Just can't get my head around this.......

[jimbo]

For the last 1500 miles, when I go to check the oil, I've found mayo on the dipstick.

 

There's was none on the oil filler cap, none inside the rocker and no trace oil in the water. Additionally, there is no loss of water or oil (other than the regular trace that burns in any old engine.

 

The car runs fine, and having changed the head gasket last July (6000 miles), I really don't think that it can be gone again so soon.

 

Bearing all this in mind, is there anything else that might be causing the mayo to form on the dipstick. All suggestions welcome. Or can you offer an explanation as to why the gasket might have gone again.

 

Cheers,

Jim

[w p e]

condensation. what engine is it?

[davreeve]

Short trips in this sort of weather will do it,condensation does not have time to evaporate.

[MexDan]

Happens on my x/flow mate... but when you give the car a good run it gets rid of it and i havent had any since... was formed when i was just making short trips in it alot

 

Get it out and give it a good long blast... time of year doesnt help either... i would say its just a bit of condensation!

 

[jimbo]

It's a 1600 x/flow.....

 

I've done several long runs recently (e.g. Tring to Edinburgh, Edinburgh to Tring) making a point of cleaning the dipstick at the start, but there was still mayo accumulated by the end of the journey. That said it was bloody cold! Perhaps there's a pool of mayo in the engine? What do you think?

[Guest MK1gaz]

Cracked head maybe , did you get it skimmed and tested when you did the head gasket ?

[jimbo]

Nope! The gasket had blown 'cos of overheating (failed water pump)

 

I did a visual check for damage (including running a straight steel over head and block to look for warping) Should I have done more?

 

Are there any in situ test I could do? It's a daily driver, so having it off the road is a weekend only thing.

[MexDan]

I still think its probably just condensation but if you start getting thicker creamy oil your head gaskets either gone or in worst case scenario theres a crack between oil/waterways.

 

Have a look in the rad and see if you can see any oil in the water.

 

Your local garage could do a sniff test for you, where they check to see if there are exhaust gases in the water...

 

Has it been running hot at all???

[jimbo]

Nope. There's absolutely no trace of oil in the water. The temperature has been fine too. When stuck in traffic and when run down the motorway at 75/80 for 100 miles, the needle stayed at that healthy zone, just above the blue.

 

For it to be condensation, is there a particular point in the engine that extra moisture might be creeping in? I've already checked out the dipstick tube, and that is fine.

[MexDan]

There should be a breather box on the back of the engine.... Have you checked there?? If that has come loose it may be letting water into the oil.

 

Only if there is significant amonounts of "mayo" in the engine would you start to think its the head gasket..

 

I had the same worries once and it was described to me as;

 

"If its a X flow its quite common for them to have water in the filler cap /dipstick tube , this is called pass over which is quite common on this engine I suggest you remove outer diptick tiube and clean also filler cap change oil and oil brand I did this on mine and seemed to cure problem I also fitted a catch tank with a tube from the rocker cover to a bottle . The passover normally occurs when engine does excessive short journeys and condensation builds up needs a good run I used to work at an engine research company doing durability testing on rover engines , On short run tests there was always a sufficient amount off pass over but if its in the oil in large amounts its the head gasket or cracked head or block hope its not the later good luck"

 

Dan

[jimbo]

"I used to work at an engine research company doing durability testing on rover engines"

 

Yeah! What does he know?

 

Seriously Dan. That is some great feedback with good technical suggestions.....Just what I was after

 

I was just thinking earlier, that I recently (September) changed from 10/40 to 20/50 oil to reduce consumption, but put in a cheapo brand to try it out. That seems to have cured the consumption, but it's probably since around then I've had this issue.

 

I'm equipped and ready to change the oil (for some of the Halford's Classic 20/50) just as soon as we get a dry Saturday or Sunday. I'll use that time to flush the system, and clean all the bit's the were talked about.

 

Looks like I'm gonna be getting my hands a bit mucky......What would anyone recommend for cleaning filler and bretaher box etc?

 

Cheers,

Jim

[bomber1]

had this problem on a mk2 xr2. i redirected the breather pipes to a catch tank (half ltr brake fluid bottle) cable tied to inner wing. stoped all the mayo on the dip stick

[MexDan]

If it was me I would (after saying you couldnt get rid of it on a long run) ensure all your pipes to the breather box are connected properly, if you find one is loose an water is getting in then after its sorted take it for a nice long spin.

 

This should hopefully clear up the "mayo"..

 

If not then sort out some sort of catch tank as james described, drop the oil out of it (plus then you can see how much water is in there) and filter change and I would hope that should sort out your problem.

 

If it doesnt then you will have to start looking deeper, but i wouldnt think so.

 

Good Luck Mate!!

 

Dan

[Toby]

If it was me I would (after saying you couldnt get rid of it on a long run) ensure all your pipes to the breather box are connected properly, if you find one is loose an water is getting in then after its sorted take it for a nice long spin.

 

This should hopefully clear up the "mayo"..

 

If not then get some crusty french bread, some thinly carved beef and some tomatoes!!

 

Dan

 

Best idea i recon!!

[jimbo]

Cheers Gents

 

Now I just gotta start praying for a dry Saturday........Oh! How I miss having a garage......