Found under the oil cap

[JHZR2]

Time for my free yearly oil change on the 135i. Think I have around 2500 miles on this oil. Since there is no dipstick I pulled the oil cap to put my sampling tube down into the sump. Found this:

Down inside the whole everything looked pristine, nice clean shiny metal. I've been using the car quite a bit the last few weeks, though typically the oil always gets up to temperature and yesterday I had a long interstate drive. Oil temperatures typically around 240°F.

I haven't had a car that I've noticed milkiness under the oil cap in a long time. Didn't expect it on this engine given how hot both the coolant and oil temperatures run.

 

[TallPaul]

It looks like a leech.

 

[Cristobal]

It is an artificial plastic worm that fishermen use.

 

[SatinSilver]

Have you fixed the tire with the nail in it yet?

 

[matrass]

was there only one spot of the milky color ? taking it that you did not see any under the oil cap itself.

 

[901Memphis]

No dipstick? How do you know if you're over or under?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
No dipstick? How do you know if you're over or under?

IIRC, there is a digital gauge/dipstick in the instrument cluster. However, I don't think it shows if you're over full, but maybe it throws a warning message if you're overfilled by a lot.

 

[901Memphis]

I guess you'd figure out how fast it was consuming by measuring how much you drained each change too.

 

[IndyIan]

I've seen this the odd time in the Neon. My guess is that when you shut off the car, the valve cover cools first and any water still evaporating out of the oil condenses on the cover and some collects at the filler mouth as its a local low point?
Each time I checked the oil in the sump, it was fine.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: matrass
was there only one spot of the milky color ? taking it that you did not see any under the oil cap itself.


Only that one spot. Oil looked good, will see what UOA reports.

 

[Phishin]

Am I blind? I don't see anything like a milky spot....Looks like an oily filler hole to me.....

 

[stchman]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
No dipstick? How do you know if you're over or under?


I have often wondered what the rationale is behind making a vehicle with no dipstick. Does BMW save money by replacing that incredibly expensive dipstick with a cost saving sensor and computer?

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Am I blind? I don't see anything like a milky spot....Looks like an oily filler hole to me.....


I guess I'm blind too, or this monitor sucks, or both.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: Phishin
Am I blind? I don't see anything like a milky spot....Looks like an oily filler hole to me.....


I guess I'm blind too, or this monitor sucks, or both.


Ditto. I didn't really see anything.

 

[bigjl]

My Jag has no dipstick. You have a readout accessed via a menu.

You can only check the oil level with the engine fully warmed up and parked for morethan 10 minutes.

Can't see anything of concern in the photot but i am viewing on a phone

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I've seen this the odd time in the Neon. My guess is that when you shut off the car, the valve cover cools first and any water still evaporating out of the oil condenses on the cover and some collects at the filler mouth as its a local low point?
Each time I checked the oil in the sump, it was fine.

Parents had an R16, with maybe a 5-6" standpipe for the filler cap, so that you could pout the oil in without a funnel.

This made a great condenser for fumes to form mayo in the filler tube and under cap...no issues anywhere else.

 

[RISUPERCREWMAN]

What no dipstick now on that sled! OMG! LOL I'll stick to my Fords thank you!

 

[JAG]

The 135i I used to have had milky oil where yours does, during the winter only.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Am I blind? I don't see anything like a milky spot....Looks like an oily filler hole to me.....



Bottom left of the filler hole. The oil there on the filler lip is white.

 

[hardcore302]

It is not uncommon to see a little milkshakiness near the cap, as explained earlier.