Is this sludge?

[sharpo]

Hi folks

Just picked up my new car and looked it over again, it's funny how you see other things after you've bought something.
I looked in the filler cap again and noticed this black stuff that wipes off with a finger as seen.

Is it sludge and will regular oil changes from now clean it up?

The car has done 43k it's a 3.0 cdti.

[Handyandy-UK]

Black stuff ??

The more common one is a sort of creamy white 'mayo' - this is emulsifed oil - a mix of oil and water caused by short journeys. If the engine doesn't get up to full running temperature then moisture in the engine and oil (found normally in the air) doesn't 'boil off' and repeated short trips tends to cause this.
Not come across a black version though - maybe it's a phenomenon with oil burners.

[mark_647]

That looks ok to me tbh

[keith1983]

It just looks like an oil filer cap with a bit of oil on it, doesn't look like any problem to me.

[ed taylor]

Quite a common thing this "emulisied oil" if you do a lot odf short journeys.

[sharpo]

The picture is looking into the engine.

[Ste]

As long as you use modern oil, to the correct ACEA spec, changed at the correct interval, then you are unlikely to get build ups of sludge.

Diesel oil gets very black quickly - just proves that it's doing it's job, ie carrying soot away.

[Big Sig]

Looks normal, mine looks the same.

[sharpo]

Ok folks, thanks, was a bit worried.

[xrken]

its a Diesel thats wot you get with them no probs there