Have I just bought a lemon with HGF??

[Michael]

Hi guys...

just bought a wee run around for my other half....45000 miler 1999 Ford Ka.....
Everythings great on it....except....Ive just removed the oil filler cap and there is the yellow emulsion we all fear with HGF....
there is oil around the cam cover.....may not be significant(?)
The dipstip is completely clean....just normal black used oil...but no emulsion...
The coolant is clean....
The engine runs and sounds beautifully

Do I need to punt this little beauty..??. ...or is everything cool?!

Thanks again boys....

[Stu160]

Sure it will be cool, wipe it clean and keep an eye on the coolant and oil.Not uncommon.

Stu

[tenkfeet]

That is a Ten year old car , so thats an average of 4500 miles a year . Its sounds like its hardly been used, probably on short runs so will just be condensation build up.

[mckeann]

I've had my Ka for 18 months and never checked the oil. Dont worry

[Corranga]

Seen lots of old low miler KA / Fiesta (probably the same engine i'd imagine) with sludge under the cap. My mechanic friend says condensation due to the car being used for short journeys and not getting up to temperature and/or castrol gtx (does it do this for some reason!?)

Don't think i'd be worrying much.

Chris

[BiggestNizzy]

has it got the engine out the anglia in it ?

If so I would do an oil and filter change anyway, if it's not done frequently you can starve the head of oil.

[Michael]

Aaaaahhh cheers boys.....

[fd]

Can also be caused by faulty crankcase ventilation, blocked breather/recirc into the inlet mani . . . but all cars have some of this, if it's not being run at full temp for a good length of time each day it's always going to happen . . .

Fd

[tuscan_thunder]

Seen lots of old low miler KA / Fiesta (probably the same engine i'd imagine) with sludge under the cap. My mechanic friend says condensation due to the car being used for short journeys and not getting up to temperature and/or castrol gtx (does it do this for some reason!?)

Don't think i'd be worrying much.

Chris

absolutely. I bought my sister's Ka from her a few years back to use as a commuter car. It had done short runs and had some mayo/sludge. A change of oil and filter and a good long thrash sorted it out.

(I bought the cheapest of cheap oil for it: it's hardly cutting endge engine tech: I reckon clean cheap oil's better for an engine like that than dirty good oil)