steam from crankcase oil cap

[agentrnge]

I did an oil change yesterday. Drove about 20 mins to heat it up, changed oil. Drove another 20, checked level. Needed to add a bit. Opened up oil cap to top it up and some steam/smoke was coming out. Not much. And nothing that didnt very quickly dissipate. So I would say its mostly just steam. Smelled oily,l but not like burning oil. I've never noticed that on any other car. This is only my 2nd oil change on this car, and probably the first time I've opened it up/topped it up hot. Normal? Sign of an issue? Need to drive it more to cook off more moisture?

Quick search results said there is nothing to worry about. Thanks

[fiveohwblow]

Originally Posted by agentrnge

I did an oil change yesterday. Drove about 20 mins to heat it up, changed oil. Drove another 20, checked level. Needed to add a bit. Opened up oil cap to top it up and some steam/smoke was coming out. Not much. And nothing that didnt very quickly dissipate. So I would say its mostly just steam. Smelled oily,l but not like burning oil. I've never noticed that on any other car. This is only my 2nd oil change on this car, and probably the first time I've opened it up/topped it up hot. Normal? Sign of an issue? Need to drive it more to cook off more moisture?

Quick search results said there is nothing to worry about. Thanks

Happened with nearly every Bmw I have owned... Dont think its an issue. On some of my m54 engine based BMW's I would even get what appears to be a milky ring around the cap, but it wasn't a blown head gasket.

[hC1001]

Normal.

As for the milky ring around the cap, thats from too many short trips and not enough time to fully warm up the engine.

[fiveohwblow]

Originally Posted by hC1001

Normal.

As for the milky ring around the cap, thats from too many short trips and not enough time to fully warm up the engine.

Correct, as I discovered. Wifes car so wife will as wife does

[agentrnge]

Thanks for confirming its not an issue.