Went to add oil to my 2011 mini cooper s hardtop and I saw a lovely peanut butter milkshake on the top of the oil cap. We have noticed it has been losing about 1.5 quarts per 3k miles and I attrubited this to a oil leak. We dont drive many miles per week so I cheak the oil every few day and top it off when needed.
From what I know this is almost deffently a head issue weather a gasket or a crack. I would like to know of there is anything else it might be to ask about whe she go to the shop tomorrow

I have had a crank position sensor code come and go, mostly go. And a few codes that seem tied to vanos. Same thing lately been not comming up. Car runs fine, for not but not gonna drive unless absouotly necessary
Thanks for your time
7thmoose ( from the left)

 

This is normal. Your engine is fine. When you go for short runs, you're not allowing the oil to reach healthy temperatures and so the vabors are the after math of that. You need to drive it more per run. That's all.

 

Sounds like you need to take the long way home. And if you don't have a long way, make one .

Mini On.

 

7.5 miles 2x a day ( 5 days a week) mostly highway. Takes 13 min ( 10 if I'm late :D )
here is a few pics of what I see, been adding oil every month and never seen anything like this. Find it hard to believe it is normal. But it tastes like I'd expect oil to taste based on smell, not sweet ( yes I did, no I don't want to talk about why) smells kinda like gas.
can add any pics on request and I have torque so if you would like any info from that ask.

Car has been sitting 3 hours after these pictures, was sitting for 9 when I first noticed

 

Mine has that emulsion under the cap too. So does my Toyota truck.

If you see the emulsion on the dipstick, that would be a bad sign.

If not, wipe it out good, top off oil, take car on a long highway drive.

Then check cap again.

 

So after a bunch of research. It seems that the cold weather recently combined with the short trip also have not been traveling as much due to snow.
gonna keep an eye on the temp.
car is almost due for an oil change maybe I'll order a Blackstone test kit as well. Just to make sure

 

I've always heard it referred to as "mayo". You are not driving long enough to fully warm up your engine.

 

Catch can might help to catch some of that vapor. Probably still get some trapped up in the fill area though. In the winter my catch can is full of more liquidy oil that is exactly that color due to all the water in it.

 

Guess I'll have to take the long way home. I have herd conflicting views on how usefull catch can is on the n18 and dont want to drop a few hundred on it if driving more would fix.

 

If you don't get the engine oil up to operating temperature and keep it there long enough to evaporate/burn off the excess moisture in the crankcase that's what you're gonna get. 7.5 miles/13 minutes at a time will not cut it.
I installed an OCC on my R56 and it did help some. It traps some of this crap in the catch can instead of recycling it through the intake system. Every time I emptied the can it was 80-90% sludge and water.

 

This has been a very informative thread for me. Thanks all for the information. Glad that the OP's car is fine.

 

Very informative for me as well. My work commute is only 10-15 minutes, so I'll be on the lookout for this.