Mayonnaise!

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Ed

Ed

Ed

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My mates Focus [1.8] has mayo on the dipstick and inside the oil filler cap and has done for some time. It's on 90k, runs a dream, never uses a drop of oil and the coolant level never changes. He does however use it almost exclusively for very short journeys and the car never warms up. Is this the likely cause, maybe condensation, or could it be something more sinister?

Thanks.
 
The coolant normal colour still? if not signs point to HGF :( also the way the car accelerates gives an indication, I think if there is reduced power also.. but dont quote me there..
 
West said:
The coolant normal colour still? if not signs point to HGF :( also the way the car accelerates gives an indication, I think if there is reduced power also.. but dont quote me there..
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Coolant colour seems fine. With HGF I'd have assumed symptoms such as higher temperatures and coolant level drop. Strange.
 
Ed said:
Coolant colour seems fine. With HGF I'd have assumed symptoms such as higher temperatures and coolant level drop. Strange.
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No tempreture increases then, sorry prolly something else then :) Condensation like you say could be :) i'd wait for one of the full on heads to get in :)

Normally I think its a tandum of Temperature increases along with coolant looking like its mixed with Oil..
 
Arghhhh... Its just condensation due to short journeys :p

" Head Gasket Failure " is an ocuk favorite saying these days :(
 
Ed said:
He does however use it almost exclusively for very short journeys and the car never warms up. Is this the likely cause, maybe condensation,
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More than likely yes. If it's that much of a concern do a compression test on it, to see if the HG is passing.
 
its just because its been used on short trips ive never heard of a zetec blowing a head gasket tell him to take it for a good spanking down the motorway, all will be fine after
 
why would short journeys cause HGF danny?

short journeys can cause symptoms similar to that of HGF, ie MAYO due to condensation in the engine as its not getting uber hot and getting rid of the water

if the coolant is clean and still a good level, id not worry
 
Short journeys can cause mayo, but i'm pretty sure that wouldn't be in the sump itself but in the breather lines?

The 205 gets blocked up to hell as the girlfriend only does 2 miles a day to work and back, hardly get's warmed up!

(Hense why I have to take it for a good rag every weekend :D HONEST).
 
My first car had mayo under the cap and i still payed good money for it :D

reason being it did 2 miles every other day and shopping once a week - lasted me 4 years :)

It will just be that it doesnt get up to temp.

Andy
 
What is it with internet forums? I've noticed this all over the place, the moment anyone posts with a cooling issue, radiator problem, coolant leak or some mayo under the cap 15 people post to tell them they've got a failing head gasket.

It's completely normal for a car used for trips so short that they never reach operating temperature.
 
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