Custard!

[Nurse!]

Just checked the oil on my car, not checked it for a while i confess.
There was custard in the dipstick tube. Checked under cam cover and it's clean as a whistle.
I cleaned out the tube and dipstick and all looks fine including oil and coolant levels.

So what couold cause this? Condensation maybe? Is it something to panic about?

[McSam]

Damn it, I thought this would be a pre-emptive Custard photo of something totally amazing that we would not otherwise believe..



If it doesn't recur and the oil filler cap area looks fine, I would fear not. Possibly just a little water in the dipstick tube itself?

[mnkiboy]

Condensation can cause it if your car is often used for short journeys and doesn't get up to full temperature before you shut it off.

Another cause for this is pouring custard in to the oil filler.

[LuS1fer]

Short journeys. If the HG goes, you usually get quite a lot of mayonnaise in the cap, not custard.
Unless you're losing lots of coolant, probably nothing to fret about.

[curlie467]

As previously said, constant short journeys are the main culprit and cold weather can also contribute to the condensation that will cause the creamy substance.
Just check it again after maybe a decent journey to make sure it doesnt come back, if it does it will cost you bazillions of dollars to put right (at least!).

[Nurse!]

Phew, panic averted. Was a bit of a shock seeing said custard.
I knew the title would elicit a rapid response!

No hint of custard elswhere. Was last used end of Feb so condensation would appear most likely.
Usual journey is around 7 miles on commute, mostly on dual carriagway so normal get up to temp.

[McSam]

Nurse! said:

Phew, panic averted. Was a bit of a shock seeing said custard.
I knew the title would elicit a rapid response!

No hint of custard elswhere. Was last used end of Feb so condensation would appear most likely.
Usual journey is around 7 miles on commute, mostly on dual carriagway so normal get up to temp.

Fair enough.

Is it actually custard, or more like mayonnaise?

[Nurse!]

McSam said:

hehe: Fair enough.

Is it actually custard, or more like mayonnaise?

Mayo, but custard used for effect! (Looks pretty similar).

[McSam]

That's alright, then if you actually had bright yellow stuff I would be intrigued!

Well played

[Nurse!]

Why thank you sir!

[Dunclane]

We have a bit of this in the wife's MG TF. I was panicking but as the coolant reservoir is clean and the oil cap is fine I also assumed it was condensation as she only does short trips.

[so called]

McSam said:

Damn it, I thought this would be a pre-emptive Custard photo of something totally amazing that we would not otherwise believe..

Thinking the same..........saw Nurse and Custard and naturaly thought .........

Had the same problem last winter and it turned out to be condensation.