• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Peanut Butter?

SaxMan

Darth Vader
Country flag
Offline
I popped open my valve cover and saw this peanut butter looking substance inside. I'm thinking it may just be spoiled grease that I use to seal the valve cover to the head. Any ideas?
DSC_0077a.jpg

The only thing that's changed is that I started using Marvel Mystery Oil this past year. Maybe it's how it interacted with the grease?

BTW - I'm definitely a believer in Marvel. Cold compression test before: 160/150/150/165. Cold Compression test after: 160/170/160/180. Might also have something to do with me getting better at making my valve adjustments.
 

Mickey Richaud

Moderator
Staff member
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Probably more like condensation that's not getting a chance to evaporate. Has it been idling a lot? Have you taken it out for a "spirited" drive lately? How's your engine temperature?
 

Stan Kowznofski

Senior Member
Country flag
Offline
Sounds like moisture to me as well. I am a big fan of 'Marvel' as well and have never seen it react as you describe. Hopefully it is condensation from a lack of engine temperature getting warm enough to evaporate the moisture because the only other idea would be a head gasket leak between water and oil galleys or a cracked head / block.
 

zabond

Member
Country flag
Offline
Look's a bit flaky to be condensation to me, soak a bit up on paper towel, if it spreads all over its condensation, if it stays solidified its grease or ?
Russ
 
OP
S

SaxMan

Darth Vader
Country flag
Offline
It stayed solid and I could scoop with a screwdriver. Condensation is likely as the car hasn't seen much action since before Christmas other than firing it up and letting it idle for a bit.

2018 was kind of a disappointment as I only put about 600 miles on the car for the year, where in previous years, I would put close to 2,000 miles on the car. Mother Nature had a lot to do with that as rain was near constant last year in the D.C. area. Hoping 2019 will be better.
 

Bayless

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
A few years ago I changed the oil in the Beetle and after a short drive found "peanut butter" around the filler cap and neck. After a near panic, I finally remembered there is no water around an air-cooled engine. Like yours, it was just excessive condensation.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Tabcon Advice from peanut gallery sought. Triumph 9
G Butter Fingers Triumph 11
T Body Bolt Butter [Putty] Triumph 4

Similar threads

Top