Head Gasket?

[Jahee]

Was changing a headlight bulb earlier today and took the opportunity to check on the oil filler cap for emulsion, there was quite a fair bit around the cap..

Picture here.

My first thought was the head gasket was gone, but i'm having no symptoms such as temperature problems, misfires etc and the coolant doesn't look contaminated, the coolant level does look slightly low but that could be just because i was on an incline.. The oil on the dipstick looks fine too, still dark and doesn't look contaminated...
My journeys are quite short and the temperatures are quite low at the moment so i'm hoping its just that.. What are your opinions?

 

[Colt45]

could just be condensation or whatever getting in, i'm usually inclined to think that on the oil cap...

if you start getting oil in the coolant, or white (antifreeze) or blue (oil) smoking... then you can worry about it.

 

[Jahee]

Yea they were my thoughts also.. I've just never seen it so bad.. I do get quite a bit of vapour in the exhaust until the car warms up recently but i think thats normal considering the weather.. Don't really have a comparison as a reference but i don't think its excessive..

 

[franksta]

Depending on how short your trips are you may not be getting the oil up to operating temperature. Perhaps you could try a couple of longer drives?

 

[LTC8K6]

You need to make a nice highway run every once in a while to get rid of condensation in the fluids. It's good for your car. Warm it up around town and then get out on the highway for about 10 or 15 minutes every once in a while.

 

[Jahee]

To the above two, my drive to university involves around 10 minutes at motorway speeds each way everyday.. It just barely gets upto temperature with this cold though.. I see what you're saying though and i often think this, just feels like a waste of fuel..

 

[Pacfanweb]

Are you losing any coolant?

 

[LTC8K6]

Sludge is a lot worse than wasting a quart of fuel.

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Are you losing any coolant?

No, none lost in the past since i topped it up, no contamination that i can see either.. I topped it up a couple of months ago.

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Sludge is a lot worse than wasting a quart of fuel.

Can't argue with you on that.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Jahee

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Are you losing any coolant?

No, none lost in the past since i topped it up, no contamination that i can see either.. I topped it up a couple of months ago.

Okay, then a few things come to mind, in no particular order:

1. Normal. Although that DOES look a bit excessive.

2. Check your PCV system. Replace the valve.

3. Check your engine's operating temp. Make sure it's getting warm enough. Don't believe the gauge if it has one.

4. If it IS a headgasket, check the plugs, preferably first thing one morning after it sits all night.
See if they have a green tints, or even some oil film on them.

5. If you make mostly short trips, you need to drive it longer. Or at least let it sit and run for at least 30 minutes or so once a week. But driving it longer would be better. I've seen lots of "little old lady" cars that were in perfect shape, but the engines were sludged up terribly....because they literally only drove them to church and the grocery. Gets condensation inside the engine, mixes with the oil, but doesn't get hot enough to evaporate out.

 

[Jahee]

Thanks, i'll check those things and keep an eye on it...

My route does include a couple of hills that drop the engine temperature around upto 15 degrees at times.. The temperature reading is the coolant, but i can imagine that can cause alot of condensation to form in the oil..

Once the oil is emulsified with the water, with the correct temperature will it evaporate off, or is that permanent?

 

[LTC8K6]

Yes, it will boil off when the oil gets hot enough.

You want this to happen in your tranny too. Other fluids as well, such as differential.

It takes a surprisingly long time for the transmission fluid to get hot in an auto.

Every once in a while, you want to get all the fluids up to normal operating temperature where any moisture will boil off.

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Yes, it will boil off when the oil gets hot enough.

You want this to happen in your tranny too. Other fluids as well, such as differential.

It takes a surprisingly long time for the transmission fluid to get hot in an auto.

Every once in a while, you want to get all the fluids up to normal operating temperature where any moisture will boil off.

It's a manual, but in a closed system like a gearbox, i don't see where the moisture can enter the system to condense in the oil?

I'll take a long drive somewhere on the weekend or something..

Thanks

 

[LTC8K6]

Unless it's in vacuum, there's air in any empty space.

I think they have to be vented or pressure could build up as the gearbox heats up and the air and fluid expand, but I am far from sure of that.

I am pretty sure the tranny on my old car has a breather/vent.

 

[Jabbernyx]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Are you losing any coolant?

Another sign would be oil in the coolant reserve tank.

 

[chucky2]

It can take 20 minutes for the engine oil to get up to a temperature where it'll start cooking off the water in the oil - and, water in the oil is normal (but, not good) during the colder months.

I see you're in the UK. Try finding an oil testing lab there, get a test kit, and take a sample when you change your oil next. Send it into them and pay attention to the K and Na numbers...if you have high values for K, you have coolant in your oil. Na is a good indicator too, but, some engine oils use Na as an add, so, that can throw off the reading.

An hour drive once a week should keep the water buildup to a minimum...but, as you said, it does waste fuel. Always a tradeoff....

Chuck

 

[Jahee]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Unless it's in vacuum, there's air in any empty space.

I think they have to be vented or pressure could build up as the gearbox heats up and the air and fluid expand, but I am far from sure of that.

I am pretty sure the tranny on my old car has a breather/vent.

You're probably right actually.. Didn't think of that.

Originally posted by: Jabbernyx
Another sign would be oil in the coolant reserve tank.

No oil in the tank, still nice and red..


And to chucky2.. I've not heard of anywhere offering services like that but i'm sure they'll be around somewhere, i'm not due a change for a few months when it will be warmer, so the problem should clear itself up.. I seem to remember last summer though the cap was clear of this stuff. But I'll see if its still in the same condition and consider testing as an option.. Thanks for the advice.

 

[chucky2]

I hit Google up and plugged in 'UK oil analysis' and got a few hits. This place looks like a good deal: The Oil Lab

Looks like they get you a kit with a syringe and a piece of tubing...nice thing about that is you can take the sample without having to change the oil; note: ideally, you want to take the oil sample when it's hot, within 2 minutes of shutdown after you get the vehicle nice and hot.

If you use this kit, and you leave your car running while hot, make sure not to shove so much tubing in that it can't get wrapped around the bottom of the crank. Otherwise, taking a sample while it's running is the most accurate way of doing it...as long as you're not sucking the sample off the bottom of the pan.

Chuck