Have I got a K series BMW with a kippered head gasket

[Vince70]

I checked the oil and water etc on the car last week and when removed the oil filler cap it was covered in a coffee coloured goo so I cleaned it up and forgot about it for a week and this weekend I found this when I rechecked it.

 

The engine in the car is an M44 1.9 which isn't known to be a problem like the M43 and I've checked the coolant and I doesnt seem to be using any and it's still a crystal clear blue colour and there's no antifreeze smell in the oil but I did only change the oil about 1500 miles ago so I'm a bit concerned but I'm only doing a mile and a half each way to the station in the morning in the car and the heater is on from the second I jump in just to clear the condensation in the mornings..

 

But today I nearly did about a 10 mile round trip to the tip and the car got up to temperature for a change and I expected it to dry any condensation out the engine but it looks worse than ever..

 

The thing is the car drives really well but only since I put a new PCV valve on the engine as that was blocked up and the revs would stick but it was the original one from 1997.

But before I bought it six months ago it had been standing for a couple of years and is quite low mileage at 56000 plus I have the same engine in my Z3 and that gets even less use and is around the same mileage but the oil never looks like that.

[Craig the Princess]

Sounds like condensation from lots of short journeys, while 10 miles will get rid of condensation it wouldn't burn of the mayo/coffee stuff.

[holbeck]

^^ What Craig said.

 

My Dad's Micra was exactly the same from pensioner short journeys. I borrowed it for a day trip and it was clean as a whistle afterwards.

[Barry Cade]

Misleading thread title. Disapoint.

 

[Vince70]

I've got to admit I rarely Rev the engine and it does most of its journeys around town at about 20 mph or stuck in traffic

[colnerov]

 Hi, it's the short journeys that have started it. The longer journey will warm the engine up better and start to boil the water off but it can't all get out and just condenses again. I think you need to take it on a much longer journey and get it really hot. Can't you just walk to the station in the morning?

 

 Colin

[beko1987]

Bring it to SF16, that should sort it!

[steve_earwig]

But today I nearly did about a 10 mile round trip to the tip and the car got up to temperature for a change...

Ding ding ding ding... what they all said.

[spike60]

My 2.8 Z does it badly enough to get in the dipstick tube as well. Come spring every year it vanishes. 320 merc I had was probably even worse. As everyone else says, no problem.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

I thought it was a Jaguar AJ6 peculiarity because of the external oil filler - but obviously not!

 

Petrol produces an enormous volume of water as it burns in the engine - which doesn't evaporate off when the engine never gets hot. It isn't just the exhaust which gets filled with water - some has condensed out here on your filler cap. As said, a decent run should cure it.

[320touring]

Vince70  the m44 is a larger version of the m42 with some minor changes. Its a good strong engine, that likes to be worked from time to time:)

Generally issues only occur when it is treated badly - missed services etc.

Assuming no oil in the coolant, do the following

 

I've got mates down near you (Hastings and Lewes) there are plenty good roads nearby

 

Get up tomorrow, clean the cap and give it death from Bexhill to Lewes

 

get some lunch.

 

then do the same back

 

BRWAAAAP!

[Bobthebeard]

As above. Just drive it for a couple of hours.

[tooSavvy]

Misleading thread title. Disapoint.

 

Scrap It.........

 

 

You Knoe It Makes Sense

 

 

TS

[steve_earwig]

Vince70  the m44 is a larger version of the m42 with some minor changes. Its a good strong engine, that likes to be worked from time to time:)

Generally issues only occur when it is treated badly - missed services etc.

Assuming no oil in the coolant, do the following

 

I've got mates down near you (Hastings and Lewes) there are plenty good roads nearby

 

Get up tomorrow, clean the cap and give it death from Bexhill to Lewes

 

get some lunch.

 

then do the same back

 

BRWAAAAP!

Neee naah neee naah...

 

Track day FTW.

 

Had this first many years ago in a (then almost new) Solara, panic panic OMGHGF. Got one of the mechanics at work to look at it

[EssDeeWon]

Use it man!!

 

I know BMW's suffer with this if they are not driven for 1000 miles every time you use them during the winter months.

[Vince70]

Thanks for putting my mind at ease...

I'm going to take 320tourings advice and take it for a good long run tomorrow to blow out the cobwebs..

 

I bought it as a WBOD but I'm now to scared to take onto salty roads (not that I've seen any this year) as it's such a nice example and I did tell the previous owner I would look after it and promised I wouldn't buy it and sell it on as he had come very attached to the old girl after owning it for 16 years and I had to be vetted before I was even allowed to buy it and take it away.

 

 

I have a 35 mile commute to work and back if I don't take the train so I might just use it a couple of days a week once this months train pass runs out.

 

I even park it at a posher station than Bexhill as I don't want to get it knocked about, so much for a cheap station car lol... I'm just going to borrow my fathers old Volvo till then as that's ideal for the station so the BMW won't hardly get any use now lol.

 

It's that or I should really take Colin's advice and just leave 20 minutes earlier and walk really but I'm on my feet for my 8 hour shift so I do like being a bit of a lazy b@':)&@ before I start lol.

[purplebargeken]

As others have said, condensation. Clean cap and rag the car for a while

[Eddie Honda]

Misleading thread title. Disapoint.

 

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