what is wrong?

[Black Midnight]

My car has some junk on the oil cap, the oil on the dipstick appears to be fine. It seems to run fine and there are no visible leaks. Any suggestions?

[das2123]

Underneath the oil cap?

[Black Midnight]

When you take the cap off it is around the the cap and in where you put the oil. I just had an oil change last month and they said there was water in the oil. They did not say how much though. I am not driving my car right now, till it gets figured out.

[das2123]

Water in the oil will give it a milky look. Probably just dirt around that area. Clean it up as best as possible, being careful not to get any into the valve cover.

[Black Midnight]

It only has the milky stuff where the cap comes off. Also the area where the cap goes back into.

[das2123]

When was the last time you changed your oil? Maybe your oil cap isn't sealing correctly and letting moisture in.

[Black Midnight]

I just had the oil changed last month. I get my oil changes done at Walmart, do you think they are a reliable place to get them done at? Someone else I know has a neon and they do not have problems like I do. They have a dohc versus mine a sohc if that matters any. They drive about the same way I do as well. We both drive out of town once a week. The oil cap seems to screw on okay.

[Black Midnight]

Do you think if I cleaned the cap off now that it is warmer out that it would go away? The radiator is full and the bottle is at the add mark for coolant.
Do you think it may be the pcv system? It has never been replaced since I got the car about 6 years ago.

[das2123]

Some people lilke Wal-Mart, but I do my own oil chages, so I can't say if they are reliable or not.

Keep an eye on it and check it about once a week. You should change your PCV valve about every 30,000 miles. It's cheap and easy to do.

[Black Midnight]

Can the pcv valve cause moisture to go in the oil area, if the hosing is blocked up? There is hosing in that area right? What does the pcv system consist of?
I heard it can be a serious problem if it blocks up, it can hydrolock. So my car will not start at all. Also will the oil have to be changed again and a new air filter put in as well? They would probably be contaminated to some extent.
Thanks again for all your help.

[das2123]

The PCV system is just a PCV valve and some tubing. Not much to it.

I haven't heard of an engine hydolocking because of the PCV valve wasn't working. Bad idles and engine missing are symptoms.

[Black Midnight]

I cleaned the cap off, there is still stuff inside though by the valve area. I will not touch that area. The dipstick was fine. I could not figure out where the pcv valve was, so I could not check it. I added some coolant as well.

[Black Midnight]

Can the tubing block up possibly? I checked the engine oil cap and it clicks when you turn it, so it fits well. You just think the water in the oil is ok, it cannot be much because the oil level is norm. Maybe it is just a little moisture, nothing to worry about. Should I still get the pcv system checked out, will it be expensive?

[denisond3]

If your coolant reservoir isnt needing more coolant - then I think the symptoms of water in the camshaft cover are not serious. The pcv hose on my 1997 neon with the 2.0 liter Single Overhead Cam Engine comes from a tube on the top of the cam cover right in front of the coil pack, and runs down between the middle 2 spark plugs. It connects to a tube coming up from the main run of the intake manifold, between the last two inlet tubes (furthest from the passengers side. The PCV valve is in the middle of this hose, tucked almost out of sight among the intake manifold tubes. It shouldnt be expensive to replace - but be sure the hose is on good condition as well as the PCV valve. My hose is disintegrating where it connects to the camshaft cover.

[Black Midnight]

Thanks I might be able to find it now. I still do not want to replace it myself, so I will take it somewhere. Does it usually take that much time to do? Also can the tubing block up at all?