I think my car is on its last leg!

[ck85]

Hi there, i am abit thick when it comes to cars so i could really use some advice. I have an 02 plate vauxhall astra. i went to check the oil yesterday when i noticed a build up of a yellow/brown gunge around the filler cap, but there appeared to be no trace of it on the dip stick. i also noticed some oil around the the outside of the engine near the dip stick, but have not seen any oil on the drive from it been parked up.
i first noticed gunge around the filler cap last year (at about this time) it was cleaned up and had and a new rubber seal on the cap, and had not seen any until yesterday.
can anyone shed any light on what it could be? i am hoping that it is condensation and nothing to siniser (head gasket going?)

Thanks in advance!

[iva cosworth]

Welome BTW.

It could be just condensation as you said,but keep an eye on water and oil levels and keep

an eye out for white smoke from exhaust,then your headgasket has failed.

[mwcr85]

What kind of journeys do you do in it?

[ck85]

Thanks!
well there is more smoke than usual but i put it down to the cold weather. water level has stayed pretty much the same since i got the car nearly two years ago.

[Futuramic]

Generally speaking condensation in the oil appears as white residue around the oil filler cap. Brownish mess could just be old oil that has collected there or been left if the top wasn't cleaned after filling. If so it won't be serious.

If you are worried about the head gasket then a garage can chemically test for the presence of exhaust gas in the coolant. It's quick and cheap. nothing else will give a truly definitive answer. Other symptoms of gasket failure include excessive white exhaust smoke; falling coolant levels; funny readings on the temperature gauge and cold air from the heater. If any of the above are not happening then I wouldn't worry too much but it could pay to have the test done. They stick a probe thing in the header tank.

[ck85]

usually i do between 160-270 miles a week. via dual carrage way. but the ive been off since mid December so milage has slowed down alot

[ck85]

think i will deffinatly look into the test, thanks guys!

[iva cosworth]

ck85 said:

usually i do between 160-270 miles a week. via dual carrage way. but the ive been off since mid December so milage has slowed down alot

Short journeys = not warming up enough = condensation.

Maybe change and flush the oil,then go for a longer run out.

[ck85]

what would be classed as a longer trip?

[mwcr85]

ck85 said:

what would be classed as a longer trip?

Run it up to temp and give it a run for an hour.

[Futuramic]

iva cosworth said:

ck85 said:

usually i do between 160-270 miles a week. via dual carrage way. but the ive been off since mid December so milage has slowed down alot

Short journeys = not warming up enough = condensation.

Maybe change and flush the oil,then go for a longer run out.

My first car was a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2. It had the 8 valve Family 2 under the bonnet. That was a tough engine so it may be better at taking punishment. Anyway I used to drive to college and back; about 3 miles a day! I had no need to drive whatsoever but I wanted to show off. No other motivation. Anyway the dreaded white gunge appeared under the filler cap. I sold the car on and it was still going up until a year or so ago. There appeared to be no lasting effects. Test for gasket failure. It not then I wouldn't worry. If you really are that bothered then change the oil and filter. Don't lose too much sleep.

[Eggman]

ck85 said:

think i will deffinatly look into the test, thanks guys!

I wouldn't waste your money, If your head gasket had actually failed, you would find a real lot of mayonnaise on the dipstick and in the rocker cover (i.e. where the oil filler cap screws on) and it would be quite unmistakable. Chances are you would find oil in the coolant too, either that or you would notice your car loosing its coolant in spectacular fashion due to a large build up of pressure in the cooling system.

The symptoms you describe are condensation due to cold weather and short journeys. Once you get back into longer journeys at high speed so the oil gets properly warm again, it'll disappear.

[Futuramic]

Eggman said:

ck85 said:

think i will deffinatly look into the test, thanks guys!

I wouldn't waste your money, If your head gasket had actually failed, you would find a real lot of mayonnaise on the dipstick and in the rocker cover (i.e. where the oil filler cap screws on) and it would be quite unmistakable. Chances are you would find oil in the coolant too, either that or you would notice your car loosing its coolant in spectacular fashion due to a large build up of pressure in the cooling system.

The symptoms you describe are condensation due to cold weather and short journeys. Once you get back into longer journeys at high speed so the oil gets properly warm again, it'll disappear.

I disagree. When the head gasket went on my Mondeo there were relatively few symptoms other than the heater playing up. The test was cheap.

[jebus]

if really worried the get the test, for the price even for peace of mind it be worth it.

[ck85]

I will have it done, to be sure! I'll only worry till I know for sure

[Eggman]

Futuramic said:

I disagree. When the head gasket went on my Mondeo there were relatively few symptoms other than the heater playing up. The test was cheap.

Which is fine, but the test you describe (sniffing the header tank with the probe of the CO meter) would diagnose a break in the head gasket between a cylinder and the water jacket. (In such a case, fwiw, you would probably also be able to observe the coolant effervescing slightly without the use of the probe).

However, the OP needs to test whether his head gasket has failed between an oilway and a waterway. That's slightly different. There won't necessarily be any out of place CO to detect.

[martynr]

If the OP googled it then he might be lucky to find out that Vauxhall was lazy. And they put the same radiator to all Astras from 1.4-2.0. If you do a shorter journey then I would say put a shield in front of radiator. I know some one who has been driving Astra and the temp needle barely moved. All was fine, but it has a radiator that is too big. And most Vauxhalls take ages to warm up unlike Hondas.

So when you go for a drive, have a look at the temp.

[Jimmyarm]

Nearly all Vauxhall lumps do this, I always clean it off when doing a service as it does look a bit concerning when it builds up over a few years.

[m444ttb]

Futuramic said:

My first car was a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2. It had the 8 valve Family 2 under the bonnet. That was a tough engine so it may be better at taking punishment. Anyway I used to drive to college and back; about 3 miles a day! I had no need to drive whatsoever but I wanted to show off. No other motivation. Anyway the dreaded white gunge appeared under the filler cap. I sold the car on and it was still going up until a year or so ago. There appeared to be no lasting effects. Test for gasket failure. It not then I wouldn't worry. If you really are that bothered then change the oil and filter. Don't lose too much sleep.

Exactly the same on my brothers 1.6 8v mk3 Astra. He used to take it on a longer drive once a week.

[16v stretch]

Some cars with extended filler necks have this issue though, I'm presuming it might be the same?

Gathers condensation and a small amount of oil at the top of the filler tube leaving you with the lovely engine mayo.