Oil Sludge

Q: I took off my oil cap and noticed a white mucus type material. What is this and is it harmful to my engine?

A: It sounds like you have sludge buildup in your engine. This is generally caused by not changing the oil at regular intervals. Sludge in the engine will increase friction, reducing the engine’s life. There are oil flush additives that you can use to try and get rid of this gunk. Go to your local parts store and ask for an engine flush additive. You can also check with local repair facilities that have more aggressive methods to flushing the engine by using a special machine.