Some yellow gunk

L

Leon_in_uk

Active member
 Tamworth
Right driving to work this morning and the oil light came on yellow and stayed on once I took the key out the ignition!

I just went to halfords to buy their own 5w 30 for BMW and there is some yellow gunk around the oil cap, i remember is this something to do with water? The car had oil service about 5 months ago? I just put 1.5 litres in is that ok?

Thanks
 
Not a mechanic by any means so I am happy to be challenged on this. However, my dealership told me this can be caused by short trips in cold weather, condensation is caused as the engine isnt getting hot enough to burn off the initial moisture and it appears in the top of the filler cap in the way you describe. in the words of my Newcastle dealership....... 'nowt ta worry yasel aboot sunna'
 
1.5 litres or oil maybe to much check it at once, if the light has come on I'm guessing it wants only 1 litre to be added.

yellow gunk as above, but check your coolant also.
 
Ok will do thanks, however why is the stick not the same as the manual? The gap between high and low is about an inch isn't it? Not the whole indicator thing?
 
The residue if common as and just as Z4alfie says caused typically by shirter journeys in lower temps and not getting condensation boiled off. No wirries at all unless you happpen to be suffering any coolant loss.

Adding 1.5 litres - wow just as sr says - best check the level properly. Too much is actually in many circumstances a worse than too little.
 
You need to drain it out, or it maybe possible to suck it out of the dipstick using a pump.
 
Don't panic.
Check it as per the manual.
If it well over then it needs some draining out. Slightly over no worries at all.
I'm hopeful that its the latter.
 
Just ran the engine, it's still in the same position?!?? Can someone post a pic on what the dipstick should look like? And where it should be? It's not easy to read!
 
Well I'm not going outside to look as we've just had a couple of inches of sslushy now land :thumbsdown:

Can't see what you're doing if you add 1.5 litres and no change. Are you allowing the oil to settle, wiping the dipstick and checking it?

Post a photo of your dipstick and we can comment.

Don't drive it until sorted out in case you've go little or way too much in.
 
Have a look here

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1926&start=0

Should show you what the dipstick should look like!

The top notch is the maximum
 
Leon_in_uk said:
Thanks mines only very slightly over max, or prob right on
Max??
Click to expand...


Sounds like your all set and good to go then.

Best check it more often and not let it run on around 1.5 litres below max. Not good if you push it hard.
 
I'm still puzzled by this mayo thing though - last car I saw that on was in about 1985......I thought with modern engines and oils etc.. it was either a thing of the past or a cause for concern....

Personally I wouldn't be subjecting a car to such short journeys if its causing that....clearly means the engine isn't reaching operating temp and will be wearing big time, almost as bad as staggering around in too low a gear!
 
Would anyone be worried to find this amount of gunk? Or is this pretty much what has been described as "normal"?

IMAG0086.jpg


IMAG0088.jpg


Thanks, Rob.
 
Needs a good run ! Check your oil & make sure its ok ! Looks like condinsation you have in filler cap. Could also be a sign of blown head gasket ! Clean it up & give it a good run & check your temp ,also check your rad level ! Sure it will be fine !
 
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