’Salad cream’ in oil filler cap ?!

Hi folks,

Just been to look at a 528i (build date on inner wing says September 1999). Care was great, only when I came to take a look inside the oil filler cap, there was a fair bit (enough to make a medium sandwhich!!) of the whiteish 'salad cream' deposit that can sometimes signify head problems. There were also a couple of visible drops of water below the cap, but no obvious signs of water on the dipstick. Dealer also reconed that he'd done an oil change about six weeks ago - if true, how come so much 'condensation' in such a short space of time ??

 

Dealer immediately says, "don't worry, that's just condensation sir as it hasn't been driven in weeks"..but well he probably would, I guess?!

Anyway, the car has clocked up just over the 100k mark, and the last owner seems to have done less than 5k miles in the last year, so it could well be he's correct with the condenstaion story.

In all other respects the car is fine, and the price is very keen too. So, do I chance my arm here & hope that it turns out OK, or that something minor is wrong, like a blocked crank case breather, or do I walk away??

 

Many thanks for all advice !!

Pete.

 

I agree, not worth taking the chance. The dealer might just be telling the truth, but if you were trying to sell the car to make your bonus, what would you say!!??  ditto the man above, if in doubt - walk, or get the dealer to give you a decent warranty with no small print so if you do have trouble, it won't cost you. I'm sure there are many other similar models you could look at and get better peice of mind though.

Good luck

Mike

The most common mixing of oil and water (Emulsification) causing a Milky substance not caused by malfunction occurs when the engine is run for a short period not allowing it to heat up properly this is a Killer for engines anyway... walk I would anyway there is loads out there..

Edited by Bill-

Plenty of other cars out there - I'd walk away as well

M5_Mark wrote: a small amount of whitey/brown deposit seems normal after a period of inactivity....especially on the 6-cylinder cars.

my car has just come out of winter storage and the filler cap was as clean as a whistle

....if the engine hasn't been started, during the period of inactivity, the oil filler cap/neck usually stays clean, however it usually seems to occur when the car is stood, started occasionally for a short while, and turned off before it gets properly warmed up. This is when the condensation starts to form.

It's academic now, but the condensation from a Cold-start-then-engine-off scenario will manifest itself as little white spots (No bigger than 3mm diameter I'd suggest) on the filler cap, and occasionally on the shaft of the dipstick.  Any sign of cream, or larger than white spots is almost certainly because coolant water is entering the Oil.  A very bad thing. 

walk away oil and water do cause this fault as said above
bad news as my bubby bought a car with this fault wast of money and time

good luck dazz

errr, lets throw some controversy in the mix...

get the system pressure tested from the expansion tank, also get the cylinders compression tested.

if these are ok, take the car for a longish and hard drive and the deposit should clear up.

My car gets a fair amount of mayo on the cap after a week of to and from the office driving (3 miles each way), and I can assure you she is fresh as a daisy!

2 things here - 1) the concerns you have can be a good 'stick' to beat the vendor with, and 2) if he's trade, you should get a good warranty for free in the deal too.

 

Edited by sleeper

Hi Dutch, silkolene pro-s from oilman.

whysatthen?