Possible Head Gasket Issue?

mathu

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Hi guy i have found this white mayonnaise substance on the underside of the oil cap and i am now worried, i recently have new breather pipes fitted and also noticed that my dipstick is perfectly clean (only oil in it). could anyone tell me how to diagnose if its a head gasket problem please?

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cloughy

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Do you do a lot of small journeys? when did you last change the oil fella? white stuff is water/condensation can be gasket or can be alot of small journeys where condensation hasn't had a chance to burn off
 

crunchie

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If its still like that after a good long run or if you get "Mayo" on the dipstick oil then I'd be worried.
My 2.0T looked exactly the same last winter. Turns out there was nothing wrong tho.
The baffle plate just below the filler whips it about more than normal too making it look worse.
 

mathu

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Do you do a lot of small journeys? when did you last change the oil fella? white stuff is water/condensation can be gasket or can be alot of small journeys where condensation hasn't had a chance to burn off

i do some small journeys but they are usually 15mins at the shortest, the oil change was quite recent as a just had a full service about two months ago so doubt it is bad oil quality. i just cleaned it off and ill take a look tomorrow after a drive, is 20mins a long enough drive?
 

BlueSpark

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Turn the heaters on inside with setting to hot. If it still blows cold air even when engine is at temperature then head gasket has gone. Also check the the oil temp gauge doesnt go above 90c or half way point. if its overheating then i'm afraid you have most of all signs of head gasket failure: mayo under oil cap, engine overheating, cold air from heaters when set to hot!
 

mathu

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Turn the heaters on inside with setting to hot. If it still blows cold air even when engine is at temperature then head gasket has gone. Also check the the oil temp gauge doesnt go above 90c or half way point. if its overheating then i'm afraid you have most of all signs of head gasket failure: mayo under oil cap, engine overheating, cold air from heaters when set to hot!
from what your saying i think I'm fine :) my heating is fine even when it not fully turned hot it still blows hot air, recently my temp way sitting just below 90c so i had the temp sensor and the termo stat change and the problem was fixed. so I'm hoping it is just condensation now.
 

mathu

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just a quick question, i recently just had a new thermo stat and temp sensor installed, is the a thermo stat gasket in these cars and would this have anything to do with the problem?
 
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