Oil Cap top coated w/ thick tan colored gunk

[Brian]

Rapid Oil Guys said the film is related to moisture in the oil system. Sd. it was common to drivers many short trips. I travel 60 miles to work - one way. NO service lights are on and the car seems to run fine. Thoughts anyone ?

 

[PINGGOLF]

He is correct. The gunk is moisture in the oil. What oil change are you on? If that was your first...contact Hyundai, you may need a new oil cap. If not, and if you had your car serviced somewhere other than Hyundai, they may have done a lousy job and failed to clean up a little spillage. The spillage, that didnt burn off, got wet. Whether rain, or dew, or just condensation and over time it will turn to a yellowish goo.

I would park the car, let it cool, remove the cap, clean REAL good, replace cap, drive for 1500 miles or so, then check it again. If still there, go to Hyundai.

I hate your experiencing that! When I get home I will be checking mine!

 

[Brian]

Thank you. It is my 4th oil change. By the way I called the dealer and talked with "two" service technicians. They said they had not encounted it before.
I got the 2nd guy to tell me it was not normal. But, neither had any idea what would cause it. thanks and I planned on checking it agian in a day or two. The Rapid Oil crew cleaned the cap the threads, and the pipe.
thank you

 

[Calvin]

Be glad its not a "gray" color or it could be a head gasket issue (water leaking into cylinder heads), lets hope its something simple!

 

[Gimli]

It could also be a sign that coolant is getting into the oil, which is not good and would point to a serious problem.

I'd bring it in to your dealer ASAP and have them pressure-test the cooling system.

 

[PINGGOLF]

It could also be a sign that coolant is getting into the oil, which is not good and would point to a serious problem.

I'd bring it in to your dealer ASAP and have them pressure-test the cooling system.

TRUE...i forgot about coolant. Good catch!

 

[ctrcbob]

Years ago, when I lived in Western New York, (AKA Cold Country), I had a car that formed this stuff on the dip stick. Turned out that the engine was running too cold. I changed the thermostat to a higher temperature thermostat, and it cured the problem.

This is not to say that you need the thermostat changed, however if that gunk is forming, the oil is not getting hot enough to boil off the moisture.

 

[Poopsicle]

I know that it's 99.9% moisture. Majority of cars get this if you drive in cold weather, short driving etc etc.