Mayo in oil filler cap - Tell me I'll be alright!?

[rewster]

Hi chaps,

new here, and troubles! I noted the Bora (2.0se) had a good splodge of yellowy emulsion in the filler cap area as I checked the oil todya. The dip shows clear, and theres nothing nasty in the rad reservoir. I also noted the oil filler cap itself had a problem with its seal (a green rubber affair) which had dropped a few bits into the chamber at the entrance to the filler hole ( I cleaned these out carefully)

Hoping desperately that my gaskets would be ok and some strange problem with the filler cap was the issue, I popped into the dealership and got a new oil filler cap, this was a different design than the original though fits well. If I'm honest then took the old girl out for a good run, but didnt notice any problems, and was too dark to check tyhe filler when I got home.

Any ideas guys, is this normal on the bora/golf, or should I take the kids presents back to the shops so I can afford a head gasket job in the new year!

Happy Christmas BTW

[Pa55aT]

I'm not a mechanic or anything but I had the same problems a few years ago in my escort and i the seal had gone on the oil cap allowing condensation in and that went like mayo when it contacted the oil.

If it was the head gasket, I think it would overheat quite quickly, you would notice some coolant loss and a loss of performance.

Unless it is in the very early stages,

May be worth changing the oil and filter and keeping an eye on it over chrimbo.

Chris

[pingpongpo]

Head gasket fubared tbh.

[Cameo]

I used to get this all the time on my 2 litre New Beetle. It is quite common and related to the damp conditions that winter brings. As long as your coolant level hasn't dropped you should be fine.

[asta]

If you only do small runs then you can get this.

A long run clears it up.

You say you noticed a seal problem. Thats the most likely source.

[Mook]

Mayo = oil + water

Couple of causes, the one to worry about least is condensation created in the engine, usually caused by a poor fitting seal, allowing damp air to get in

The worst case scenario is a leaking cylinder head gasket. Depending on where it has gone will determine whether or not water is getting into the crankcase. It can be leaking into the cylinder head chamber, so you wouldn't necessarily get an oil and water mix on the dipstick - it all depends on whether it has just started to go.

Quickest way to find out if it is your cylinder head gasket is to get a compression test done on the car by your local VW dealer or specialist.

HTH

[mulkbear]

Don't worry it is a Well known fault, Pa55aT is right.

Strange but only the 2.0 and the 1.6 8v's do it

[pingpongpo]

Remind me never to post something in the technical forum until Mulkbear has posted and then I will just agree with him and look really clever all the time

Have you ever fancied a move to East Anglia. Come and work at my local stealers, please, pretty please.

[rewster]

Guys,

Thanks for your advice, you've put my mind at rest (sort of!) I took the car up to Barnsley from my home in Bury St Eds yesterday, and it went a treat. This morning I was going to check the cap, but the missus got up and went out before me. I'll report back when I've checked the car.