Make a donation

Author Topic: Head gasket but could it be something else?  (Read 543 times)

Offline Numero9

  • Always Involved
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 1
  • -Receive: 2
  • Posts: 71
Head gasket but could it be something else?
« on: February 13, 2023, 11:09:42 am »
Giving the car some TLC and noticed some mayo under the oil cap, given the coolant level was good and it has been doing a lot of short journeys I thought it could be that.

Give it a week and still mayo under the cap but the coolant level is now starting to drop

Are there any other signs I can look for to 100% confirm it is the head gasket or via VCDS?
Also wondering if it could be anything else?

Offline Octoparrot

  • Just look at my post count
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 8
  • -Receive: 102
  • Posts: 1000
    • Email
Re: Head gasket but could it be something else?
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2023, 01:27:19 pm »
Mayo under the oil cap is normal for this time of year especially if you only do shortish journeys. Head gaskets on these rarely give problems. Top up the coolant and keep an eye on it. If it drops again I'd suspect a leak somewhere rather than a head gasket fault.

Offline mjmallia

  • Won't Shut up.
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Given: 3
  • -Receive: 54
  • Posts: 705
Re: Head gasket but could it be something else?
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2023, 08:07:03 am »
Short journeys and the cam cover cap extension that reaches up to the engine cover, allows moisture to gather/mix with oil vapor ......... creating a small amount of mayo under the cap at this time of year.

Since this extension has been removed (seal broke with age), I have the cap directly on the cam cover at the moment and there is no mayo issues that I historically got

If it is the head gasket, then the coolant level would be dropping
Mike

South Coast

S3 8L ---- Golf Mk4 GT TDI ---- Lupo GTI ----  A4 B6 Sline ---- Golf Mk5 GTI