WTF is happening here?

[NORAGRETS]

White oil? wtf is going on w this?

[SYT_Shadow]

condensation most likely. Have you been driving short trips?

[M3SQRD]

Also, in addition to short trips, has it been cold and damp? Likely moisture and/or condensation build up due to short trips and damp conditions. Worst case would be blown head gasket but you’d have plenty of other symptoms concurrent with white residue. Do you have any other symptoms and/or issues?

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Also, in addition to short trips, has it been cold and damp? Likely moisture and/or condensation build up due to short trips and damp conditions. Worst case would be blown head gasket but you’d have plenty of other symptoms concurrent with white residue. Do you have any other symptoms and/or issues?

No symptoms thank god. Just have never seen white oil/residue.

Yes I live in Boston and temps just got into the 20’s so that makes sense

[Wanted_M]

Personally, I'd change oil and filter as emulsification is no bueno for the engine/bearings and you can't tell what the sump looks like due to missing a dipstick. Has the car been sitting for a while? I encountered something similar years ago and found to have a worn gasket for oil cap as moisture was accumulating there causing what you see there.

What oil weight are you using?

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by Wanted_M

Personally, I'd change oil and filter as emulsification is no bueno for the engine/bearings and you can't tell what the sump looks like due to missing a dipstick. Has the car been sitting for a while? I encountered something similar years ago and found to have a worn gasket for oil cap as moisture was accumulating there causing what you see there.

What oil weight are you using?

Good tips.

Oil and filter were literally just changed like 200 miles ago. I did puncture and replace my oil cooler about 1000 miles ago and had to fill up with Mobil 0W30 (euro spec) bc my body shop ordered 0W20 and I didn’t wanna wait for them to order the right stuff. Only ran that for 1000 miles tho. I did notice the white discharge/whatever when I changed back to BMW LL-01 0W30 (again 200 miles ago).

0W30 which may need to be changed to 5W30 since it’s getting quite chilly here. That may be my issue?

[Wanted_M]

0W-30 is good for winter, 0W-20 is too thin for my liking on these engines. For summer run a 5W-40. Maybe inspect the oil filter and see if there anything in there, look for that milky white residue. Change gasket on oil cap or get a new one and go from there. Good luck man, hope that solves your issue.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by Wanted_M

0W-30 is good for winter, 0W-20 is too thin for my liking on these engines. For summer run a 5W-40. Maybe inspect the oil filter and see if there anything in there, look for that milky white residue. Change gasket on oil cap or get a new one and go from there. Good luck man, hope that solves your issue.

Gasket on the cap is a good one I’ll do that.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by Wanted_M

0W-30 is good for winter, 0W-20 is too thin for my liking on these engines. For summer run a 5W-40. Maybe inspect the oil filter and see if there anything in there, look for that milky white residue. Change gasket on oil cap or get a new one and go from there. Good luck man, hope that solves your issue.

I may try to evac the oil completely this weekend too. See what comes out

[ron_s55]

When I bought my used f80 last year, it had some milky residue too.
The car sat 2 months unsold until I bought it, so I hoped it was just that.

I cleaned it, did an oil change and haven't had it reoccur. I also check my coolant levels every 1-2 months.

[hC1001]

Its condensation and totally normal for cars that dont get driven long enough to operating temps. If you drive the car long enough, it will go away. Its not sludge which is a much bigger problem.

If you only do 10-15 min trips, you might want to consider an electric car.

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by hC1001

Its condensation and totally normal for cars that dont get driven long enough to operating temps. If you drive the car long enough, it will go away. Its not sludge which is a much bigger problem.

If you only do 10-15 min trips, you might want to consider an electric car.

Oh burned. Burned.

I do a lot of city driving but I also do a lot of longer trips. Typically I’m on the road for work 3 days a week so it does get driven. That’s why I got the damn thing in the first place. I drive 300-400 miles a week for work and I wanted a car I loved driving.

[hC1001]

Originally Posted by NORAGRETS

Oh burned. Burned.

I do a lot of city driving but I also do a lot of longer trips. Typically I’m on the road for work 3 days a week so it does get driven. That’s why I got the damn thing in the first place. I drive 300-400 miles a week for work and I wanted a car I loved driving.

Hmm maybe its residual from some short trips previously? It wont instantly all go away after you do a long trip but it should decrease. You could try wiping it off and rechecking.

I wouldnt worry about it unless it builds up more. You can also do a used oil analysis if you are concerned.

[jaylazy2020]

I’ve fallen into a bad habit of doing short trips to work where sometimes I need the car afterwards.

I’m due to change oil and filter soon.

Any other tips or things I should look out for?

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by D_SheerDrivingPleasure

Back in the 90s troublemakers would pour sugar into a car's gas tanks. But this is just perverted on another level.

That’s fucked

[jaylazy2020]

I checked mine after I got back in to it

It had been parked up in a cold under ground car park over Xmas for two weeks.

I’m due to change oil soon(it was changed 10k km ago)

Any other advice on this?

Thanks.

[hC1001]

Originally Posted by jaylazy2020

I checked mine after I got back in to it

It had been parked up in a cold under ground car park over Xmas for two weeks.

I’m due to change oil soon(it was changed 10k km ago)

Any other advice on this?

Thanks.

Oil looks normal and if you are at oil change interval, do it. It does look like maybe your oil cap is bad? It shouldnt be sweating oil like that or maybe no one has ever cleaned it lol. Clean it up and reinspect again.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by jaylazy2020

I checked mine after I got back in to it

It had been parked up in a cold under ground car park over Xmas for two weeks.

I’m due to change oil soon(it was changed 10k km ago)

Any other advice on this?

Thanks.

Unless I’m missing something, the oil on this cap looks normal for an oil about to be changed. Oil cap looks like it’s leaking and accumulating debris around the cap. Clean the cap, reinstall and then check for leaks/debris. New cap if it collects debris again. Leaking oil caps is a common issue on the s65.

[jaylazy2020]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Unless I’m missing something, the oil on this cap looks normal for an oil about to be changed. Oil cap looks like it’s leaking and accumulating debris around the cap. Clean the cap, reinstall and then check for leaks/debris. New cap if it collects debris again. Leaking oil caps is a common issue on the s65.

Before reading this post I checked it again this evening having made a point of taking a longer drive home from work in order to ensure it got up to temp.


I was most concerned about seeing any yellow gunk and hadn’t realised that it may need a new cap which I’ll order tomorrow and see how it performs

Thanks for the info.

[jaylazy2020]

Oil cap had no yellow residue at all
This morning which is encouraging

In any event I got a new for €16 so I’ll check to see how it looks in a few days

[jaylazy2020]

Update after drive to work this morning.

Noticeable amount of yellow was on the new cap and even more on the flange where it connects as per picture.

Another observation was the smoke/vapour rising out once I took off the oil cap

Is that normal?

Cheers