Got the dreaded mayonnaise on the oil cap! Any thoughts?

Updated: 09 Dec 2024

As above, coupled with a smokey exhaust, I think the head gasket is finally starting to go on my 13 year old Hyundai! I’ve got nowhere near enough skill to replace the head gasket myself and can’t be bothered shelling out for a new head gasket, so do yous reckon I should get rid of her in the summer?

Comments

Its common and that little is no worries, happens when it gets colder anf moisture accumulates in the valve cover itll go away with driving

Id be checking your rad if you think you have a head gasket leak. Make sure coolant is full and there is nothing that looks like that in yout coolant system

It sound like a head gasket, im affraid. So probaly time to get rid, unfortunately

I am an ASE certified heavy duty truck technician with an AA in diesel Industrial Technologies and 4 cummins engines certifications and 7 factory fraughtliner certifications.

It is ture that u get moisture in your oil from condensation. However all that water in the oil (a vary vary small amount) will evaporate when the engine is warm and running. So to have enough to turn the oil that color is definitely a head gasket or worse.

Even if the oil some how got that much water in the oil from water in the air the oil (id argue its impossible) the oil is compromised and no longer lubricates the components properly.

Check the oil dip stick to see the oil down in the pan. Or pull the valve cover and check for the same color oil.

So Dave is correct. Time for a new car and get rid of your old one. Needs to be fixed or drivin till it blows up. Changing the oil and filter out might buy you more time if u need it. But the bad oil there has already caused damage to all the engine parts.

If you where my costumer id recommend you buy a new car or new engine because at this point just the head gasket is a bandaid on a bullet hole.

Mixed opinions I see! I’ll be getting a new car in the summer hopefully anyway so it’ll run it as is until then and trade it in! Thanks for the help guys, love her to pieces but I think it’s time to trade in! :(

Make sure to change the oil and filter to buy you more time

Try a pcv same with my car too it’s a 2015 Jetta with 23k on it

If you do a lot of short journeys and live in a reasonably cold area, you might be lucky and just have condensation in the engine. You could look in the coolant expansion or radiator, or drain the oil and see if there’s any mixed fluids, in which case it’ll be blown head gasket. If it’s just condensation, give it a long drive to warm the engine up properly and clear it.

Pretty normal. If not using water or overheating i would drive it normal to get a little moisture in oil the water collects on cap when it boils to top. If u have cooling system problems. I would be testing head gasket, if Gm v6 or 8 check intake gaskets if has oil cooler check that.