Oiler filler cap
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 53
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From: Dix Hills NY
Oiler filler cap
Anybody find what I just found on the inside of my oil filler cap---yellow organge muck and what looks like water---is this just condensation since it's away from the heads or is it something much worse???????
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
That's usually a result of the oil not getting hot enough to burn off the naturally occurring condensation. The condensation accumulates under the oil cap or dribbles out the tailpipe. Your valve covers might have the same yuck.
This can happen with owners starting their cars in the winter and allowing them to idle for a few minutes.
This can happen with owners taking short trips in their cars and the oil temperatures don't get up to optimum operating temperatures.
A colder "performance" thermostat might allow it to occur. You might consider changing your oil to eliminate the yuck and change your habits if any of the above apply.
Many times owners see black soot spots on their rear bumpers and think they're burning oil or running to rich of AFR. In fact, all that they might be seeing is the exhaust system soot coming out with the condensation that hasn't burned off yet.
This can happen with owners starting their cars in the winter and allowing them to idle for a few minutes.
This can happen with owners taking short trips in their cars and the oil temperatures don't get up to optimum operating temperatures.
A colder "performance" thermostat might allow it to occur. You might consider changing your oil to eliminate the yuck and change your habits if any of the above apply.
Many times owners see black soot spots on their rear bumpers and think they're burning oil or running to rich of AFR. In fact, all that they might be seeing is the exhaust system soot coming out with the condensation that hasn't burned off yet.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Dix Hills NY
cap
Just got the vette so not my pattern---thermostat runs at 210* so not a problem. Do you not recommend warming up a car when cold for a few minutes or do you advocate longer or less? thanks for the response!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: San Rafael CA
Is the car using coolant ??? Do you have to top it off on a regular basis ???
I'd clean the inside of the oil cap thouroughly and run the car for a few days, then check the cap again. If you see water/coolant in it again, you need to get the valve covers off and see what is going on ..... I hate to be pessimistic .... but that doesn't sound good .....
Safety Car
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From: San Rafael CA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
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From: Des Moines Iowa
If it's coolant getting into your engine oil, then when you check your engine oil level on the dipstick, it'd be showing over full.
Its also possible, if you have a cracked head or bad head gasket, that the problem will show itself by white smoke from exhaust, and a miss in the engine when first start up, since they frequently leak into the cylinder / combustion chamber area.
Its also possible, if you have a cracked head or bad head gasket, that the problem will show itself by white smoke from exhaust, and a miss in the engine when first start up, since they frequently leak into the cylinder / combustion chamber area.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Dix Hills NY
Oil level OK but will change and monitor---No white smoke, just normal steam when cold but will monitor as well---Vette Doctors said they could do a pressure check to see if there is a problem as well--they said head gasket- rare case--but just my luck-- I'm wondering maybe intake manifold---I had a bad one on my 01 that was replaced. Thanks for info!!
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