Assuming you've all been regularly dipping your sticks, has anyone else noticed a milky white frothy scum type substance at the top of the dipstick? At the rim, and nowhere near the oil level. I think this has been mentioned before and wondered if it means my engine is about to blow up, but I have done various searches and cant find anything.

JH

The only time I ever saw this was on an old BMW 2002 when the head gasket was blown and water was getting in the oil. What does it look like when you look at the oil at the filler cap end? i.e. should be nice and clear and oily

There's no residue (nor any sight of any oil) around the filler cap, but then it is raised up high a long way from the action.
There is only a small amount of residue on the stick, but enough to be noticeable - and reappeared after I cleaned it off.

You're right this has been mentioned a few times on the main forum, but the only reference I could find was

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14980

I thought the consensus was that if the froth was at the top of the stick it was probably just condensation and not a problem. If it is actually in the oil then it could be a coolant seal leakage (new engine required). Check that there are no actual coolant leaks e.g. onto the garage floor.

Apparently if you have flooded it you can also get petrol into the oil (I don't understand how). Maybe that would be frothy? Would probably just require an oil change.