PLEASE HELP!! YELLOW GUNK

[Jamo96]

I had an amber oil light come on the other day, I knew I could do with a top up so went and bought some today, I checked the dipstick and then took the cap off to top up the oil to find fairly thick yellow gunk and then also a small amount of yellow gunk on the dipstick too (pictures attached), I’m not loosing any coolant whatsoever but i do use the car everyday for work which is literally at most a 5 minute drive (I know I should cycle but appalling weather conditions) does anyone have any ideas? I pray it isn’t the head gasket???

 

[MJJamieson]

Condensation because the engine never gets up to temperature would be my guess.

 

[Jamo96]

I’ve been seeing some comments about that, would you say just not to use it for work in the week considering how short the drive is? Or maybe let it run for a while before hand?

 

[Ducklakeview]

As above, the engine isn't getting hot enough to boil the water vapour off. Take it on some nice long runs, other than that as long as it's not using coolant and the oil level isn't INCREASING then not too much to worry about.

Mike

 

[rally-chris]

When was the oil last changed?

Your short journeys certainly aren't helping, and could be the reason for the emulsion in the oil rather than a more serious problem like the heat gasket. If the daily commute is all you currently do in the car I'd suggest you try to give it a good motorway thrash once a week to get it properly up to temperature and boil off the water in the oil.

Chris

 

[Jamo96]

As above, the engine isn't getting hot enough to boil the water vapour off. Take it on some nice long runs, other than that as long as it's not using coolant and the oil level isn't INCREASING then not too much to worry about.

Mike

Appreciate the info, after I give it a good go on the A419 should I expect to see no more build up?

 

[Jamo96]

When was the oil last changed?

Your short journeys certainly aren't helping, and could be the reason for the emulsion in the oil rather than a more serious problem like the heat gasket. If the daily commute is all you currently do in the car I'd suggest you try to give it a good motorway thrash once a week to get it properly up to temperature and boil off the water in the oil.

Chris

I went through the paperwork the other day and believe it was 2 year ago, I’ve only owned it for about 10months, planning on doing an oil change this Sunday as I’ve noticed it’s also fairly dark in colour

 

[Rufus59]

+1 for condensation, lots of space for it to accumulate in these engines.

 

[1000rr]

Yup, definitely condensation. My commute to work is 18 miles return, so never gets upto temp. I noticed gunk in my filler cap the other week.

Last weekend, took the missus out on a 150 mile round trip for lunch, and the gunk had gone. Short journeys is a devil for condensation to build up.

 

[Anmarube]

Mine was the same when I bought it as it had only done short trips to work etc. I put a flush in and ran it up for 20 minutes then an Oil & Filter change. My trip to work is 15 minutes so I go the long way round once or twice a week. Been fine ever since. As mentioned it's condensation as not getting up to temp properly. Get a flush in it and an Oil & filter and go give it a good thrashing..

 

[mr wilks]

Additionally Op i would also be changing out the oil every year come Feb / March regardless of miles covered as condensation will be worse in the colder months & water in the oil is never a good thing

 

[markalp]

I had an amber oil light come on the other day, I knew I could do with a top up so went and bought some today, I checked the dipstick and then took the cap off to top up the oil to find fairly thick yellow gunk and then also a small amount of yellow gunk on the dipstick too (pictures attached), I’m not loosing any coolant whatsoever but i do use the car everyday for work which is literally at most a 5 minute drive (I know I should cycle but appalling weather conditions) does anyone have any ideas? I pray it isn’t the head gasket???

Even though smarter people than me have advised it is just condensation I would still get her compression checked just to make sure.

 

[no fit state]

As others have said. Condensation build up on a car that doesn’t get up to temp often enough. You can clean most of it off and take the car for nice drive to finish the job

 

[Lance]

As others have said. Condensation build up on a car that doesn’t get up to temp often enough. You can clean most of it off and take the car for nice drive to finish the job

As he said

A 30-40 mile decent run and all will be well again, But it'll return once you're back into short runs.

I've had my Z4 almost 8 years now and every winter the yellow gunk appears, then come spring/summer it's gone.

 

[G600]

As said more than likely just condensation, blocked CCV can also cause it, I used to get a bit till I replaced that.

 

[Mike6]

Most likely condensation but can also be down to more serious issues. Is it a high mileage car and has it had a chequered life.

 

[RustyZ4]

Definitely condensation, it would be a good idea to take it on along run now and then to burn it off, also I have seen another Z4 that the gunk blocked the breather,so when he started it up, a cloud of blue smoke, he did get it cleaned out, new breather box etc and it was fine, just don't let it build up

 

[Piper1]

I freaked out when I saw the same in mine about 5 years ago. (Use to bhg on my Supra 7mgte) Changed pcv and all the hoses, oil, when I did saw the valve was majorly gunked. After changing it all haven’t seen it since. Not sure if it’s made a difference but used the cold weather insulated hoses for the pcv.