Slurry in my oil cap is this ok?

Bumble The Van · Mar 29, 2022

Rather worryingly i thought i would check the oil on my new 6.1 ocean, its done 5k miles and is running perfectly but when i opened the oil cap there was this gook at the top , is this ok or should i be worried? Any help gratefully received thank you

Perfectos · Mar 29, 2022

Perfectly normal for a Cali.
the filler neck is cool and the oil / water (naturally occurring) will condense in the filler tube

wipe it away with a paper towel.
there has been some informed discussion previously, it is considered normal to get a bit of sludge.

Technical Guide - TSB Oil cap and filler condensation

Description of causes of condensation (mayo) in oil filler cap and dipstick.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Should there be sludge in my oil filler?!

it looks like emulsified oil. which means water or damp causing it. it's probably just condensation collecting around the cap and the oil residue ends up like this. try an oil change. but definitely keep an eye on it. are you doing lots of short trips? I hear that can cause it. it's nothing to...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Resfeber · Mar 29, 2022

Bumble The Van said:
Rather worryingly i thought i would check the oil on my new 6.1 ocean, its done 5k miles and is running perfectly but when i opened the oil cap there was this gook at the top , is this ok or should i be worried? Any help gratefully received thank you

View attachment 90924

View attachment 90925

As the others have replied normal for this vehicle. Any other vehicle and you would think this emulsion of oil and water (aka mayonnaise ) was clear sign of head gasket failure.
Just as you have done extract with digit and clean

Steve1 · Mar 29, 2022

Resfeber said:
As the others have replied normal for this vehicle. Any other vehicle and you would think this emulsion of oil and water (aka mayonnaise ) was clear sign of head gasket failure.
Just as you have done extract with digit and clean

By the way I am not one to be a health an safety freak, I do plenty of my own mechanics and get greasy, but I believe that mayonnaise is considered to be one of the most harmful to humans out of all the engine related goop. It is essentially a mayonnaise made from moisture, oil and engine blow by gasses which contains all the unburned nasties from the combustion chamber so best not to repeatedly get it on your skin.

Wildcamper · Mar 29, 2022

Do a long trip and it should go away.

Resfeber · Mar 29, 2022

Steve1 said:
By the way I am not one to be a health an safety freak, I do plenty of my own mechanics and get greasy, but I believe that mayonnaise is considered to be one of the most harmful to humans out of all the engine related goop. It is essentially a mayonnaise made from moisture, oil and engine blow by gasses which contains all the unburned nasties from the combustion chamber so best not to repeatedly get it on your skin.

Point taken and good advice

kurienp · Mar 29, 2022

Wildcamper said:
Do a long trip and it should go away.

but when he stops again, more will build up

wilburthewombat · Mar 29, 2022

Steve1 said:
By the way I am not one to be a health an safety freak, I do plenty of my own mechanics and get greasy, but I believe that mayonnaise is considered to be one of the most harmful to humans out of all the engine related goop. It is essentially a mayonnaise made from moisture, oil and engine blow by gasses which contains all the unburned nasties from the combustion chamber so best not to repeatedly get it on your skin.

Similar to Marmite, really.

Steve1 · Mar 29, 2022

wilburthewombat said:
Similar to Marmite, really.

I used to get tons of it in my bored out, tuned up mini when I was a lad, probably because my trips were short, breathers weren't up to the job and all that stuff that goes with fiddling with the stock setup. When I did a service, there would be an inch thick layer on the inside of the alloy rocker cover and I would wipe it out. It really stunk and wouldn't soak into the cloth properly. Just had to grab a hand full in a cloth and throw it in a bin bag. Wierd stuff ... yuk.

Multi1100 · Mar 29, 2022

kurienp said:
but when he stops again, more will build up

No, not really if one avoided short trips where the oil is not getting hot enough to vapor out the condensation. Oil temps above 100C are perfect. But since it is still chilly outside the oil will probably stay at a lower temperature. In the summer most of the "mayonaise" will have gone.

Wildcamper · Mar 29, 2022

Multi1100 said:
No, not really if one avoided short trips where the oil is not getting hot enough to vapor out the condensation. Oil temps above 100C are perfect. But since it is still chilly outside the oil will probably stay at a lower temperature. In the summer most of the "mayonaise" will have gone.

Have never had mayonnaise in my oil filler cap but then I never do a short journey, always at least 40 miles one way.

Multi1100 · Mar 29, 2022

Wildcamper said:
Have never had mayonnaise in my oil filler cap but then I never do a short journey, always at least 40 miles one way.

same here

WelshGas · Mar 30, 2022

When the T6 came out it was a common topic on the T6 forum. Some owners tried wrapping the oil filler tube with insulation. Don't know how effective it was.

Taff Tenor · Apr 1, 2022

I’ve noticed it too on my 2018 T6 and thought ‘head gasket?’ But no mechanical trouble on a couple of long trips recently. At less than 20 k it’s likely down to too many short journeys overall and good to know it’s nothing more regular long trips won’t sort

TheDoc · Apr 1, 2022

Some oil brands may be more susceptible to mayonnaise than others. I remember having issues with castrol gtx back in my boy racer days (petrol engine) but not with other brands.