Hello, I recently noticed a thin blancmange in the oil filler cap (about 1 mm thick). The car (360 B200K) has been run occassionally for the last year or so while I have been doing it up. Is this bad news?? I can take it! Its about 1 year since I changed the oil. How long can you run with this problem??

Do you mean a white gooey substance (no comments please!)? If so thats oil and water mixing. Could be where it's been getting little use and a bit of damp has got in. Worse case scenario is coolant getting into the oil somewhere (ie knackered head gasket).

I'd change the oil, make sure the coolant is topped up and keep an eye on both of them, as well as the temp gauge.

What flavour I havn't had blancmange for ages, must make some

I agree Carl in that it could just be damp/condensation - especially if you have been running the engine occasionally. The combustion process itself produces water as can be seen dripping from the tailpipe of cold cars sometimes, and if the engine is not allowed to get good and hot , this can condense internally giving rise to the "mayo" you describe.

So may not be a problem but keep an eye on it as Carl suggested.

Will

Many thanks. I only have eyes for blancmange.

totally normal, should disappear when engine warms up properly a few times. (comes back just as quick on cold running conditions)