the engine.  In the evening I was going to drive back to Dorset and topped up the coolant before leaving and when I checked the dipstick that was also covered in mayo, which made me think the head gasket was gone and so I abandoned the drive home. 

This morning I had a good poke around, the header tank was clean, mayo on dipstick and shit loads of mayo in the oil filler neck.  I have been using it for short 2 - 3 mile journeys this week.

I took a shit or bust approach and have driven back today.  Although it took a while to get up to temp it hasn't overheated at all and has behaved normally.  I stopped at Bridgewater services to check the coolant and it hadn't lost any, but the strange thing is the oil was all clear.    There was a nice pool of clean oil underneath when I shifted the car after 20 minutes or so. 

The only thing different that I have done today is that I switched off the climate, which suggests to me that me HBV is buggered (again!) which is why I didn't lose as much coolant as normal.  The other thing that I've wondered is whether the short trips this week combined with the colder temps has produced a load of mayo, blocking the breathers and burst the camcover gaskets?    So could the 'mayo leak' be coolant leaking onto an oil leak, mixing and hitting the ground as mayo? 

But why the mayo on the dipstick? and then it's cleared?    Sorry for the ramble but a little confused here.... 

[TheBoy]

Hmmm, surely must be related to the short journeys then. Bit grim if the mayo that forms at the top is working its way down though, but lots of short jounreys in this weather... 

[VXL V6]

I stopped at Bridgewater services

Arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh

I avoid that one at all costs! I always aim for Sedgemoor!

[Sir Tigger KC]

I fitted new camcovers and cleaned out all the breathers only about 6 weeks ago, so I'll be pretty narked if they're all clogged again.   

Is it possible that condensation forms in the crankcase and briefly 'emulsifies' with the oil before steaming off through the breather system, but dosn't on a short run hence the mayo on the dipstick?

I've never seen so much gunk in the filler neck as there was this morning, complete with big drops of condensation as well!    Most of it has disappeared now after it's run down the motorway today, so should have taken a photo! 

Sedgemoor! That's where I was! It's near Bridgewater though....   

[TheBoy]

Is it possible that condensation forms in the crankcase and briefly 'emulsifies' with the oil before steaming off through the breather system, but dosn't on a short run hence the mayo on the dipstick?

It tends to higher up in engine (filler tube, breathers) as that stays colder for longer.

[Andy H]

I stopped at Bridgewater services

Arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh

I avoid that one at all costs! I always aim for Sedgemoor!

I stopped there once (shudder...........)

[Broomies Mate]

What's wrong with Bridgewater services?  Apart from it not really being a Motorway Services (much like Exeter)?

Sludgemore Services offer nothing different.

[Andy H]

What's wrong with Bridgewater services?  Apart from it not really being a Motorway Services (much like Exeter)?

Sludgemore Services offer nothing different.

Exactly. After an hour and a half of A30 & M5 I want to ease off the motorway, pull into a parking space, have a piss, buy a coffee & wander back to the car to watch all the crows and squirrels emptying the dustbins.

The Bridgewater services seemed to be miles from the motorway in a half hearted attempt at a multistorey car park. It didn't help that there was a gang of smokers standing round the entrance blowing smoke at anyone who wanted to pass.

Exeter services is only a mile or two before the end of the motorway so count yourself lucky it exists at all.......

[Broomies Mate]

What's wrong with Bridgewater services?  Apart from it not really being a Motorway Services (much like Exeter)?

Sludgemore Services offer nothing different.

Exactly. After an hour and a half of A30 & M5 I want to ease off the motorway, pull into a parking space, have a piss, buy a coffee & wander back to the car to watch all the crows and squirrels emptying the dustbins.

The Bridgewater services seemed to be miles from the motorway in a half hearted attempt at a multistorey car park. It didn't help that there was a gang of smokers standing round the entrance blowing smoke at anyone who wanted to pass.

Exeter services is only a mile or two before the end of the motorway so count yourself lucky it exists at all.......

Ooooooooh, Get you!

I'm not a friend or foe of Bridgwater services, but it's only 100 yards off the Motorway! 

[VXL V6]

What's wrong with it?!

Its filthy, the eating areas are disgusting, as long as I can remember it's always been the same. Even the Police and traffic officers use other places.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Ahem!    About my mayo, I'm still confused! 

[Webby the Bear]

If the dipstick is clear now then I'd guess that it's the mayo dripping from your oil filler neck.

Get rid of it! Screw the oil fill cap direct to the cam cover and then do some further tests. imo 

[Sir Tigger KC]

If the dipstick is clear now then I'd guess that it's the mayo dripping from your oil filler neck.

Get rid of it! Screw the oil fill cap direct to the cam cover and then do some further tests. imo 

Good shout Webby!    I've got a HBV so going to change that and will check the breathers whilst in there. 

It's just weird though, I've never seen anything like this before....   

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

If the dipstick is clear now then I'd guess that it's the mayo dripping from your oil filler neck.

Get rid of it! Screw the oil fill cap direct to the cam cover and then do some further tests. imo 

This is what I do. It also looks better.

[omega3000]

If the dipstick is clear now then I'd guess that it's the mayo dripping from your oil filler neck.

Get rid of it! Screw the oil fill cap direct to the cam cover and then do some further tests. imo 

This is what I do. It also looks better.

I did that but its a pain to top up with oil . Plus if there is any mayo it collects in the neck and you can wipe it out . Without it any mayo will more likely to block the breathers