Thinking about buying a Honda Civic 2006 114,000 km's but under the oil filler cap there is a white looking substance like a bit of shampoo

Just wondering if anyone may know what this is???


Thanks

 

This is usually bad. The white stuff is an emulsion of water in the oil. The usual source of the water is from the cooling system through a bad head gasket or crack in the engine. Is it on the dipstick too?

While you have the cap off, look at the metal inside the engine. It should be light brown and clean. If you see clumps of black stuff, that means the oil has not been changed frequently enough and you're going to have engine trouble.

 

In the winter time is normal in some areas...if the car is used for short trips were the oil does not get hot and does not burn the condensation...we have a 2000 -100.00 miles and it happens in the winter...short trips + garage....i take it for a 30 minutes ride, 60 mph and the white creamy stuff get melted......also coul be water in the oil....