Shit.

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 01/14/2018 at 11:25 • Filed to: None

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If this is a head gasket my time with this car may be coming to an end. I don’t have the skill to do the job nor do I have the money to pay someone to do it.

I do occasionally get a code for the crank ventilation system, and I know short trips and excessive idling (both of which I’ve bee doing in the past month) can cause condensation in the crank case. Those two together might be enough to cause what I’m seeing, but I have to accept that this may be something worse.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 11:40

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What does your dipstick look like?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/14/2018 at 11:44

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When I first checked it there was a tiny bit of milkiness right at the top of where the oil was. Further dips just give oil.

Nibby > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 11:46

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hey at least you get free tasty chocolate milk

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 11:46

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Could it just be moisture from the cold?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/14/2018 at 11:49

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Like I said, I have a known fault with the crankcase ventilation so this is possible. It is also possibly a HG because this engine has 260k miles on it and I don’t know if the HG has ever been done.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 11:49

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That’s... not bueno.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Nibby 01/14/2018 at 11:50

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Next time you post about your car breaking I’m going to make fun of your plight and we’ll see how you feel.

Nibby > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 11:51

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You might have to wait a few years

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/14/2018 at 11:53

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Yo conozco.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:07

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We also had record lows last week so who knows.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:08

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Isn’t necessarily something to worry about. Keep an eye on the coolant level and see how she goes.

cluelessk > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:16

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I get you’re upset but you posted this to a public forum.

Nothing in their comment was even mean.

You expect us to be as upset as you? We’ve all be in this situation before. I recently got let go from my job and a week later 5th went out on my car. Pity from random people online won’t do you any good.

Steve in Manhattan > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:17

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Rest of the car OK? There are junkyard engines out there.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Steve in Manhattan 01/14/2018 at 12:18

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If I can’t do or afford a head gasket, I can’t do or afford an engine swap.

dogisbadob > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:22

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Yuck! Does the coolant tank look nasty? Does the car overheat?

If you can even just do at least one 10+ mile trip a week, that could help a lot. Is the PCV valve difficult to replace on this car?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:33

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All that is is condensation in the dipstick tube, not milky oil. Watch your coolant level. But I wouldn’t worry too much.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:43

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I’d say inconclusive so far. What car and engine?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > dogisbadob 01/14/2018 at 12:45

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Coolant seems fine

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 12:46

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That sucks man... I know how much car problems affect my life and I’ve never had ones this serious.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/14/2018 at 12:51

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2000 528i

MM54 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 13:01

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Eh, check the coolant level and oil level, and go for a long highway trip. Let it get hot and stay as such for a while so it dries out the crankcase, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is just from cold/damp and short trips and otherwise not being fully up to temp for very long at a time.

The catch can in my crown vic in the summer catches just nasty gassy oil, but this time of year it fills up in half the time with pure milkshake; the oil and coolant are fine - just condensation.

Frenchlicker > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 13:16

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I’ve discovered with my Jeep replacing an engine may be as cheap as or cheaper than replacing an engine. That nd the problems a blown head gasket may cause makes it a cheaper option in the long run too.

RacinBob > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 13:18

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If you are not losing coolant, it’s hard to see it being a head gasket. Plus if you have PCV issues, then I can see condensation issues at the coldest part (which happens to be the valve cover.) So, if the engine never gets warm, I can understand finding condensation there.

The bottom line is, if the oil is clean/clear. You are fine. If you are not losing coolant, you are fine. Either way, the easiest way to diagnose it is keep an eye on it and see if it gets worse.

By the way, my brother had a ‘90s BMW and it did have a bad head gasket which he fixed with stop leak. I would not have believed it would have worked but it did. I’ve also used it too to fix a weapy intake manifold with no issues to heater core.

If the next stop for this engine is the salvage yard, and you have concluded that you have a coolant leak, you might as well give it a try. I used Bars Leak with good success.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 13:30

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It might not be much, but the S52 in my M3 would get that same milkyness inside the oil cap too once it got cold outside from condensation. Same goes for inside the dipstick tube just to make it look extra like the head gasket had shat itself.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 01/14/2018 at 14:12

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That’s a relief to hear, since it’s the same basic engine.

LOREM IPSUM > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 14:59

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Short trips in colder months will do this. Condensation is a bitch.

Make sure you’re getting your car up to full operating temperature every time you drive it. (which can take quite a bit longer than you would think, even when using coolant temp as a reference.)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 15:32

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my 911 has the same looking smoo on the inside of the oil cap when its cold. And that certainly doesn’t have a coolant leak.

How close are you to your next oil change? maybe send a sample to be analsyzed?

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 15:35

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Hmm, well I’m not as familiar with that engine. I still think it could be moisture/cold/vent system issue. Start by filling the coolant to a level you can monitor.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 01/14/2018 at 15:35

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Also good luck!

His Stigness > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/14/2018 at 15:45

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I really wouldn’t really worry about it yet. Until you start losing coolant I wouldn’t lose sleep over it.

In terms of the PCV and the oil separator, have you ever gotten a smoky start after it sitting overnight? I would look into replacing the oil separator if you’re getting PCV codes.

diplodicus > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/17/2018 at 12:44

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If the coolant looks ok, and you aren’t getting misfires. I’d say CCV.