oil cap query

Hi

I have been using my Beetle a bit more lately to give it some use and I notice under the oil cap it looks like this:



Seems to be some sort of white / creamy substance forming, if I clean it off every time I use it, it isn't so bad.


What is this?

Why is it there?


Someone had advised me it may be because I am not warming it up enough and condensation forming under the oil cap,

It is not on the dipstick at all.


Thoughts?


thank you.

condensation takes place with water so maybe some got in somehow
change the oil and some vw's dont like bp longlife so make it good oil

as bushed said its just condensation in the oil

thats what happens when cars do short city trips
they dont get hot enough to boil the moisture out of the oil

Joel wrote:as bushed said its just condensation in the oil

thats what happens when cars do short city trips
they dont get hot enough to boil the moisture out of the oil

Dumb question, but how does moisture get in there?

My car lives in a shed.

Thanks both of you, will get an oil change done and keep an eye on it.



thank you

RAIN
PUDDLES
FLOODED CREEKS?...water finds its own way..check the filler pipe is on tight
CHEAP OIL
HAVE U GOT A BREATHER PIPE TO THE AIRFILTER?
THAT SUCKS OUT SOME CONDENSATION

bushed wrote:RAIN
PUDDLES
FLOODED CREEKS?...water finds its own way..check the filler pipe is on tight
CHEAP OIL
HAVE U GOT A BREATHER PIPE TO THE AIRFILTER?
THAT SUCKS OUT SOME CONDENSATION

Maybe these are obvious questions to others, but does rain get in through the vents above the engine lid?




I assume the air breather pipe is the big grey one there that is going down into the engine near the oil cap?


Thanks for your help mate

Yes it is condensation we found a few oils more prone to this condensation quite a few years ago,one of the major oil companies whose rep said it didn't happen was one of the most prevalent.The crankcase is vented to the atmosphere and if it doesn't run at operating temp this makes it more prone to this. I use Valvoline or Caltex oils and find we have very little problem. I would suggest a good quality oil from a major manufacturer such as either of these and not a cheaper supermarket/cut price auto store.( I do not have any connection to either of these oil companies but have used both regularly)

Ok thanks, I have Castrol in there at the moment, will get an oil change done this week and see what happens,

thanks for the help.

saponification.....soap!
when moisture laden air reacts with oil and some metals or ions and heat you get this deposit via chemical process callled saponification...used to make soap and some greases can be obtained by this process or altered to give them specific properties.
cold weather..short runs..need to get your engine hotter for longer.

For every litre of petrol burnt,your engine prouces a litre of water (I think!). Some of that water finds its way to the oil. No stress, a freeway run once a month steams it out of the oil

The moisture comes from the air not the oil, but if the engine doesn't see long enough trips the moisture gathers at the cap and is not burnt away. Every time the engine cools down, as the temp drops, the air contracts so cool atmosphereic air enters the engine and it brings with it some h2o to add to the cap.