What is this yellow sludge?

[pauly]

Hi guys!

I just wondered if someone could help me out here. I've had my 1.2 16v clio for a year now and it's done just over 8,000 miles. This morning I removed the oil filler cap for the first time and saw about a tablespoon of yellow sludge like substance at the top of the 'tank'. Does anyone know what this is?

Thanks.

 

[ben_p]

oh ohhh. could be the head gasket gione.. although my old 1.216v i always had mayo under the cap.. but that was jsut condensation they all do it.. got a pic?

 

[DaveJwxm]

always there on mine, dont think its anything to worry about

 

[Rich]

Welcome to CS.

Do you do lots of shorty journeys? By the sound of it ie there is not to much anyway? it is just where moisture/condensation has mixed with oil, creating the mayo stuff. Is there any in the coolant to? If so when you get serious amounts it can be a sign of headgasket failure. A small amount is normal.

 

[pauly]

Thanks for your replies. There doesnt appear to be any yelloe sludge in the coolant, it's just sitting at the top of the oil tank. However, I do do a lot of short journeys, which I suppose dosen't help. Presumably, if it was something more serious I would get other symptoms?

Do you think it would be sensible to get an oil change done even though it hasn't reached it's 2 year service interval yet?

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

I agree with the others here. It sounds as if it is pretty normal, especially as you do alot of short journeys and maybe the car doesn't quite get a good warm up before you put her away. However, keep an eye on how much water she uses, as if a gasket is going she will normally start to use a little more water than normal, at the latter stages of gasket failure you will normally notice a lack in power too. If none of this is happening then I would't worry. As for the oil change, I would personally leave it until the service as this will obviously be done then.

Happy Motoring.

Debz XXXxxx

 

[Phill1978]

why not oil change its something to do not a big deal, get some decent oil in. better safe than sorry

 

[bmh.01]

Its fine, my old 1.2 16v did it all the time, over numerous oil changes and it did plenty of long journeys never lost any coolant or showed any other symptons of hgf.
Its a trait of the D4F engine apparently, had me worried the first time it did it too.

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=108607
A quarter of the way down.

 

[pauly]

Again, thanks guys for your replies, especially bmh - it's kinda put my mind at rest! So, should i just leave the yellow sludge in there or 'spoon' it out???

Any thoughts?

 

[bmh.01]

You can wipe it out if you want, it'll only come back in the end though. I just left mine to its own devices.

 

[pauly]

Just had a look at the online 'oil bible', which says that this mayonnaise type substance is indicative of a blown head gasket??? Could this be possible on such a new car??

 

[G_F]

Take the car for a long drive, 100 miles or so, should sort it out for a month or so...

 

[bmh.01]

Yes it is indicative of head gasket failure, its water in the oil which usually means the hg has failed and coolant is leaking into the oil.

In this case its not, its just a bit of moisture that gets into the oil filler area its nothing to be worried about its just a triat of the engine. I never managed to get rid it in my old car and it did plenty of long (100+ mile) runs and it never went away and the head gasket was fine, I did loose coolant but that was the water pump and another story.

If it was coolant in the oil then there would be oil in the coolant to, you'd soon see it in the header tank if there was, and there would be a damn sight more mayo and you'd get it in the sump too so i'd be on the dipstick too.

 

[Neil G]

Yes it is indicative of head gasket failure, its water in the oil which usually means the hg has failed and coolant is leaking into the oil.

In this case its not, its just a bit of moisture that gets into the oil filler area its nothing to be worried about its just a triat of the engine. I never managed to get rid it in my old car and it did plenty of long (100+ mile) runs and it never went away and the head gasket was fine, I did loose coolant but that was the water pump and another story.

If it was coolant in the oil then there would be oil in the coolant to, you'd soon see it in the header tank if there was, and there would be a damn sight more mayo and you'd get it in the sump too so i'd be on the dipstick too.

Second the above

I've had this on a few of my older cars and it never was the head gasket.....just general moisture