recently i topped my engine up with oil when i noticed a scum like substance around the area where the oil is poured in and also on the inside of the yellow breather cap what is this, and why is it forming?
my engine is a 1.1 letre HCS
2007-01-11 09:11:00 · 32 answers · asked by csnape2003 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
BIG THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP
i have recenly done several thorough checks eg water coming out of the exhaust, lack of engine power when idiling, contaminated coolant, and several more and it looks as though its just condensation :) though just to be sure im putting it in for a service next month.
i appreciated all your help on this matter since it would be unfair to choose 1 best awnser because there are several ive given you all thumbs up, thanks for your help :)
2007-01-13 05:55:51 · update #1
May be the cylinder head gasket. Are you losing engine coolant, white smoke out the exhaust?
2007-01-11 09:18:15 · answer #1 · answered by laughingspam 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
from what I have read, your car sounds like a ford fiesta or escort, don't be to worried about this, too many people are quick to jump to the wrong conclusion of head gasket failure.
This type of engine was known for a high amount of condensation within the evap system and it gathers within the rocker cover/oil filler cap. The condensation can be caused by all sort of means but i would suggest you get it checked properly. Someone will be able to add an engine cleaner/flush to your oil and let it work through the engine following the instructions on the bottle, drain the oil and remove the filter and let the oil drain into a suitable container, whilst this is happening, have that person remove the rocker cover and clean out the inside of the cover and the breather pipes too, this is common for these type of engines, past intelligence tells me. It is possible that head gasket failure could have happened but these hcs engines where and are cast iron and were built to take a beating so it would have needed the water to be really low for the engine to have overheated and blown a head gasket. You would have noticed the engine lacking power with high fuel consumption and maybe no heat from the car. Short journeys can also cause the condensation too.
Hope this helps.
2007-01-11 10:42:22 · answer #2 · answered by gsf1200 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The damp weather recently will get into the system a little and when it warms up you will get condensation build up on the top of your filler cap, which when mixed with water forms a milky skum. As long as your oil is all black all the time in the engine itself there is nothing to worry about. However if you have oil turning the same way you have a breach between your coolant system and the oil supply.
If this is the case you can temporarily repair this by putting Barrs Block seal in the water system. This would buy you 6 months or so to sell the vehicle in.
2007-01-12 13:32:47 · answer #3 · answered by Bealzebub 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ford re-designed the old Valencia type engine circa 1988 to develop the HCS OHV engine. One of the 'improvements' was to fit a higher lift camshaft which made the valve train noisy. To solve this Ford fitted the HCS with a double skinned rocker cover (to keep the noise in!). Trouble was that the double skin acted as a cold sink allowing condensation build up on the inside, particularly noticeable in the winter.
It's not a serious problem, all the HCS engines do this, mine included. I just bang the oil filler cap on the exhaust manifold every time I top up the oil. Also I remove as much as possible of the mulsh when I remove the rocker cover to adjust the tappets.
2007-01-12 23:59:17 · answer #4 · answered by Happy Hobbit 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Old trick for checking for water in the oil: let the engine get hot, pull out the dipstick, and tap it on the hot exhaust manifold. If the oil sizzles like an egg in a frying pan, there is water present in the oil. If the oil just smokes silently when you drip it on the exhaust manifold, it's fine. One of the industrial lubrication sites said recently that this is an extraordinarily sensitive test, good for detecting 0.1% of water in oil. I have used this test when buying used vehicles, and it has been very effective.
Oil and water don't normally mix, but if they're beaten enough, you'll get what's called an emulsion. Mayonnaise is an emulsion, and that's what the stuff on your filler cap looks like.
2007-01-17 01:59:11 · answer #5 · answered by 2n2222 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the scummy substance your talking about is caused my condensation that builds up in the crankcase of your engine. Condensation is moisture that occurs in all engines because the metal is cold, or at atmospheric temperture until the engine reaches normal operating temperture of around 190 degrees. However exhaust manifolds get hotter. To correct this condition I would replace your PCV valve. Positive crankcase ventilation valve. It's just a few bucks and is easily changed in most cases. Also a name brand oil will help fight as well. A glass gets condensation on it when at room temp and you add ice cold liquid to it. beads of condensation form on the outside of the glass. This is what is occuring inside your engine. Normally when the engine is allowed to run at normal operating temps for 20 or more minutes this condensation is burned away. when you mix moisture with engine oil and shake it in the crankcase under 40 p.s.i. you get the scum
2007-01-11 09:30:35 · answer #6 · answered by Dave K 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have had this before myself,my last car a vw air cooler suffered with it,but it was common with flat fours doing low mileage or short runs,but I have also had it on the previous car,an '84 cavalier,I was told it was condensation,as I could find no faults.I remember it cleared after I located and cleaned all the engine breathers,especially the crankcase breather,this was solid with congealed oil.From then on cleaning engine breathers became part of my servicing routine.
2007-01-15 11:58:12 · answer #7 · answered by Andy W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a sign of condinsation in your engine , you most likly only use your car on short journeys, and it does not build enough heat to burn of the condinsation , drain oil and use a good flushing oil to clean it out , and now and again go for a burn up, other than that you might have the start of a head gasget leak . do you have any scum on your dipstick , or oil discolouration , example a creamy brown colour if you have then a head gasket has gone
2007-01-11 20:03:27 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but what you describe usually means that water from the engines cooling system is somehow getting into the oil. The primary cause of this problem is a failing "head gasket", it's an expensive repair unless you have vehicle warranty. Get your local garage to check it out.
2007-01-11 09:28:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
it's when oil is mixing with water.
not ideal when there should only be oil in there.
it could be condensation but more likely the head gasket is leaking.
many cars continue to function ok for a while but if its a newer car, its worth getting it checked out.
try running the car until hot, then idle it with the oil cap off,not totally off,just ajar to stop the oil going everywhere, this should allow the water in the oil to evaporate.then keep an eye on it to see if it comes back.good luck.
2007-01-11 09:19:51 · answer #10 · answered by matured 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ford yes?
this is very normal if you do little milage, to clean it you blow it out with a compresor and replace the sponge in air filter box.
then every week give it a good run up the moterway or bye pass
but at least 40 mile then you will have no more probs
the scummy stuff is normaly water condensed in it breather
and little miles couses it with oil
so no head failers just lack of heat
2007-01-11 17:51:38 · answer #11 · answered by witheringtonkeith 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