I discovered mayo around the oil filler cap yesterday after it had all that head work last month on my car as the car came up with the oil light a few times... there is an oil leak too. The water is also low.

I need advice...

Mayo is normal if your lazy and only doing little trips.

Im no expert but I thought mayo was always bad? After reading a bit, it seems like its either not much to worry about, or very bad.

Quote from: some random forum bloke, seemed quite knowledgable - do not take as gospelMayo = oil + water

Couple of causes, the one to worry about least is condensation created in the engine, usually caused by a poor fitting seal, allowing damp air to get in.

The worst case scenario is a leaking cylinder head gasket. Depending on where it has gone will determine whether or not water is getting into the crankcase. It can be leaking into the cylinder head chamber, so you wouldnt necessarily get an oil and water mix on the dipstick - it all depends on whether it has just started to go.

Quickest way to find out if it is your cylinder head gasket is to get a compression test done.

take it back to the garage and show them.... the might try to fob you off... if they do just work something out so you can flush the oil out and go back in a month if theres any new gunk there


ive seen it before when a car hasnt been used much too tho

Thats a bit of relief... but if the oil is leaking, which it is Ill have to definitely id that leak...

Id suspect the hg if the head has been removed, definitely. The studs can stretch and the nuts need done in the right order and torqued exactly, then they need checked again after the first few miles.

Its an hour or twos labour, so chat to the garage and be nice.

p.s. its always good to act dumb in these situations.... that way if they bs you you can wait till the end to point it out when theyve dug themselves into a hole

Mayo means water in oil which means the head job was badly done (like head bolts not retorqued after a while).

Well it seems the oil filter had a bad leak and the mayo was from short journeys. So it just needed a new filter.

I also got the bottom ball joints replaced and a newer drop link than the one I had.

Now the car runs sweet as a nut

The filter leaked and it was raining during the short trips which made the mayo ?

Hes been spreading it on his chips too

Glad to hear you got the car fixed and that you will be happy now!!

Quote from: bearThe filter leaked and it was raining during the short trips which made the mayo ?

No idea, but it there was a leak from the filter (when the pressure in the engine got high) I can only assume that water *could* seap in as it has been sitting on my mams lawn from July to pretty much now without being driven. So who knows but there was no water loss and the oil was clear when it was coming out, so that means that there has to have been a bit of water in the engine, from what ever it was.

Well my car just got back from the garage, with a yet another bill this time for £260 but it came back with a nice green MOT document

Great

Could have been condensation water + oil if it has been sitting so long with rain, sun rain etc.