White goo on dip stick :(

fozzy

fozzy

fozzy

Associate
Joined
28 Sep 2004
Posts
623
Location
Sunny blackburn
I have a an old Volvo s40 2.0 N/A. I checked my oil tonight after work and noticed my dip stick had a bit of goo on, which is cream in color. There is a thin film under the filler cap too. The car doesn't use excessive fluid.

I've read enough on here to suggest it may be HGF. Is there anything else that may cause the goo? I need this heap to last a while longer yet. :(
 
Mayo in the sump is pretty bad news, but are there any other symptoms? White smoke from the exhaust, lumpy running, oil in the water, drop in power etc?
 
indeed, you all like to scare people eh.

keep a close eye on fluid levels, but don't go assuming the head gasket has gone!
 
I'm putting my money on short trips causing condensation build up,

Keep an eye on the levels often.
 
what is your coolant level like? if that has not moved... it cant be coolant leaking away
Click to expand...
can be if it's mixing and oil is getting into the coolant system ;) the header tank in the gf's rover 200 was like chocy milkshake before I replaced the head gasket
 
Sorry i was a bit vague. :o

The main use for the car is getting me to work and back. This probably is around 4-5 miles there and the same back. The wife has a newish car so i tend to use that most other times.

It doesn't appear to be using coolant, although i checked tonight and it isn't anti freeze colour, it's more a shade of light brown. I noticed on the way home tonight for the first time it had a bit of a splutter whilst i was cruising along. That said, when i gave it a bit of welly it was fine, and it doesn't run lumpy at idle.

As for smoke from the exhaust, well when it's a cold morning/evening, it does produce smoke but it's more like steam than smoke, if that makes any sense.
 
It's almost certainly condensation. I do 5 mile trips from cold and I get it as well.

Clean the stuff off, go for a 50 mile blast, come back and if its still all over it, it's broke. If it hasnt come back, it was just condensation
 
[TW]Fox;10898121 said:
It's almost certainly condensation. I do 5 mile trips from cold and I get it as well.

Clean the stuff off, go for a 50 mile blast, come back and if its still all over it, it's broke. If it hasnt come back, it was just condensation
Click to expand...

50 miles!! :eek:

I'll get a nose bleed. :D

Thanks, I'll give it a go and see what happens.
 
My commute is killing my car:o it's less than 2 miles there and back. I do give it a good thrash at the weekends though - regularly 100+ miles.

Never noticed white goo on the dip stick though and the oil's checked 2/3 times a week.
 
[TW]Fox;10898189 said:
I feel really guilty for my poor car as it doesnt even get warmed up :(

So sometimes I pinch the FTO instead :p
Click to expand...

Have you noticed a little big of mayo on your top up cap? I have recently been driving to the station less a mile down the road. Topped mine up weekend and noticed a little film of mayo.
 
[TW]Fox;10898189 said:
I feel really guilty for my poor car as it doesnt even get warmed up :(

So sometimes I pinch the FTO instead :p
Click to expand...

My water isn't even up to temp after arriving at work/getting home so I dread to think how cold the oil is, and I do this 10 times a week.
 
Tim said:
My water isn't even up to temp after arriving at work/getting home so I dread to think how cold the oil is, and I do this 10 times a week.
Click to expand...

I try and drive slowly and stop at as many lights as possible to try and get SOME temperature into my oil on the 3 mile commute I drive to try and alleviate the buildup of gloop on the roof of my rocker box.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom