mayonnaise in filler neck

Guest · Mar 26, 2005

Just gave it a good blat up to 5,000rpm round Essex B roads.
Wasn't overheating and felt like producing full power, too.
Checked oil after 50 miles of hard use.

Horror when I unscrewed cap: Mayonnaise in filler neck!
(oil was perfectly yellow though).
Wiped it all off with a few tissues.

Why would this dreaded sludge appear just 200 miles after a full piston-barrel-ring & topend rebuild?

Someone told me not to worry, it's just condensation.

Any ideas?

Jonathan Collins · Mar 26, 2005

Someone told me not to worry, it's just condensation.
That is exactly what it is and is nothing to wory about. The water vapour is condensing on the relatively cold oil filler tube and being held as an emulsion by the engine oil, if you take a small amount and rub it in the palm of your hand the water will separate from the oil.
The white gunge will disappear as ambient temperatures rise or if you go for a run long enough to get the engine bay really warm.
I have found also that depending which brand of oil you use the amount of emulsion will vary.

dtunnicliffe · Mar 26, 2005

Hi Zia, I agree with Jonathan, especially if it was a pretty cold day. Who did the rebuild and what oil did they put back in the lump some oils (notably Duckhams) have a habit of mayonnaising in the filler neck. Not heard of Mobil 1 doing it however. So, no running in planned then???? I was under impression that Porsche should be kept under 3500 for the first 2000 kms to ensure good valve seating and bedding in of the new rings - call me old fashioned but I would be taking it a bit easier than 5,000 rpm for first couple of thousand klicks.

Give us some feedback on the topend overhaul - please, good value or what. i'm sure we'd all like to know more. Cheers

Dave

Martin Perry · Mar 27, 2005

Had this on my 3.2 also. Don't think it's any cuase for concern. Iain D. will tell you if it's still happening...

Guest · Mar 27, 2005

Thanks for your comments guys - phew! I feel better now.

David-
Went up to 5,000 twice for a few seconds - couldn't resist [

]
Re-ground cams with 964 profile (12 degree overlap + longer duration)
Drivability low-down unaffected. 3,000+ a slight improvement re how quickly the needle climbs clockwise. It was worthwhile, overall.

BUT, now living in regret - for similar money, I could've had a 993 engine transplant.
See my post 'grass is greener' on the 964 forum.

BTW, there's fewer posts on that forum, indicating perhaps that 'our' forum is busier because (a) our cars keep going wrong or (b) we just talk to each other more.

So, I'm staying!

dtunnicliffe · Mar 28, 2005

Zia,

Only sold my 964 last year - under pressure from a pal who said 'everything is for sale' when I told him no.. With hind sight, I much preferred my 964 to my 3.2 which I've owned for 3 years now. (Tony Corelett said a few very kind words to accompany my photo of the car in last year's April edition of Porsche Post). Running 2 Porsche wasn't an option for me as we needed a 4 seater really. So I kept the 3.2 and sold the 964. Ah well, I may well sell the 3.2 this year and go looking for a clean 964 or 993 as my 'toy'.

The 3.2 forum has always been lively - and yes I think it's because we talk to each other more. In practice I always found the US Renlist site a much better forum for info' for the 964 than our own. Shame really.

Enjoy your motor and forget about the mayo'

Dave

Guest · Mar 29, 2005

Yes it's still happening and also happened on my previous 3.2 Targa.

If you read Adrian Crawford's buyer's guide he actually mentions it as something that typically happens to cars that do mostly short journeys - and absolutely nothing to worry about.