Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: a2reed on 24 January 2010, 17:42:24

Title: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: a2reed on 24 January 2010, 17:42:24
Have just opened the oil filler as I got a warning message on the dash " oil level low" to add some more and the whole pipe and cap is caked in light brown smegma type gunk .... anyone had anything similar?
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: rustym95 on 24 January 2010, 17:43:41
do you do short journeys.
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: Lazydocker on 24 January 2010, 17:44:44
Quote
Have just opened the oil filler as I got a warning message on the dash " oil level low" to add some more and the whole pipe and cap is caked in light brown smegma type gunk .... anyone had anything similar?

Pull the dipstick out and if that's clear it's just condensation...

Do you do lots of short journeys?

What oil are you using?

When was the last oil and filter change?
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: a2reed on 24 January 2010, 17:45:21
A mixture really ... I have changed the oil regularly but also noticed that the water needed topping up a few weeks back
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: a2reed on 24 January 2010, 17:46:19
Oil is the TC fully Synthetic stuff ... top of the range ... oil changed every 3-5000 or so
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: rustym95 on 24 January 2010, 17:46:22
oil cooler ok?
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: a2reed on 24 January 2010, 17:48:32
I initially thought of the oil cooler but everywhere I look on forums it says oil appears in the water tank ... but this seems to be the other way round ... coiuld it be head gasket?
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: rustym95 on 24 January 2010, 17:50:08
is there oil in the plug holes or any were else.
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: a2reed on 24 January 2010, 17:51:33
Will check that in day light but I changed the rocker seals about 12 months back when I have half the engine out for the dispack change.( what fun that is!)  and all was well for ages...
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: Entwood on 24 January 2010, 17:53:12
It could be a head gasket..... but improbable.

The oil filler neck sits in the coldest part of the engine bay, and on short journeys never really warms up.

The oil does warm up and gives off water vapour, this condenses on the cold surface of the oil filler neck. This water vapour is always present as it comes from the air .. it's NOT always a leak. As the moisture condenses in an oily environment it forms an emulsion .. thats the gunge you see.

Some types of oil are worse than others, and old oil is bad as well.

So, wipe the stuff out, do a decent long journey - 50-100 miles  :) - change the oil, use VX 10W40...

Any and all of these will probably sort it out.. worrying about it won't !!!
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: Lazydocker on 24 January 2010, 17:53:50
Quote
I initially thought of the oil cooler but everywhere I look on forums it says oil appears in the water tank ... but this seems to be the other way round ... coiuld it be head gasket?

In a word... Yes, it could be :( :(

BUT... It could be many other things too :y :y Have you done lots of short journeys recently?

Is the engine getting up to the correct operating temperature reasonably quickly?
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: Welung666 on 24 January 2010, 17:54:17
If it's clear on the dipstick then it's probably just condensation, take it off, clean it, stick it in your boot and put the cap directly onto the rocker cover itself. Just re-fit it when you need to top the oil up ;)
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: rustym95 on 24 January 2010, 17:54:31
also check pipes and seals on water systerm, even the radiator. :y
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: a2reed on 24 January 2010, 18:24:01
Ok chaps ...have checked the oil on the dipstick and it is normal ...so have cleaned out the oil filler tube with kitchen towels ... thanks for your help hopefully it should be ok... just don't understand where the water went and why the oil dropped but never mind
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: manny on 24 January 2010, 18:29:45
Its just due to cold weather.Never get it in warm weather.What i did was to take off filler neck and put oil cap directly on to cam cover.No more gunk.When topping up with oil use funnel..
Title: Re: Smegma .. Oh Dear!
Post by: belldarr on 24 January 2010, 18:46:29
I checked all my levels earlier on today and my 3.2 has the Mayo - not a lot but enough to send me into a panic! Checked the dipstick and the header tank and no other signs so will be keeping an eye on it - as stated by others, only been running around locally in it so hopefully its the cold weather causing condensation.

Darren