sludge under oil filler cap

sbrauns · 03-05-2013, 05:12 PM

Was filling up some oil and found this under the filler cap!
I am driving around 23 km one direction to work. So can it be oil is just not getting hot enough to burn of any water. Or should I worry that maybe my head gasket is blown?

TS135i · 03-05-2013, 05:23 PM

That's exactly how the oil cap in my fathers 1970's ford looked like, an unusual sight for a modern car.

NickyC · 03-05-2013, 05:34 PM

I'd say there's zero chance you have a blown HG. Both times I've blown one in a turbocharged car, I knew right away. Temps started rising quickly and wouldn't back off. As well, I haven't heard of anyone blowing one in a 135i, so you've got that going for you. That does have an odd color however, but I have no idea why that could be. Best of luck.

Pig Farmer · 03-05-2013, 07:02 PM

That definitely looks like water in your oil. Did you check to see if you have oil in your coolant resivor? Also, do a search for posts on the oil filter housing gasket. I suspect you have a bad gasket.

BEAR-AvHistory · 03-05-2013, 07:28 PM

Dump the oil, put a fresh fill & filter in, wipe down the cap. Make sure you get your oil temp over 215 Fahrenheit long enough to out gas any contaminates at least once a week.

I expect your work commute is to short to bring the oil temp up high enough.

sbrauns · 03-06-2013, 03:40 AM

I would expect to see a lot of smoke if there was a gasket blown.
But I see no smoke at all.

Dackelone · 03-06-2013, 03:58 AM

You need to drive your car longer than just 23 kms.

You might want to change your oil(&filter) too... if you have that much sludge on the oil cap. I don't buy into bmw's once a year(oe 23K kms) oil changes.

TheSt|G · 03-06-2013, 08:14 AM

Get an oil analysis done. Most are cheap and will tell you exactly what the cause is.

Foamy oil is natural though for cars that see a lot of short drives.

b1aze · 03-06-2013, 08:50 AM

Black stone labs ftw. Cheap an good insurance to know if your motor is wearing well and if you can stretch out your OCI at all.

RimasRS · 03-06-2013, 11:28 AM

That is normal doing short drives go at least 100 km and it will be gone. It is condensate/water. Dont worry just like Dack said change your oil every 12k kms Good luck

1911A145 · 03-11-2013, 01:03 AM

normal

shah269 · 03-11-2013, 10:50 AM

Yeah i'm in the same boat as you WR to the short drives.
I let my car warm up for 3min in the morning and about the same before I go home.
The idea is that it's a 15min drive so if i add an extra 3 min of engine run time...it will help burn off the water.
Also this is going to sound silly but enjoy life a little! Take the long way home!
She, the car, will love it!

Mega Man · 03-12-2013, 07:17 PM

I checked on mine after coming home. My oil filler cap doesn't look as bad, but there was white smoke coming off of the oil cap, and the oil reservoir it covers.

Is this normal or should I be worried?

I do feel better about the Oil Catch Can (though the consensus of the forums seems to be they don't do much, if anything at all).

pnosker · 03-13-2013, 12:08 PM

This is really common in the winter on cars that don't warm up to operating temperature for long enough. Normally, a small amount of condensed water from the air gets into the oil but when it's at operating temp for enough time, the water evaporates out and leaves through a one way valve. In this case, the water has emulsified with the oil and formed a thin mixture at the top of your engine. The cure is to go for a long drive, let your engine oil heat up to 95C for 30+ minutes and do this enough times for that sludge to disappear.

An oil change wouldn't hurt either, but the problem isn't with the engine or the oil-- it's with your driving distance. Make it a habit to take the car out for a long drive every week or two.

