Yellow sludge in oil cap dipstick m54
 

Hi everyone, i was waxing my X in the garage tonight and i opened up the hood to check oil. The dipstick showed the oil as black and almost full. About 2k on oil. I noticed a yellow piece on dipstick. Wiped it, put it back in and check again and its there again. Thinking what the heck! I open the oil cap and there is more yellow sludge. Its weird when i took some out and rubbed it, it disappears into black grease.

I did some research and people say its oil mixed with water/condensation.

How dangerous is this and why did it occur.

I replaced oil with full synthetic 5w:30 castrol titanium edge and bmw filter. The X is also garage kept. And drive around 30 miles a day. Sometimes more. But its a daily driver.

What should i do?
Obviously i will do an oil change.
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...psa559becc.jpg
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0d28b3b2.jpg
http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/...psb1bb99a6.jpg

You are not getting the engine hot enough, and keeping it at that temperature long enough, to burn off the condensation that occurs naturally.

Check you coolant leve

'Articles' - 'X5' - 'Misc. X5' -
 

-'lubrication-101'

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...ion-101-a.html

this link under the 'Articles' tab next to 'Forums' tab is very informative on the why/what/how on oil. Toward the bottom of the article for those of you dealing with the yellow sludge, you will get an explanation.

Hope this helps.

If you are following BMW's oil change maintenance schedule of 15,000 miles between oil changes or waiting for the oil service light to come on before an oil change, that could be your problem. I change the oil on my X every 5,000 miles and don't see the yellow sludge that some people seems to have.

The maintenance schedule by BMW is to benefit BMW and not the owners. Less free oil changes means more money in BMW pockets.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAzhwpc-0vU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUdODglWxsI

Oil condensation. Short trips are the cause. Look for a longer route for your commute to run the engine to full operating temp to burn off the condensation. Take her on the freeway and use your Steptronic to run her in 3rd gear with high rpm ro burn those off.
Check your CCV.

I change my oil very frequently and use the best products. its not the problem. also drive her rough at high rpms in sports mode very frequently.

anymore info on the ccv?
The engine gets warmed upto the half way point a few times every week...
I will try taking her on the masspike 30 minute ride... back and fourth with city driving this week and see if the yellow disapears

The engine needs to be warmed up to the twelve o'clock/straight up position every time you drive it, not a few times per week. If it isn't driven long enough each time for that to happen then perhaps it was a short enough trip to walk instead of drive.

Getting it hot doesn't get rid of the condensate paste so much as it stops more from forming. Get it hot and do a hot oil change.

super informative!!!!

It seems that that yellow goop problem is applicable to many cars - my mom's Mercury Mistique must have died because of that, she was driving the car only a couple of miles a day for several years ( like 10-15 years)... the car's engine seized before hitting 89K miles.