I just went to add a little oil to the rover since it was low, not to worried about that since it's about time for an oil change, but what I noticed of concern was condensation and some yellow goo on the underside of oil cap. I had the headgasket changed in february which was about 7k miles ago. The work was done by a reputable Indi land rover shop. I'm wondering if the condensation could be normal, the rover has only been driven on short trips of a couple miles in length and this has been on a repeated basis for the last two weeks. Also, the weather has been very damp with lows near freezing and highs in the 60s. Could this condensation be built up from not getting the engine up to temp on these short drives? For reference I checked my Toyota which has been sitting even longer then the rover and it also had condensation under the cap but, it did not have yellow goo. I have only used it for a couple minutes at a time moving firewood from the splitter to the shed, maybe 30ft. I guess I'm hoping this is normal on the rover

 

Yes that is normal for your type of driving, the yellow is probably left over engine coolant from the bad head gaskets.
Change the oil and drive it longer if you can once every 2 weeks or so.
My wifes car does the same thing, cream colored goo collects on the inside of the oil filler cap and the dipstick tube every winter because the car only gets trips of 3 miles or so at a time 7 days a week.
The car is a daily driver and it gets less than 10k per year.
Does not happen in the summer, only in the cold weather, perfectly normal.

 

Clean out the cap with some crb or brake cleaner and watch it over the next few weeks. If the condensation comes back and it is clear, this is normal for vehicles that aren't driven far. If the condensation is coolant, you have a problem.

 

Thanks for the replys! I was getting a bit worried. The oil on the dipstick looks normal. The water that dripped off the cap was clear. Usually, we drive it into town once a week which is about 100 miles round trip in addition to the short local trips but, have been waiting on my terra grapplers to arrive for it since my current tires where bald and leaking. I went back out and snapped some picture of the lid before I cleaned it up. Also, I noticed the coolant was a little low so I added some and it took a couple ounces to get it back to the level it had been at. The last time I checked it the temps where 20 deg warmer could the reduction in outside temps cause this drop from contraction? When the engine has run for a few minutes and turned off the fluid level is back to its normal line.

 

Man that is alot of condensation, that much I would be alittle worried.
HOWEVER, until you get to drive it for the 100 miles it is hard to say for sure.
Defiantly keep a eye on the coolant level.
Yes it will constrict alittle but not much during the cold.

 

My nittos came tonight so I will be getting them installed tomorrow. I should rack up more the 100 miles tomorrow. It really was about an actual ounce of fluid to top off I really hope I don't have something else going on here.

 

Only a ounce of fluid you had to add I wouldn't worry.
just keep checking the coolant level once a week when you check the engine oil.
If you have to buy another gal of coolant then worry.

 

thanks spike for the replys!

 

First of all, that is head gasket build up custard, hopefully from before your last gasket change.
Wipe it all out and keep a close eye on the coolant level. Check it only when the engine is stone cold and fill it up to the cap, letting it then seek it's on level over the next day or two of driving.

 

Well there wasn't any evidence of moisture when I changed the oil last, a couple months ago.