03-05-2013, 05:12 PM	#1
sbrauns New Member 6 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 135I Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	sludge under oil filler cap Was filling up some oil and found this under the filler cap! I am driving around 23 km one direction to work. So can it be oil is just not getting hot enough to burn of any water. Or should I worry that maybe my head gasket is blown? Attached Images
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03-05-2013, 05:23 PM	#2
TS135i piggy in the mirror 47 Rep 595 Posts Drives: 2013 6MT 135i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	That's exactly how the oil cap in my fathers 1970's ford looked like, an unusual sight for a modern car. __________________ 135i Coupe N55 PPK+JB4 X3 30d LCI
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03-05-2013, 05:34 PM	#3
NickyC Lieutenant General 17481 Rep 10,662 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	I'd say there's zero chance you have a blown HG. Both times I've blown one in a turbocharged car, I knew right away. Temps started rising quickly and wouldn't back off. As well, I haven't heard of anyone blowing one in a 135i, so you've got that going for you. That does have an odd color however, but I have no idea why that could be. Best of luck.
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03-05-2013, 07:02 PM	#4
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	That definitely looks like water in your oil. Did you check to see if you have oil in your coolant resivor? Also, do a search for posts on the oil filter housing gasket. I suspect you have a bad gasket.
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03-05-2013, 07:28 PM	#5
BEAR-AvHistory 2020 Z4 M40i - 2022 M4C Convt 3127 Rep 5,264 Posts Drives: 2020 Z4 M40i - 2022 M4C Convrt Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC - OIB, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 1965 COBRA (FFR rep ... [8.57] 2023 Jeep Wrangler ... [9.50] 2009 Yamaha V-Star [0.00] Cars 2-BMW, 2-FORD, ... [0.00] 2023 Ford Expeditio ... [0.00] 2020 Z4 M40i [10.00] 2022 BMW M4C [7.25] 1998 FORD Ranger 4X4 [0.00]	Dump the oil, put a fresh fill & filter in, wipe down the cap. Make sure you get your oil temp over 215 Fahrenheit long enough to out gas any contaminates at least once a week. I expect your work commute is to short to bring the oil temp up high enough. __________________ Kevin Dravit Gray, Black Leather, Moonlight Roof, Red Calipers 2022 M4C - 2020 Z4 M40i - 2023 FORD Expedition XLT Max 4X4 400BHP - 2009 V-Star - 1998 Ranger 4X4 5MT - 1965 Cobra (R) 5MT - 2023 Jeep Wrangler Sport S 6MT
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03-06-2013, 03:40 AM	#6
sbrauns New Member 6 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 135I Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	I would expect to see a lot of smoke if there was a gasket blown. But I see no smoke at all.
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03-06-2013, 03:58 AM	#7
Dackelone European Editor 10539 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	You need to drive your car longer than just 23 kms. You might want to change your oil(&filter) too... if you have that much sludge on the oil cap. I don't buy into bmw's once a year(oe 23K kms) oil changes. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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03-06-2013, 08:14 AM	#8
TheSt\|G Resident Tamed Racing Driver 298 Rep 4,697 Posts Drives: 911, 130is, E39 M5, E36 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Outside Philly iTrader: (2)	Get an oil analysis done. Most are cheap and will tell you exactly what the cause is. Foamy oil is natural though for cars that see a lot of short drives. __________________ 2005 E46 M3 Interlagos/Cinnamon with Sunroof Delete
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03-06-2013, 08:50 AM	#9
b1aze Just one more taste... 566 Rep 2,011 Posts Drives: 2013 128i 6MT MSport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Uxbridge MA iTrader: (18)	Black stone labs ftw. Cheap an good insurance to know if your motor is wearing well and if you can stretch out your OCI at all. __________________ My Build Thread: Jet Black 6MT 128i with MSport
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03-06-2013, 11:28 AM	#10
RimasRS Colonel 85 Rep 2,438 Posts Drives: BMW X3 SD Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	That is normal doing short drives go at least 100 km and it will be gone. It is condensate/water. Dont worry just like Dack said change your oil every 12k kms Good luck
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03-11-2013, 01:03 AM	#11
1911A145 Captain 34 Rep 770 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Port Saint Lucie, FL iTrader: (4)	normal
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03-11-2013, 10:50 AM	#12
shah269 Major 315 Rep 1,035 Posts Drives: 2009 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Yeah i'm in the same boat as you WR to the short drives. I let my car warm up for 3min in the morning and about the same before I go home. The idea is that it's a 15min drive so if i add an extra 3 min of engine run time...it will help burn off the water. Also this is going to sound silly but enjoy life a little! Take the long way home! She, the car, will love it!
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03-12-2013, 07:17 PM	#13
Mega Man エアーマンが倒せない 271 Rep 2,041 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 135i [0.00]	I checked on mine after coming home. My oil filler cap doesn't look as bad, but there was white smoke coming off of the oil cap, and the oil reservoir it covers. Is this normal or should I be worried? I do feel better about the Oil Catch Can (though the consensus of the forums seems to be they don't do much, if anything at all). __________________ 1ADDICT \| Black Shadowline Grills \| KW V2 \| CP-E Tow-Hook Plate \| CP-E Catback Exhaust \| Tow-Hook \| Evolution Racewerks Intercooler \| ER Charge Pipe \| HKS SQV IV \| ER Intercooler Shroud \| BMS Oil Catch Can \| COBB Access Port \| APEX ARC-8 \| EAS OE Performance Brake Upgrade \| SLeK Carbon Fiber Hood \|
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03-13-2013, 12:08 PM	#14
pnosker ti fan 67 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 14 12C \| 17 X5 50i \| 19 M2C Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2014 McLaren 12C Sp ... [0.00] 2017 BMW X5 xDrive50i [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2008 BMW 535xi Touring [10.00] 2008 BMW 135i [10.00]	This is really common in the winter on cars that don't warm up to operating temperature for long enough. Normally, a small amount of condensed water from the air gets into the oil but when it's at operating temp for enough time, the water evaporates out and leaves through a one way valve. In this case, the water has emulsified with the oil and formed a thin mixture at the top of your engine. The cure is to go for a long drive, let your engine oil heat up to 95C for 30+ minutes and do this enough times for that sludge to disappear. An oil change wouldn't hurt either, but the problem isn't with the engine or the oil-- it's with your driving distance. Make it a habit to take the car out for a long drive every week or two.
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