gunk in oil fill cap

[gprixgtp]

I pulled the oil fill cap off and inside the cap I see a gunk that looks and feels like white lithium grease on the inside of it. There is also a small amount of condensation inside the cap. There is no water in the oil and no oil in the water. Any ideas what it is from? I have no oil or water loss either.
Thanks John

[fst100]

Originally Posted by gprixgtp

I pulled the oil fill cap off and inside the cap I see a gunk that looks and feels like white lithium grease on the inside of it. There is also a small amount of condensation inside the cap. There is no water in the oil and no oil in the water. Any ideas what it is from? I have no oil or water loss either.
Thanks John

is it milky substance? if so u might have a coolant leak somewhere. in most cases either the lower intake manifold or at the throttlebody. locations not certain but it does sound like coolant leaked into the engine.

[richtazz]

What year and engine do you have? If you drive only short distances, it could be just condensation build-up. If it has an orange tint to it (depending on the year of your car, it could be a greenish tint) you have an internal coolant leak.

[gprixgtp]

That's what I thought but there is no oil in water or water in the oil. This substance also is not on the rockers, valve covers, the bottom of the head, or anywhere else. It is almost like it is condensating water. I've checked the pcv valve and it is venting, and the cap seems to be on tight as well.
Usually on the ones I have seen with a coolant leak you not only have water/oil mix but loss of one or the other. I haven't needed to add oil since the last oil change and my water level hasn't changed either.

[gprixgtp]

Originally Posted by richtazz

What year and engine do you have? If you drive only short distances, it could be just condensation build-up. If it has an orange tint to it (depending on the year of your car, it could be a greenish tint) you have an internal coolant leak.

Ok that is what it is just what I thought. condensation.
I drive about 4 miles to work and 4 miles home 1 stoplight both ways. So I am to my destination before the engine gets to operating temp.
It is almost pure white, no tint. It does look just like white lithium grease you get in the spray can.
It is a 97 gtp.

[fst100]

Originally Posted by gprixgtp

That's what I thought but there is no oil in water or water in the oil. This substance also is not on the rockers, valve covers, the bottom of the head, or anywhere else. It is almost like it is condensating water. I've checked the pcv valve and it is venting, and the cap seems to be on tight as well.
Usually on the ones I have seen with a coolant leak you not only have water/oil mix but loss of one or the other. I haven't needed to add oil since the last oil change and my water level hasn't changed either.

like tazz mentione, could be just condensation under the cap. have u experience anything different recently?

[richtazz]

Since you drive such a short distance, it's condensation build up, and nothing to worry about. Every couple of days, take the long way home and let it warm up. If you don't, other parts like the exhaust, mufflers, cat, etc... are going to start to go due to all the moisture in the system.

[gpgt98]

I see that short trips can cause this. My wife drives her 2001 GP se 3.1 28 miles each way to work. I still find the "white gunk" in the oil fill cap. Is this a sign of the dreaded coolant leak? Meaning costly repair? It has just over 100K on it and is other wise pretty good conditon. Is it usually just the gasket? How can you tell if it is a crack? Would it be visable? Any more info is apreciated.