Uh oh...

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike) 01/21/2018 at 12:00 • Filed to: Oil, Head gasket

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Just checked the oil in mom’s Accent as she is overdue for an oil change. The oil is dark, and was nearer low then full, so I added a few hundred milliliters.

However...when I took the cap off, there is a pile of yellow/white gunk under the oil cap....uh oh.

There were a few beads of moisture on the dipstick as well, but no HUGE beads there. I looked in the overflow tank for the coolant and only see nice limey-green. Thinking moisture and condensation rather than head gasket...? The car only has 80,000kms on it. I should mention that she uses it pretty infrequently, so it often sits for days before it gets a workout, and a lot of her trips are relatively short.

No pics because I didn’t have my phone out with me and didn’t think of it.

What say you fellow Opponauts? PRETTY sure it’s nothing to be worried about, but at the same time, it’s got me a little nervous...

Wacko > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/21/2018 at 12:40

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I’m not too worried, sounds more like she just only does short trips. Try an Italian tuneup and get it running for more than 5-10 minutes at a time.

LOREM IPSUM > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/21/2018 at 12:42

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Short trips are responsible. The engine never gets hot enough to evaporate the moisture trapped inside it, and when shut down it all re-condenses and makes a mess.

Good way to rot your exhaust (and engine, perhaps) from the inside out.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Wacko 01/21/2018 at 13:36

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OK, good...that’s what I thought, but it had me nervous for a moment as I have never seen that on my own car (then again, I take far longer trips more often).

Italian tuneups are hard to do as it’s an auto, but a few quick bursts up to 100kph or so might help?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > LOREM IPSUM 01/21/2018 at 13:38

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I suggested I take her car to work tomorrow as I have a 30 minute commute often, but she needs it (for yet another short trip) and can’t drive mine as it’s a stick.

We live only 5-10 minutes from both of the main towns near here, so unless she has a reason to go farther, which is rarely now that she is retired, short trips are all her car gets! :(

pip bip - choose Corrour > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/22/2018 at 05:45

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go for a nice long run in it