Milky Residue on Oil Cap during winter? Welcome

[m3f_JPoland_e17b491a3d]

honestly I agree with you about the cracking up, thanks 4 reading.



I do hope most of you guys READ my posts before sounding off about bad HGs.... please do so. I was just trying to be helpful



As I said in my previous post, I'm not saying I think its a bad HG. However, I'm not convinced that this is something that should go unchecked. There is definitely a way to fix it if its not something that happens to everyone who lives in cold climates.

The help is always appreciated even if it sparks some debate. :thumbsup2:

[m3f_93M3NY]

I had this all last winter and when i finally took the head off to put the ported and polished one on with the new cams, the head gasket between the 5th and 6th cylinder was destroyed, there was no visible oil in coolant, just a slight disappearance, the compression results were within a reasonable range, no white smoke or any indication of a bad HG just they yellowy sludge. Believe me it is not normal....this winter so far with the new top end does not show any of that sludge on the cap, almost surley a bad HG..

[m3f_TJDiCandido]

haha you guys crack me up. My 1998 M3 does it, my friends 1997 M3 does it, and my old roomates 1999 323is does it. I guess we have all had bad headgaskets for YEARS. lol.



My 2000 323i had "butterscotch" on the oil filler cap just like the OP's photos and it was a blown head gasket...

[m3f_fitchesbas_a4754265ce]

LOL this turning in quite a thread from the OP informing us to other people claiming headgasket problems.


I personally agree and think this isn't normal. Perhaps the cold weather just makes your hdgasket problems more noticeable.

[m3f_Roland H_da3d16ded4]

my car has seen -20 deg F temps and doesn't do this... somehow, somewhere, one of your gaskets is letting moisture or coolant into the oil system.

[m3f_JPoland_e17b491a3d]

haha you guys crack me up. My 1998 M3 does it, my friends 1997 M3 does it, and my old roomates 1999 323is does it. I guess we have all had bad headgaskets for YEARS. lol.



you should probably call your friend and old roommate :taser:

[m3f_sivikvtec_3585b3a59e]

you should probably call your friend and old roommate :taser:



hahah yea right, I guess the 3245324534 people that start threads on this every winter as well also have blown hg's....I suppose somebody should tell BMW about this.

[m3f_fitchesbas_a4754265ce]

This is the first thread I ever saw discussing this as a non-issue for all my years on this forum.

[m3f_bmwpowere3_bfe5bd7882]

Fundametal mistake, changing oil while it's cold... If you let it warm up you'd never see the residue. I agree some is normal, but if the oil's warmed up and you still see it, it's head gasket time!

[m3f_das borgen_362acec4fe]

This is the first thread I ever saw discussing this as a non-issue for all my years on this forum.



thanks, it is correct within the parameters I got listed



There'll be a few threads started here and there with people asking this question. you can be sure

[m3f_bigneil_f35a8c7058]

Wow - that's one thing even I never saw (in 7 northern winters), thank god.

[m3f_epj3_d2e882815a]

Wow - that's one thing even I never saw (in 7 northern winters), thank god.

But it'll happen eventually - everything happens to your car :laughhard:

[m3f_cruisin_psu]

This is the first thread I ever saw discussing this as a non-issue for all my years on this forum.



I've seen threads about this and have seen this on my E36. The cap hasn't gotten as thickly covered as some of those images (they must be extreme cases).. but enough that I feared the HG. I started seeing it taking short trips (in State College, haha) when it was very cold. That was over 3 years ago.. and ~50k miles since it was first noticed.

[m3f_sivikvtec_3585b3a59e]

I will say that mine or the other bimmers I have seen with this "issue" did not have nearly as much residue as what is in the pictures. My car doesn't even get enough to cover the cap, just a few colored splotches.

[m3f_fitchesbas_a4754265ce]

I've seen threads about this and have seen this on my E36. The cap hasn't gotten as thickly covered as some of those images (they must be extreme cases).. but enough that I feared the HG. I started seeing it taking short trips (in State College, haha) when it was very cold. That was over 3 years ago.. and ~50k miles since it was first noticed.


Have at it then. I've never seen it in my fours in State College driving an E36 as well.


I am a regular on this forum since 03 and personally do not see this being covered all that often.


My problem with this thread is informing people that it's alright to have that residue on the oil cap - when in fact I do not believe it is 'OK'.


To each their own, it's not my car... do as you please. Not worth arguing over if my cars aren't doing it.