milky oil on valve cover cap?

[Mikey]

I started up my 7 this past weekend after a 5 month winter hibernation. After a 10 minute warmup and a 10 minute drive at low speed-30-50kms; I shut her down and started inspecting things under the bonnet. To my dismay, when I removed the valve cover cap I discovered the oil on the underside of the cap was a milky whitish/grey color. I cleaned this off, put the cap back on and ran the engine another 10 mins. Same result but not as much as the first inspection. The car was stored inside but unheated. I had no such problems during the summer/fall of '07. I changed the oil and filter before winter storage and added one bottle of STP before starting this weekend. I do have a small coolant leak from the slot on the block under the water pump cover, but am planning a pump change in the next couple of weeks. Could this possibly be just moisture being boiled off from winter storage or something much more sinister?

[Beans]

I'd say condensation in the engine, because of it's idleness.
Never let a car idle for so long after getting it out of winter storage. Start her up and immediatly drive of. Once on temperature, up the revs to get some decent heat in the engine. Should be OK then.

Just to be safe check your coolant for signs of oil.


<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="blue"></center>

[Rich in Vancouver]

Wipe the goo out of the cover then take it for a good run and see if it reappears.
Also try removing the coolant filler cap and looking for signs of contamination, or bubbling (from compression) when the engine is running.

1975 TR7 ACL764U

[john 215]

Hi Mikey,
Almost certain to be caused by condensation [:)] modern cars even run heater elements in breather hoses to stop this happening!
Cheers John.

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6 WILL BE ON THE ROAD VERY SOON!
Read My Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/ ... hp/John215

[Rblackadar]

If it sat for 5 months during some cold times in it's hibernation, most likely condensation. no big deal.

[Urchin]

I agree with the wise posting above. You've got condensation. If after a run it does not disappear, consider changing the oil to get rid of the water content. All will then be well.

Jeff

Jeffrey Aronson
P.O. Box 90
Vinalhaven, ME 04863
USA
'80 TR-7 Spider
'66 Land Rover Series II-A [2]
'66 Corvair Monza

[dmachura]

If the oil in your sump is not milky then it is condensation but I wanted to add another possible source of the oil froth, blow-by.
If your rings are gone or if the valves are not seating then the exhaust gases is the source of the froth.

A question I want to throw out there that relates to this topic, can anyone remove the oil filling cap while the engine is running without getting sprayed with oil?

[Beans]

No, the timing chain runs underneath the oil filler cap.
And for lubricating it there is an oil thrower on the cranck shaft ...

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="blue"></center>

[Rayjones]

I can take the oil cap off my 2 litre 8v whilst it is running without getting sprayed with oil, at tickover anyway. And yes it does have oil in the engine!

Ray

1980 UK BRG 2L DHC

[Beans]

And there should be a small oil hole in the tensioner, which should release quit a bit of oil.

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1981 TR7 DHC (not very well known yet, but back on the road)
Also a 1980 TR7 DHC, 1980 TR7 DHC FI, 1981 TR7 FHC
http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="blue"></center>