Sludge

[Auzzy2000]

Hi.i looked at a 3.0 z4 the other day to buy!!but was put off as when I removed the oil filler cap there was some whitefish yellow sludge around it.wed been on a 10 mile drive and also when we got back there was still condensation coming from exhaust.does this happen to anyone else's car.i never bought it.so still in the market for 1!!hopefully ttfn member on here with lovely z finds a car soon so I can buy his as I'm first in line but money's burning a hole in my pocket!!!anyway any advice would be great.thanks in advance

 

[Mike6]

You dont say what mileage car had done. Sludge/froth around the oil filler cap is usually condensation which will dissipate once engine gets nice and hot but can also indicate problems to come. Is it a model with a dipstick so you could look at condition of oil etc

 

[Beetlegav]

It's normal, it's probably done a lot of short journeys so it builds up. Shouldn't have a lot of it but it's generally present, takes a while to burn the condensation off
Ccv might need an overhaul too, if you turn the engine on, remove the oil cap and leave it on loose, if it gets sucked back down the ccv needs works

 

[Auzzy2000]

Oh ye sorry car had 88000 on it 2003 model.there was a drip of water also on dipstick!!

 

[Mark555]

This is also a classic sign of head gasket failure

 

[Mike6]

I would be looking at more than this before I would say head Gasket failure. A drip of water on dipstick could again just be condensation which will go with a spirited run.

 

[csm180]

Hi almost certainly just condensation, very common, mine has had from ownership 4 years ago. If you search a common newbie worry raised on the forum. In the summer it reduces significantly, but back in the winter. Hope this helps.

 

[ben g]

This is also a classic sign of head gasket failure

Someone said that to me years ago when mine had sludge on the oil cap.

In reality it's just condensation, as said above. Very common in the colder months.

Ideally you need to go for a very long drive to warm the engine up properly. It'll clear as the weather warms up.

 

[firebobby]

When I got my MR2 the oil was like cream and pointed to classic head gasket failure, it had not had a good run out in months. I changed the oil and filter, then run it for 50-60 miles, then changed oil and filter again. The oil is still golden colour after a couple of thousand miles and no signs of head failure at all.