Mayo on Dipstick

Hi,

I had the HG changed on my MGF in July. The N series MLS gasket was used.

I got the car back and it all seemed fine. Then about 2 weeks ago I noticed the coolant level was starting to drop.

Also, and most concerningly, there is mayo on the dipstick.

I know this normally means HGF.


However, a good fast drive will clear the mayo, so that could be just condensation? And perhaps the coolant loss is just a leak somewhere?

Does that sound likely?

Is there any way I can check before I take it back to the garage?

I would be asking only one question, like everyone else who reads this thread: what was the liner protrusion measured to be?

Remove the oil filler cap. Mayo= trouble. You will have a guarantee on the work, I expect so speak to the garage sooner rather than later. It is their problem, not yours. Two simultaneously occurring issues, both related. Loss of water and water in oil. You really don't need Werner Von Braun to guide you through this one.

And was the garage specialist enough to know that attention has to be paid to the liner hight?

The liner protrusion is absolutely vital to the well being of any head gasket replacement. Assuming that the garage checked the head for flatness and were satisfied that it was flat, it is important that the liner stands proud of the block edge level. Even so, a sunken liner would usually let combustion gases into the coolant. Your problem is that coolant is getting into the oil which is a slightly different matter. This means there is a pathway between the coolant and the oil, either due to a blown gasket or a crack in the head. The colour of the coolant is a good indicator of whether there is oil in the coolant which is fairly likely as the oil pressure is usually higher than the cooling system pressure. Either way, the garage will need to do a few checks in order to come to a diagnosis. I would let them look at it before something catastrophic happens.

Did they replace the inlet manifold gasket ? Just a thought.

Unlikely to explain the water in the oil.

Don’t shoot all around the target, aim for the bull & take it by the horns, as Werner von Braun most probably said.

Yes, as soon as I'd posted and looked again at the posts . Dohh !

(Off topic aside) What he actually said, according to Tom Lehrer was "When zer rockets go up who cares where they come down? Zat's not my depaartment" says Werner von Braun

There’s a lot of Lehrer worth listening to, I’m often reminded of “poisoning pigeons in the park” when the local wood pigeons take up residence in the tree over my workshop!

Better you don't let Agnes know that.