tires and wheels Pulled my Valve cover and found this.....Goo

[TBBMW]

What is this goowy stuff? And how do I fix it??

Closer shot...

Another angle..

One more.... It's like a off white goo..

[Davo]

It looks like water/coolant in the oil

[eastsidebimmer]

Oh Golly, better sit down -- this looks like coolant and oil frappé

Did you overheat the car anytime in the past few years?

[dubois]

it sure looks like a blown head gasket. Check compression and if two adjacent cylinders are low, then, there is your answer. I have had some condensation on some motors, which was completely "normal", but this seems excessive. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions yet, unless you are overheating, loosing power or running out of coolant.

[TBBMW]

Not overheating, actually the car runs a little cool. Just flushed the coolant this weekend and added new coolant. I am loosing power though.... not as strong as she used to be. I will do a compression check tomorrow.

[TKMad]

That can also happen when crankcase ventilation is insufficient. Make sure your baffles aren't plugged in your valve cover, try to blow through them. Clean them out if plugged and you should be good to go.

[02for2]

That chocolate milkshake is an emulsion of oil and water.

Do your compression test (Wet and Dry) and a leakdown if possible to eliminate it being a serious problem.

But, it's not that unusual for a car which isn't a daily driver to develop some emulsion under the valve cover because the oil absorbs some moisture from combustion which then vaporizes and can then condsense on the highest point - valve cover. It can slowly emulsify with the oil film present to produce exactly what you see.

Do the tests and then decide, but I'm betting you're OK.

Cheers!

[gracer]

Do you use this car as a daily driver? If so how far do you drive it? If not driven far and fast enough you will build up moisture in your engine. If you are driving it hard enough and fast enough keep a sharp eye on the temp gage. How many miles on this oil? G

[TBBMW]

Has not been my daily driver for about six months due to an oil leak and timing issue. Been driving the e28 while this car rested in the garage. Getting ready for V@V (hopefully) so I worked on the oil leak from front valve cover and installed a "hot-spark". Also installed the stock air filter and took her for a spin the other night (Sunday night) for about 5 miles or so then parked it, discovered this goo on Wed. after I pulled the valve cover because of yet another leak from the top of the valve cover near the timing chain cover and another leak near the distributor.

[Lars]

That is probably the problem then, you didn't drive it enough to evaporate the condensation.

Also what weight oil did you put in it?

[TBBMW]

Using Castrol 20W50 oil, have been for years in all of my BMW vehicles.

[ray_]

If the oil on the dipstick looks all right, you may be okay.

If not, you're not!

GL,

Ray

[Lars]

Good, so it isn't a weight issue. Like Ray says, check the dipstick to see if it is there too.

[TKMad]

Oil leaks are also a symptom of plugged baffles in the valve cover. The pressure builds up and pushes oil past seals.

[TBBMW]

Ok, I was able to do a compression test tonight, readings are

Cylinder 1 = 160

Cylinder 2 = 155

Cylinder 3 = 155

Cylinder 4 = 160

Thank goodness it's not a blown head gasket!!!

I also changed the valve cover ( used one from my spare engine) and removed the old venting system and just stuck a hose on the vent tube and ran it down past the brake booster.

I will do a test run tomorrow.

Where I started....