I heard a loose rocker or two on the driver side, so I jacked up the car and popped the valve cover. On the underside of the valve cover was coated in white crap. I first thought was water in the oil.

I took the valve cover to my dad, he thought it might be machining lube that got cleaned off of the new 1.6 RR's, so we checked the oil off the head valleys, and oil from the dip stick and it was all water free.

I wiped some of the white gunk out, and it was some sort of machine lube from the 1.6 RR's. I was going to change the oil in 1000 miles anyway because of the head install, but looks like I'll be doing it sooner.

 

It's probably just a little condensation that builds up on the inside of the valve cover. How long did you drive the car for?

 

Kain it is condensation I've noted it on my car also. Once the engine and oil get up to temperture it will disapear. I was having issues with some valve springs a couple of years ago and just about freaked out in cold weather when i removed my valve cover. Cold it would have the white stuff but if i pulled the cover after it heated up no problem. Frank95z

 

Did you use assembly lube like you are supposed to? If so thats what it is. Oil will not break it down so it will be in there until cleaned out, but it doesnt hurt anything.

 

Didn't drive it for long; maybe 15 minutes on its first run after the head install.

Very nice, thanks man!

Not on the 1.6RR's, I used plenty when I did the cam some time ago, but that all got washed out.

 

I usually put some engine oil on the rockers when I first install them, just to keep things nice and slick.