Get a sniff test done, the only way to be sure.

this is great advice i will clean my pipes out tomorrow sometime and see what happens thanks

My breather pipes were clogged up like that - when I cleaned them it stopped the revs dropping when I dipped the clutch.

I used to have a picture of my mayo oil cap but it seems to have gone missing from my computer and garage.

if the engine is running fine and not overheating then it's unlikely to be your head gasket. The first most obvious thing is condensation as mentioned, though it sounds like you're getting quite a lot of mayo so there's one other thing to check. The breather pipes between the cam cover can become blocked with dried up sticky oil which will mean that condensation effects will be more prominent. Pull them off and look for this:



Then un-block them with some kind of de-greaser like GT85 or WD40:



Give the car an oil and coolant change too if you haven't done so in a while too for good measure. The oil will probably be a bit rubbish if there's a lot of mayo in the top of the head.

Take it for a good long drive, change the oil and filter, take it for another long one, and see what happens:)

no i only thought its been clocked back just now since not when i bought it ha or i wouldnt of bought it
not it dont over heat its fine

Short trips/not getting up to temp, etc all causes it.

I had condomsation on my 328i bmw, shit my pants...

Short trips causes it so i am told?

Depends how/what it is steve, My nova gets condensation as its only started for short times atm

TBH iv never seen condensation manifest itself with copious amounts of mayo under the cap and around the cams, maybe traces under the cap but thats about it.

Is it overheating at all?

quote:

---

Originally posted by craigiegsirep
40000 miles on a 10 year old car i thought the engine had been changed or had been clocked back

---

milk?

ace thats ok then :D thought i was gona blow soon ha! 40000 miles on a 10 year old car i thought the engine had been changed or had been clocked back

Tends to be condensation, particularly if the engine has a plastic cam cover.

well i think my water may smell abit too but thats proble due to the fact that it hasent been changed for 3 years appartly lol

[Edited on 16-05-2010 by Ant B]

yeah thats wat i was told was condensation think my head gasket is fine..but my bro says the water is smelling too? head gasket gone it would be loud tho?

mines like proper mayo and has been since last year,as it only gets drove not far and not very often, i think its condensation as the water level hase'nt gone down and theres no oil in the water and genrally all the levels are fine

[Edited on 16-05-2010 by Ant B]

Not necessarily headgasket. Might be condensation. I had chronic white substance on the oil cap of my Corsa but headgasket was fine. Mechanic said that it is generally only headgasket if it is like proper mayo.

lmao..

spunk?

headgasket gone

engine fucked?