Buttery mess under oil filler cap

[andynic]

Hi all

Just been out to check the oil on my wife's car 1.4 06plate Corsa, dealer serviced in December 11, Oil level was fine but I took off the oil filler cap and was met with a quantity of buttery crap underneath the cap and if I look inside the cam cover near the filler hole there is a bit more. Not loads of it and I felt around as far as my finger could reach and could not find any more.
The car generally only does about 3 to 4 miles a day in 2 or three journeys so very short runs.

The water expansion tank is full with no other muck in it the car does not blow steam out the exhaust or overheat.

Could it just be from condensation forming inside the cam cover caused by the very short journeys ?

Will it cause a problem or is it normal for a car that does mostly short journeys ?

I take it out most weekends and get it warm to give it a bit of a thrashing (its the only petrol engined car I get to drive) other car is a Passat 1.6 bluemotion so no fun there then.

[Deva Link]

It's more usually called mayonnaise.

[PoleDriver]

Often an indication of head gasket failure but, as you say, can occur due to condensation because of short journeys!
It is an indication of water in the oil!

[stevieturbo]

PoleDriver said:

Often an indication of head gasket failure but, as you say, can occur due to condensation because of short journeys!
It is an indication of water in the oil!

Rarely an indication of head gasket failure. Often a symptom of sweet fa.

And given his short journeys, totally expected and normal.

[Steve_D]

stevieturbo said:

...And given his short journeys, totally expected and normal.

+1
Steve

[andynic]

Thanks for all the replies guys,

Guess its just a hazard of all the short 2 mile runs on a cold engine. But that is what the car is mostly used for to get my wife to work and back, she does some longer runs but only once or twice a week.

Guess I'll just keep running as is, then make sure to flush it out before changing the oil when I service it next time.

[garagewidow]

if you're using synthetic oil..... it'll be margarine.

[jagracer]

My daughter's 1.2 Clio does this. The oil is clear as is the water in the expansion bottle, it's nothing to worry about.