Goop in my oil

I went to top up my car with oil yesterday and when I pulled out the dipstick I noticed a beigey goop at the bottom, I thought this may be cos I hadn't used the car for the day so I used the car for work today but when I got home and pulled the dipstick out again there were still some streeks on the dipstick. Shoul i be very worried? By the way I have an E reg Escort automatic.


Thanx

Hmm, only time I've ever seen beige oil was when it was mixed with water (purposely mixed, not just put together, either the oil or water settles in that case). Only thing I can think of is coolant getting into the crankcase. Hopefully it's not that, because that's not a good thing at all. Couldn't hurt to have it checked, or at the least go to your local dealer and ask the serviceman what he suspects. Good luck.

Eek! Get thyself either A) to a shop IMMEDIATLEY or B) the toolbox with the torque wrench.

You've got a blown head gasket, probably between the #3 and #4 cylinder oil and coolant galleys. Dumping coolant into the oil there. Don't even THINK about driving it that way, unless you *want* to put a new engine in the thing. Been there, done that, not a fun thing to do. Head gasket is fairly easy.. if you're careful, you can pull the head without ripping off the intake manifold, put the new head gasket on, and be on your way. But it's usually easier for most folks to have a shop do it.

:eek: GoinRallyin's right! Your looking at a blown head gasket, or, heaven forbid, a cracked head. Either way, your going to have to replace the headgasket and most likely the head. I've found out that with aluminum head engines, if you blow the head gasket, you have to replace the head or get the head milled by a machine shop. I'd just pony up the bucks and get a new head. Hope this helps!

Beige colored crap in the oil? The other thing to check is the radiator or the overflow bottle.

If the coolant has been changed regularly (ie its the usually translucent orange or green color) then a blown head gasket can sometimes show up as dark material in the coolant.

If the coolant hasn't been changed regularly - a lack of corrosion inhibitor in the coolant can contribute to blockages in the galleries or worse corrosion of the head due to electrolysis between the unlike metals of the block (cast iron) and the head (aluminium).

If the head's corroded then it's usually a throwaway (but you'll soon see this when you take off the head). Corrosion will happen around the water galleries and will be evidenced by pitting, partial blocking etc.

Depending on the engine - the replacement of the head gasket can vary in difficulty and time required. You'll probably need the workshop manual or at the very least the settings for the timing, torque settings, some tools (gasket scraper and a good torque wrench). You might want to consider some new head bolts as well.

Some manufacturers only sell gaskets as a set too. That means you end up forking out for all the other ones (which you don't need).

Unless you feel particularly masochistic, or know someone who can provide the required skills, knowledge and assistance get a shop to look
at it.