Mayo on Oil Filler cap and Dipstick + Steering whines once warmed up

B

billabongmac

Member
 Stratford upon Avon
I’m looking for some advice please on an Alpina I recently test drove which has done over 100,000 miles. When I checked the oil filler cap I noticed some mayo on the cap and also what looked like a line of mayo on the dipstick along the top.

My first thought is whether this is from the car sitting around for sometime without being driven on long journeys. When I looked at the MOT history I noticed that from its MOT tests in December 2016 and December 2017 the car only travelled 100 miles and since then has only done another 80-100 miles.

Is this cause for concern regarding a potential problem with the head gasket in people’s experience, or would you put it down to moisture build up due to it not getting up to temperature properly for a long enough?

I did also notice after taking it for a test drive and it had warmed up, that when turning the wheel at slow speeds/stationery it was making a whining noise which could be heard both inside and outside of the vehicle. I understand the car did have the steering column replaced early on in its life but again I'm wondering whether it just needs lubricating or whether this sounds like something more serious?

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated :)
 
Not lucky enough to have an Alpina myself but Mayo can build up due to condensation, short journeys and not being used regularly. A good long journey will usually sort that out but if car has very high mileage and has been driven hard then it could point to other issues.
 
Thanks Mike, its not so much the mayo on the filler cap that I’m concerned about but line of mayo on the top of the dipstick which I’m wondering whether is caused from condensation or not the car is higher mileage with over 100,000 Miles on the clock?
 
When I got my MR2, it had had 7 months of, start up, drive out garage, start up, reverse back into garage at end of the day. The oil was pretty milky but after 2 quick oil changes, it's a clean as a whistle now.
You could use it as a bargaining chip :)
 
i get the same issue with a little mayo under the oil cap and some on the dipstick - its caused by moisture not having time to evaporate from short runs and not warming up ....it can run down the dipstick too....but after a good run it will have gone...

I had some last month....been stood all over winter, then taken to the bodyshp and moved around for 4 weeks, but not driven....drove a 100miles to the race track, pounded round all day and then drove home....mayo gone....and car runs great

signs of a failed head gasket include smokey exhaust, rough running and the coolant will also have a milky / cloudy finish....

hope this helps....
 
Just to check - is this #116? I went to view it too, and am a bit dubious about the recent mileages too. Might be making an offer, but there was no mayo when I checked. It may have just been cleaned for my viewing though.
 
Granted my zed is just the 3.0si but it also makes a whining noise when turning the wheel when stationary
 
The steering can make a noise if the car has not been used that much. My had been sat around for a few years before I got it and the steering made groaning noise's which went away with use and a bit spray.
Mayo can be little use too.
 
condensation for sure if head gasket issue you would have smoke from exhaust , rough running and possibly
coolant a bit milky i think i would get a compression test for peace of mind the steering issue i think wil sort itself out after a good run round stratford
 
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