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White sludge in filler cap

6K views 32 replies 8 participants last post by  westonprawn 
#1 ·
I was replacing the rocker cover gasket yesturday and noticed a small amout of white sludge in the filler cap and around the breather pipe (1997 2.0 TS)
I'm going to get it pressure tested but could it just be the fact that i only do very short journey's? (about 2 miles to work) and the condensation is not burning off??

Cheers, Justin
 
#2 ·
Cured that on my grandaughters completely, by covering the rocker box with a blanket and cardboard when the engine is warm, during this cold weather.Which has stopped the oil mist condensate from forming as a 'yellow' custard deposit. No more problems. Fussy am I not?:):
 
#4 ·
Well, pedantic old sod I am, more or less proved it on the grandaughters. Not that I believe she will do it that regularly, but she did see my method cured it. Just take her on a decent run, and then see if it forms after cleaning the cap, when she is hot?:): The car, not my grandaughter!!!!:lol:
 
G
#6 ·
sorry to bring a negative approach,but everytime i have had sludge in the filler cap its always spelt bad news! the only car\van that did have sludge and it wasnt head gasket was a vw t25 and thats because the filler cap was so high and far away from the engine that it inevetably got condensation on short journeys. I would take her for a blast up the motorway,come back and then check after its cooled down,maybe put in an oil aditive to clean it all out before you take a blast? either way once you have done this you will soon know...
 
G
#7 ·
To counteract joeys doom and gloom :D :D

... the only time I've seen white sludge under the filler cap it has been condensation from short journeys.

And the only time I had a head gasket go I didn't get any white sludge! I did get green spark plugs though :lol:
 
G
#8 ·
"kung fu" but did you have rover's and mg's?!!:lol: i did have sludge in the filler cap and in the expansion tank in my mgf,definatly wasnt condentation as it kept appearing after numerous long journeys,flushes and changes but it kept puring along for 8months! it could just be a little leak in the gasket but in time it will prob wear away...but thats worse case scenario!!
 
#9 ·
If the headgasket goes you'll soon see other symptoms such as overheating, loss of coolant and possibly gunge on the dipstick and/or in the header tank.

Cars used infrequently, for only short journeys and which may have a faulty thermostat in this damp cold weather can show emulosion on the inside of the oil filler cap.

I wouldn't worry about it unless you have other more worrying symptoms.
 
#10 ·
I am going to say that it is just condensation too. Try taking it for a longer run.

Also check the car is getting up to temperature correctly. It should settle at around 75ºC-80ºC or higher on the earlier aluminium engine cover TS.

If is is sitting at around 60 then you need a new thermostat.
 
#12 ·
:) Thank god for that, Ive got the car upto 90 temp wise and drained and changed the oil, also the car sits at just under 90 when warmed up now (recent new thermostat).

I'm taking it to disney paris next month so that'l be the longest run its had :)

Will keep an eye on it cheers fellas!!
 
#14 ·
Im Telford so its a longer trip down to Folkstone than the drive the otherside Lol. Going on the train through the tunnel :) Done a few times in the old Bravo... The misses wants to take her Megane, Here's her logic:
Its better on fuel (Agree)
Newer (Agree)
Cheaper European breakdown (Agree)
More reliable (Depatable) ;)

But I want to take the Beast Lol so thats that!! :)
 
#15 ·
I was worried as my W-reg TS had the same thing, i do about 5 miles each way to work (yes im lazy). I was also loosing a bit of water, i put the car in for the water system to be pressurised and it turned out my Radiator was leeking badly.

I changed that (never want to again!) and now the water is fine and on longer runs there is no mayo.

Hope its the same for you.
 
#17 ·
If 5 miles makes you lazy, My 2 miles makes me Bone F@**in Idle Lol :lol:

Im gonna get the water sysrem pressurized, ?Thinking about it there are quite a few of damaged fins in the rad itself so worth doing anyway...
 
G
#18 ·
This white sludge on rocker cover = head gasket gone is so rare it could almost be classed as an urban myth. Personally I've never seen a head gasket failure where this is the only symptom. I've seen a lot people pay for head gaskets to be changed because of it though:rolleyes:
For water to get into the oil, the gasket has to fail between the coolant passages in the head and the oil returning to the sump from the top of the engine. Seeing as the cooling system runs at around 15 psi you'd get a lot more than a few drops of condensation on your rocker or cam cover if it forced its way through the gasket. When there is oil in the water as is common on K series mgf engines the oil at 40+ psi is forcing its way into the cooling system giving that lovely chocolate cream effect in the header tank.:)
 
G
#24 ·
good mileage, mines on 68k on a y plate 01, wouldnt worry bout sludge mate i only do 200miles a month and my cap is always sludgy, just wipe it once a week it will be fine, mine is going on a drive to spain in may
 
G
#26 ·
limey and weston the best advice i can give to you about going through europe is fill up in the uk and then as little as poss in france! as our pound is so low the petrol per litre in france equals around £1.18. and i think in spain its around £0.80.
 
#27 ·
Anyway back on track, or maybe a bit off?:): Way back engines were often being dismantled for bore wear, piston ring blow-by, crankcase compression, call it what you will, but the mayonnaise was quite prolific.
So it was often a re-bore, pistons, which in the case of Vivas of that era meant gudgeon pins with no circlips, just an interference fit. Check the crankshaft, and stick a set of shells and thrusts in. I still think that some of the 'soapier/detergent' type oils are more prone to forming deposits, but that is just my personal interpretation.
 
#28 ·
If it concerns anyone that much, get a "sniff test" done on the coolant reservior. It is often "Free" to check as it only takes 30 seconds but offers peace of mind or confirms bad news either way.
That's what I would do anyway!
 
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