2007 Mini Cooper - Oil cap with Chocolate slop

[amzsagoo]

hi All,

can anyone help me my mini copper well looked after has now got Milk Chocolate slop in the oil cap. its 1 women driver and had a 60k full service last year by mini.
the Milk Chocolate slop is not in the actual engine when i look into the oil opening or on the dip stick.



regards
amz

[MikeDrop]

I think a lot of people would jump to Head Gasket failure. But I'm sure the oil cooler failing is a more common fault on these.

Have you ever had any issues with your heaters not getting warm, overheating etc?

[jkh112]

Does the car only do short trips and rarely has the chance to get fully hot?

[amzsagoo]

hi all.

This car only does short trips, it never gets warmed up before these 5min journeys.
never had any issues with the heater but ''it does take time to heat up''

regards
amz

[jkh112]

The gunk on the cap will be caused by condensation mixing with the oil. If the car was taken on longer journeys and regularly got properly up to temperature then this would not happen.
Wipe the cap clean. Take the car on a decent journey and then try and use it for more than short trips. The issue will not be as bad in the summer, cold weather will make it worse.

[GreenV8S]

That's just crank case condensation, very common in cold weather with vehicles which are used on short trips, and nothing to worry about. If you take the car for a run long enough to get the oil good and hot, that will gradually clear as the water boils off.

[amzsagoo]

Hi All,

Thanks again, ive cleaned it and will take it out on a long 45min drive this evening.
am i correct in saying it would only be the head gasket if it was in the oil dipstick and main engine (not just the cap)?

regards
amz

[E-bmw]

That & overheating are the most obvious & typical signs of head gasket failure.

[Sensibleboy]

Wife had the same engine in a Peugeot 207 CC. It was always having the same problem. I'd take it on my 50 mile round trip commute once a week to get rid of the condensation but it would start to come back the next day.
I'd get into the habit of cleaning it out once a week and taking it for a decent drive regularly. I believe it's a common thing on those engines.

[GreenV8S]

amzsagoo said:

am i correct in saying it would only be the head gasket if it was in the oil dipstick and main engine (not just the cap)?

The more widespread it is the more you'd worry about possible HGF, but emulsion in the oil is never a definite sign of HGF because condensation is perfectly normal and can build up in a healthy engine if it is not allowed to get really hot.

The warning sign to look out for is muck/scum from exhaust gases in the coolant. These often accompany HGF. There should never be any contamination in the coolant and if you see any that is a strong indication of HGF.

[amzsagoo]

I really hope its not a HGF, that would expensive
car doesnt over heat or have any issues touch wood.
ill start taking it out for long runs and make sure it headed up before my 5min journeys.

ill double check the coolant this evening make sure there is no contamination but very sure it all looked good.

do you think leaving the oil cap off the engine and leaving it on will remove the excess water / build up?

regards
amz

[t400ble]

Just leave it as is, take the car for a run

[GreenV8S]

amzsagoo said:

I really hope its not a HGF, that would expensive
car doesnt over heat or have any issues touch wood.
ill start taking it out for long runs and make sure it headed up before my 5min journeys.

ill double check the coolant this evening make sure there is no contamination but very sure it all looked good.

do you think leaving the oil cap off the engine and leaving it on will remove the excess water / build up?

regards
amz

Leaving the engine at a cold idle is very bad for it. Better to get in and drive it.
It would be good for the car to have a good long drive (30 minutes or more) every week or so.
Do not mess about with the oil filler cap.
I think you're worrying over nothing. Assuming you find the coolant is clean, and as long as the car continues to behave as normal, I'd stop worrying about it and just try to give the car a longer run from time to time.

[amzsagoo]

Hi All,

Thanks, i drove it around for a couple days and everything looks good now.
there is no signs of overheating not that there ever was.
there is no oil in the Coolant.

regards
amz

[PaulKemp]

I saw the same problem on a Mini of similar age some years back, I thought the worded but turns out it is a now issue on Minis of that age.
Yes clean it out and give it a run but also consider a more frequent oil and filter change