Mayonnaise!

Smiles · Post by **Smiles** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:53 pm

Ive recently changed the oil on my 912 and found a small amount of white 'gunk' in the oil tank. I guessed it was like this cos it had stood for a while. So i removed the tank and gave it a good clean inside with a cloth, refitted and filled with oil.

Been driving the car regularly (40 miles per day mostly motorway at 4000rpm) and just looked inside the filler and its worse than ever!

Was very wet yesterday but I cant understand where the water might be getting in? The filler cap seal is quite old but how could moisture get in there? There is a vent tube off the tank that goes down to the engine tin - could it be coming from there?

Thanks in advance for any ideas from all the helpful people on here!

Ian Gunney · Post by **Ian Gunney** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:13 pm

You often find a small amount of mayo inside the cap - as you say normally when it has been used for short journeys and the oil isn't getting hot enough causing some condensation in the oil filler tank - which is the coldest part of the engine.

I would have thought that 40mile runs would have been enough to warm it right up but there would appear to moisture in the oil system somewhere.

Can't think of anything obvious to check really...

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:03 pm

just use it more often

and change the oil

Ian Comerford · Post by **Ian Comerford** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:22 pm

You get the same occuring on 911s, I was advised to check the crankcase breather pipe for cracks etc. I found it to be in need of replacement and it appears to have helped reduce the mayo.
Hope this helps

Ian

drummerboytom · Post by **drummerboytom** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:48 pm

Ian Comerford wrote:You get the same occuring on 911s,
Ian

and 914/6's
Looks unsightly , but i just live with it.

bjmullan · Post by **bjmullan** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 6:07 pm

Surely it must be your cylinder head casket

Smiles · Post by **Smiles** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:59 pm

bjmullan wrote:Surely it must be your cylinder head casket

Mmmmm - casket ales...

Thanks for the tip Ian. Just had a goods look around and the pipe that goes from the tank to the side of the air filter caniser has split!

It looks like a special pipe with flexible bits in it - does it have to be as its only 4" long?

revival-cars · Post by **revival-cars** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:22 pm

That breather tube from the tank to the air cleaner, has to be one of the toughest replacement parts to find on a 912. On top of this, they're nearly always split on inspection!

I can never seem to find any available - I know even Stoddards in the States ran out of them a few years ago.

If you're trying to keep the engine bay looking original, its a nightmare because anything other than the correct part sticks out like a sore thumb!

Max

davidppp · Post by **davidppp** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:50 pm

Hello there.

its the sign that you have not thrashed it adequately!

that is what they really really want..

kind regards
David