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[duggs]

Took my recently required 3.0 Elite (75k) in to have a Oil change today. Blokes said head gasket had gone, due to Mayo in cap and refill neck.

They said, "is she hard to start and does she miss-fire".  No sais I, starts first time and goes like a rocket.

I should point out that over the last 6 years she's never done more than about 5k a year AND I strongly suspect that the oil hasn't been changed for quite some while.

Coincidently, I checked and cleaned out the breather system yesterday and to be honest, she was pretty much clean as a whisle.

I doubt and prey that the mayo isn't a blown headgasket...the coolant is clean also.

Is this likely to be ANOTHER case of high street experts NOT knowing enough about migs to diagnose reasons for the mayo correctly and given the lack of regular oil changes and very few miles run per year could that also cause it. Will take the neck off tonight and give it a good clean out also. Poor thing !

[Jimbob]

sounds normal.....

check the dipstick, if thats clean, sorted 

[joshwyatt]

Condensation can cause mayo to build up in the filler neck, it's nothing to worry about. If your HG had gone, it would start to overheat, you would be able to see oil in the coolant header tank.
Anythings possible, but from your description I'd doubt very much the HG has gone.

[davethediver]

JUst make sure you use decent oil VX semi synth 10 by 40 seems to be the preferred choice (Castrol being the worst for MAYO) there is a post some where about removing the filler neck to stop this happening but can't remember who posted it  :-/

[Marks DTM Calib]

Took my recently required 3.0 Elite (75k) in to have a Oil change today. Blokes said head gasket had gone, due to Mayo in cap and refill neck.

They said, "is she hard to start and does she miss-fire".  No sais I, starts first time and goes like a rocket.

I should point out that over the last 6 years she's never done more than about 5k a year AND I strongly suspect that the oil hasn't been changed for quite some while.

Coincidently, I checked and cleaned out the breather system yesterday and to be honest, she was pretty much clean as a whisle.

I doubt and prey that the mayo isn't a blown headgasket...the coolant is clean also.

Is this likely to be ANOTHER case of high street experts NOT knowing enough about migs to diagnose reasons for the mayo correctly and given the lack of regular oil changes and very few miles run per year could that also cause it. Will take the neck off tonight and give it a good clean out also. Poor thing !

No, this is another case of so called high street experts not knowing enough about engine operation full stop. 

[Tim7]

Had a similar one with a Fiesta that my mum got a few years back, low milage oil not been changed for a few years mayo in the filler cap and inside rocker cover, gave it a good flush and in with some new oil been good as new ever scince. Having refreshed your iol and cleaned the mayo out hope all will be ok, worth keeping an eye on it for a while.

[Kevin Wood]

Had a similar one with a Fiesta that my mum got a few years back, low milage oil not been changed for a few years mayo in the filler cap and inside rocker cover, gave it a good flush and in with some new oil been good as new ever scince. Having refreshed your iol and cleaned the mayo out hope all will be ok, worth keeping an eye on it for a while.

It's a real issue on the Ford Valencia engine. Breathers and nowhere near good enough so the oil deteriorates until a rod makes a bid for freedom through the side of the block, as my wife discovered (before I was maintaining her car!).

On an Omega it does build up in the oil filler and is pretty harmless as long as the breathers are kept clear. Just a reminder that the oil needs to be changed a bit more regularly, IMHO, if the car is doing lots of short trips.

Kevin

[duggs]

Thanks guys..Thats kinda good news..and then bad...the buggers used Castrol 10/40..he he he..Just my blooming luck !

[tunnie]

Thanks guys..Thats kinda good news..and then bad...the buggers used Castrol 10/40..he he he..Just my blooming luck !

Castrol are the worst for mayo! Couple of quick changes with some nice GM Semi-Synth 

[duggs]

Will do....how quick..is ermmmmmmm quick !

[tunnie]

Will do....how quick..is ermmmmmmm quick !

Less than 1,000 miles 

[Andy H]

How many miles do you do a week? It needs a few 100 mile runs for the fresh oil to get round the engine & wash the crud back into the sump.

If you change it after a couple of trips to Tescos then you will have wasted a sump full of clean oil...

[duggs]

Gotcha..I use it for work as well...visiting clients and such SOOOOOOO based on your advice,  by Christmas she'll be ready for a change.

Thank you guys so much.

[Richard A]

Get a 'trade card', 20 litres for 15 of 10/40 semi, total £32 from your 'friendly Vauxhall' dealer

regards
richard a

[T-rev]

ref davethedivers post about removing the filler neck to stop all of this, anyone know who posted it as i would like to do this to mine if its safe. just concerned if you do still get it, this would then go straight into the oil