Yellow/brown goop on oil cap...

[Milano]

I'll keep checking everything constantly, but it's good to know that the sludge is just normal for the conditions. I'm doing the CDV delete soon, so I'll be cleaning the splash shield at the same time.

Thanks for your help everyone!

[telijah]

I drive literally only one mile to work everyday and can confirm when it gets cold around here, I get that on my cap as well. Fortunately for me, I take MANY trips over the Howard Franklin Bridge from St Pete to Tampa multiple times a week a generally flog it when it's late at night on the bridge, and the oils has been fine.

[az3579]

I wouldn't be concerned over the oil cap.

That's common for short-commute cars. A nice long highway/higher rpm drive will go a long way to clearing that up. I'd be more concerned that that same crap is starting to clog up your ccv. would definitely get her out for a nice spirited or highway drive and get her nice and hot to burn that stuff off.

There is an exception to that. I used to have this issue, and then the mayo would disappear on the weekends because that's when I do my long distance driving. However, when I dropped my car off to get the suspension work done a whole state-and-a-half away last week, there was still mayo there. The mechanic told me that it could be a signs of a failing oil separator, which is a common issue on E46's. If you still get mayo after a long distance drive (I would say over an hour), then I'd be worried.

I sure am...

[telijah]

Yeah, but doesn't a failing separator come with other symptoms like a strange sound and also something to do with having the oil cap off while the engine is running...?

[kayger12]

Yeah, I don't know that the separator fails and causes goop. I think it's more goop clogs the separator and causes the failure.

[az3579]

Yeah, I don't know that the separator fails and causes goop. I think it's more goop clogs the separator and causes the failure.

Yeah, I think you're right on that one. I was just repeating what the guy said...
Pretty much, don't let this goop build up. No bueno.

Take a longer trip to work, if necessary. I think I might start doing this knowing this information.


I'm not sure why I would still have goop there even after a 2.5hr drive. ???

[Milano]

How long of a drive is necessary you think? My commute to work takes just under 15min, but if I did some spirited driving for an additional 20min would that help reduce the goop or is a longer drive required?

[danewilson77]

How long of a drive is necessary you think? My commute to work takes just under 15min, but if I did some spirited driving for an additional 20min would that help reduce the goop or is a longer drive required?

If your car gets up to normal operating temperature (12 O Clock), you should be fine. Mine gets there in 3 miles. Maybe a lil more if it's cold. 20 minutes of spirited driving just for the hell of it certainly isn't warranted imho.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[kayger12]

How long of a drive is necessary you think? My commute to work takes just under 15min, but if I did some spirited driving for an additional 20min would that help reduce the goop or is a longer drive required?

If your car gets up to normal operating temperature (12 O Clock), you should be fine. Mine gets there in 3 miles. Maybe a lil more if it's cold. 20 minutes of spirited driving just for the hell of it certainly isn't warranted imho.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Only thing to be mindful of is that the gauge is your coolant temp, not your oil temp.

Just because the coolant gauge hits 12 -doesn't necessarily mean that the oil got hot enough long enough to burn it all off.

The easiest way to answer this is to take a look at your oil cap after a week of your 15 minute work commute.

If there's no goop, you're good to go.

If there is, take her for a spirited run and evaluate the results.


Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

[az3579]

If your car gets up to normal operating temperature (12 O Clock), you should be fine. Mine gets there in 3 miles. Maybe a lil more if it's cold. 20 minutes of spirited driving just for the hell of it certainly isn't warranted imho.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

My coolant gets up to temperature about mid-way to work, yet I still get mayo. Always have, ever since I owned the car.
A 7-mile commute (mostly highway) is not enough to get the condensation to go away. I would say a good 15-20 mile or so drive would be sufficient.
The only way to find the right number is to keep testing. Increase the miles by maybe 5 every time and see if the mayo goes away.