Creamy yellowish material gathering in oil cap...

[nyarsulik]

I noticed this after my last oil change a few weeks ago... I am getting a creamy yellowish material that is gathering in the top of the gas cap and just below where you pour your oil in... I wiped it out, and then a week later it was back again. There is not a whole lot, but the fact that there is anything there at all freaks me out.

What is it?

The car has been running perfectly, nothing out of the ordinary.

99 TA, 5.7 V8, about 112k miles

[astyles]

it is condensation......i have it too

[nyarsulik]

I noticed some condensation as well, but the creamy stuff freaks me out.

Is it anything to worry about?

[JohnnyBs98WS6Rag]

Short trips in cold weather that don't allow the engine to fully warm-up long enough to evaporate condensation will tend to do that. Nothing to worry about.

[nyarsulik]

Great, thanks! Yeah, it has been fairly cold here in Kansas City lately, and I only drive this thing a few miles to work every day.

I am really glad it wasn't anything else.

[onetroubledguy]

I have it too so no worries.

[TransAm11973]

well each person situation is different....and while a little condensation isnt bad, its not something that you really want to see.......water in the engine/oil is a bad things....yes every engine builds up condensation but one should try to drive the vehicle enough to burn it off. Like I said before its not normal, you really shouldnt have that creamy build up. May it be hurting your car??.......yes water over time even a small amount changes the properties of the oil which will in the long run cause damage to your internals.........bottom line change your oil....get a evap canister for you pcv line or just a new pcv valve........and change your driving habits so you can properly burn off the condensation.

[nyarsulik]

I have had issues with my PCV valve before, but changed it not more than a few months ago. Could that be causing part of the problem?

[Sarge]

http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109372

[BowTied]

This is called an emulsion. AN emulsification of oil and water. The process is similar to that in making whip cream.

Never disregard this stuff. You may see it in the cap, but that may not be the end of where this stuff is. If you get it in the heads for example it can prevent oil from returning to the pan. Any time I find it at all I flush my engine and change the oil. To me it is not worth the risk.

Note emulsifying isn't real easy, you need oil and water, some heat but not too much is helpful...but you need to churn the stuff. Did you ever see mom or granny make whip topping? Different components but rather similar. There is no churn at the oil cap...so the lighter the color the more of a chance you have that it wasn't made there!