First Car

This is proving harder than I'd expected! By the time I phone up, it seems just about everything's been sold!

Gave a Corsa a one over last night but looks like a no-go. Looked nice, but couldn't get the bonnet to open. A light was out, and didn't work after a bulb change, so something else going on there.
Remembering I know nothing about cars, what does "cream" on the oil cap indicate? My dad was with me to give it the once over and the oil cap was the nail in the coffin.

 

oil and water don't mix is what cream means and is VERY bad. It can mean the head gaskets gone, or a leak from the oil cooler.

I take that back actually, its not always a bad sign but it is on a 944 turbo - (more demanding than the gf.)

found this though... The reason why there is a thick sludge under your oil cap is because the engine ventilates crankcase pressure up through the valve covers, this includes oil residue that builds up under the oil cap over an extended period of time. It is good to have your lubrication system flushed out once a year to prevent this oil sludge build up, and also ensure that the vehicle upkeep is maintained such as regular oil changes and air filter changes. Also when you check the oil take the oil fill cap off and wipe it with a rag or cloth from time to time. You should check your oil level at least once a week.

and this...

WHAT IT IS:

What you are seeing is nothing more but a creamy mixture of oil fumes and water vapor. Oil fumes are produced naturally by the normal operation of the engine and they tend to accumulate at the oil breather. When they mix with water vapor, you get this goo, gunk, sludge, or whatever you want to call it. This "phenomenon" occurs more frequently in the winter time because it is colder and it is easier for the oil fumes to condensate and mix with water vapors.

WHAT CAUSES IT:

1. You drove the engine frequently on short trips and it could not heat up long enough to burn off the water vapors.
2. The oil seals on the oil breather and the oil cap are shot.
3. You did not tighen the oil cap all the way

HOW TO PREVENT AND AVOID IT:

1. Replace both oil gaskets in the oil breather. One sits between the oil breather and the valve cover. The second gasket you must replace is the one on the oil cap. When these gaskets get heated, the rubber/silicone often burns and shrinks thus allowing for moist air to enter and interact with oil fumes
2. Avoid short trips. This is primary leading cause for this sludge. Long trips will allow the engine to stay hot for longer, thus burning off any excess fumes and sludge.
3. Switch to synthetic oil. Synthetics have better detergent qualities and will not sludge as much as the conventional motor oil

 

Took the rocker cover off my friend's car and I have never seen so much 'mayonnaise'!! Really bad. Had recently had a new head gasket done and they had not sealed it properly, used a pattern gasket rather than the (not much more expensive) OEM one & to top it off - on removing the head, discovered it must have been dropped as there was a 'ding' dent in the aluminium!!! Had to get it skimmed before re-doing the gasket change.

If you don't know cars, avoid any with cream around the oil. It can be 'okay-ish' but may not be and if you can't solve it yourself, can be expensive, or at the lower end, even terminal.

 

Thanks for that. Confused even MOre now, but thanks!

Dad's going to have a look at another Ibiza soon.

Don't think it's got much tax or MOT on it, and that seems to be quite expensive for it, so we'll see....

 

yup

cream= mayonaise

.......def don't go there




Don't think it's got much tax or MOT on it, and that seems to be quite expensive for it, so we'll see....

...then don't touch it...imo

remeber if you ahve money to spend.....you are ina powerful position.

I would make sure you buy an a good mot a a minimum....and make sure the damn thing runs...at least acceptably before you drive off........no promises of ..."oh yes, we'll fix that.....bring it back" ...'cos chances are it won't happen.

As has been said....engine aree so good now...you should be able to find a good runner even iwith modest funds.


Yes I has mayonnaise in the rocker cover of my old chevette. It never did any harm......soem how it wa just the product of air coming in through the crank case breather tube into the rocker cover.

Not generally good though.

 

That's the thinking with leaving the Corsa alone. It looked nice, and for the version it was, the price seemed good. But although temptation is there to just hurry up and get one, I'm in no real rush so no need to risk it.

 

easily domne but I would urge you not to.

Just as thee are good cars out there....there are rogue ones......unscupulous sellers

 

Thanks again for the advice.

I've just heard back from a seller about another Ibiza. 3Dr Hatchback 1.4 SXE (98). Just had a new MOT and wants just £500 for it. Seems MOre like it

 

if thats a full years mot

could be tempting

whilst caution with buying is always advisory.....some times you have to strike whist the irons hot

my bother once got very good deal on an opel manta many years ago. It was good money....and my bother knew it.....so he tooka punt on pretty much on the spot.

He was right.....another day and some one wold have had it

But first time you have t oexcersise some caution. One of those middle line things. al;ways a tricky judgment call.

 

yeah, it's a buyers market just now...check autotrader to see how the price compares up...

 

I now own my first car!!!

Seat Ibiza 1.4 SXE



http://i16.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/fb/7d/1273_3.JPG[img]
[img]http://i14.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/fb/7d/1994_3.JPG

 

Insurance

So I guess I'd best get insured!

Again, I know nothing about this

I'm using confused.com and gocompare.com for quotes.

Keeping in mind the car's only cost me £500, should I be looking for Comprehensive, 3rd party, or 3rd party F&T?

What about voluntary access?

 

third party f+t!!!!!!

ime any way.....for a first time

comp[are the ££££ with fully comp

you defo need the fire and theft

 

by the way I use commercial vehicle insurance ..gave me a good quote

but then I have a ....com vehicle!!!



I'm pleased you had that one btw...it seemed right to me

 

Can I drive other people's cars on 3rd party f&t?

Different people seem to be recommending different things to me with some saying fully comp is worth the extra cost.

Head starting to hurt.

 

dpend son the policy

IIRC not with tpf+t

also prob not if you are under 25 yoa

that privelage will load your policy....unless you really need it

I havent got it.

The only othercar i might need to drive is my dads subaru (which i wouldn't want to any way ) which is any driver under his own policy.

 

Head starting to hurt.


unfortunaltley it will do

until you bank balance hurts so much you won't notice your head






sorry....corgratulatons on the car

it looks good

 

I'm 28.

The only reason I'm concerning myself with driving other peoples cars is that it could come in handy to be able to drive the works van's.

Thanks for the congrat's.


Will need to give it a full on inspection over the weekend, well, at least I'll need to get someone who has a clue to do so!
I've picked up a couple of things already, but nothing too major as yet.

 

The works van would be covered under your works insurance policy, so assuming their policy doesn't exclude you for some reason then no reason why you wouldn't be ok. Mind, your work may need to add your details to their policy before you're covered iirc. In the case of a company vehicle it shouldn't have anything to do with your own personal insurance.

 

Congrats on the Ibiza!

I had one some years ago, an earlier model but it did me proud. A bit 'agricultural' inside, but mechanically sound, didn't let me down in the 2 years I owned it.

Best of luck with it :MILD: