PLEASE HELP! Gasket gone? Going? Yellow stuff in oil

HOMES

So I went to check the oil yesterday and took off the oil cap and got this:



The dipstick is like this:



I have a Renault Clio 1.1 campus

Went to one mechanic he said head gasket us gone or going... Huh? I checked coolant levels and its fine its green and by min maximum.

My guess is because its cold condensation is the issue and I need an oil change?

He also said I need new oil, oil filter and some flash thingy?

Please help! Worried like hell. Engine management light is on but this has been on before thus has arisen

maninthestreet

Mayonnaise on the oil filler cap usually means head gasket failure, or even a cracked chylinder head.

andy13

Seconded for probable head gasket failure.

(Reminds me of my old Hillman)

Horizon81

Before I read what car you had I said Clio. Not uncommon on the Clio in my experience. My mate's car has had that mayonnaise on for years and it's running fine. When I first saw it I thought head gasket was shot as that's what's drummed into you by the trade/the default answer - oil and water/coolant = mayonnaise like substance.

Could be just an ill fitting cap and condensation like you say. How old is the car? Can't say I'd worry too much.

colino

I guess you don't drive much looking at the filler neck. Could be as simple as needing a good run and a precautionary oil and filter change to bring the car up to temp and stop the mayo forming, but no-one, without doing a pressure test, leak down test and sniff test can tell you by just looking at that if you have hgf.

HOMES

Horizon81 wrote: »

Before I read what car you had I said Clio. Not uncommon on the Clio in my experience. My mate's car has had that mayonnaise on for years and it's running fine. When I first saw it I thought head gasket was shot as that's what's drummed into you by the trade/the default answer - oil and water/coolant = mayonnaise like substance.

Could be just an ill fitting cap and condensation like you say. How old is the car? Can't say I'd worry too much.

The car is an 07 plate, 96000 on the clock.

colino wrote: »

I guess you don't drive much looking at the filler neck. Could be as simple as needing a good run and a precautionary oil and filter change to bring the car up to temp and stop the mayo forming, but no-one, without doing a pressure test, leak down test and sniff test can tell you by just looking at that if you have hgf.

I usually drive around 10 - 20 miles per day, around 100 - 140 miles a week but they are usually short journeys everyday is this not good enough?

How much do you reckon the above tests will cost so I know I won't get ripped off. I'm 19.

Horizon81

My mate's Clio is the 1.2 16v but the oil filler neck looks just like yours. He does a few more miles per week and gets a good run out so I don't think that's the cause.

If I were you I'd post this on renault forums or clio sport forums or similar and ask other owners. You're certainly not the only Clio owner with this and could be throwing money away getting a garage to diagnose it.

Flearoy

If it were me I would change the oil and filter, and wipe that crud off the filler cap and neck. I would then give the car a good run to get it nice and warm, keeping an eye on coolant levels and checking the oil for consistency. If after an oil change the coolant level doesn't drop, and the oil does not look like salad cream, I wouldn't worry. You might have had some condensation in the engine oil. The engine mananagement light may go away if you disconnect the battery for a while, but do ensure you have the radio code before doing this. If it come back on though you may have more serious issues.

This is just what I would do...

An oil and filter change should not be expensive at an independent garage.

If you have the funds and have trust in your mechanic, a professional could surely diagnose head gasket failure quickly.

molerat

What oil are you running on, many cars will do this with a combination of short journeys and cheap mineral oil.

Going back a few years (well maybe more than a few !!) I remember my Hillman Imp used to mayo up on Castrol GTX but was fine on Duchams Q

forgotmyname

How much water are you putting in each day?

If you are not losing water then its a lack of servicing and long journeys.

When was it serviced last? How many months/years ago and how many miles ago?

Norman_Castle

I usually drive around 10 - 20 miles per day, around 100 - 140 miles a week but they are usually short journeys everyday is this not good enough?

Short journeys with the heater on high during winter will not allow the engine to heat up properly.