Yellow Gunk.... Oil Cap...VW POLO

[JulieMc]

Hello

Looking for a wee bit of help...

So i have a 96 plate VW Polo that has started to leak a wee bit of oil underneath the car today.

So i had a look for leak and I opened up the oil cap and seen some peanut butter like gunk.. Straight away I think head gasket

(used to have a megane lol and head went on that)... But i look at my coilant and the level hasnt went down in 3 months...

May i also add that the car only has 12000 miles on it.. Was an older ladies and my bf purchased it 3 years ago and it lay unused..

Now that I know the gunk isnt from water in the oil.. Could it be from lack of use..

I have heard that this can happen if a car isnt used very often... I dont really drive further than 4 miles at a time and my commute in the morning is 2 miles to train station.

Please help rather worried??

 

[Johnny]

Nothing to worry about, it is condensation that the emulsifiers grab on to and they settle at the coolest part of the engine, and that is up by the oil fill cap. Changing the oil will help, but the best thing you can do is drive the car for some distance at highway speeds to burn off the condensation.

to BITOG

 

[JulieMc]

Awwww thats great thanks...

I havent had the car serviced I just put it through an MOT to get it back on the road. Was just worried after my problem with the renault I had..

I know nothing at all about cars..

Thanks

 

[pbm]

Welcome to BITOG...You've come to the right place for oil/car related answers...

That 'mayonaise' under the oil cap is fairly typical for the driving conditions that you describe. Like Johnny said...a good long highway drive would burn off the condensation. I would also change my oil/filter more frequently with the kind of service your Polo sees.

PS: It's interesting that Renaults have a proclivity for blowing head gaskets.. Renault seems to have imparted that same proclivity to their step brother, Nissan.

 

[Gene K]

We dont get the Polo in the USA.

Its sounds like emulsification which is normal for those driving conditions as stated.

If the oil hasnt been changed in 3 years I would certainly have it changed.

Its possible the oil leak is caused by seals drying out and shrinking from sitting unused. In the USA we have what are known as "High Mileage" Oils. These are for older cars and have some additional seal conditioners which might help if its a small leak caused by seal shrinkage. I have no idea if similar products are available in the UK.

 

[JulieMc]

Yes car has sat for a while..

Im just happy to hear others agree with me on the fact its not the head gasket.. I did have a wee heart attack when i seen the gunk but after checking the water I knew it couldnt be..

Im not very sure on anything else to do with cars..

Im pretty sure in the UK.. you get the oil changed with a service so looks like i will be putting it in on Monday morning..

You dont happen to know if it is expensive to sort a leak out normal..?

Thanks alot for all help

 

[ARB1977]

The Jetta did that alot when cold. During the winter it would take forever to warm up. About a month ago I changed the original water pump and thermostat. I'm hoping it was caused by a sticking thermostat. This winter we'll find out.

 

[JulieMc]

Yes... I stay in Scotland so it gets cold here..

Im not to worried about the gunk at the moment.. As i will try and just go a long drive on the motorway and hope that helps..

Hopefully i can get an oil change on monday and they will beable to fix where ever the oil is coming from..

Is it normal for it to continue leaking constantly... engine hasnt been on in 8 hours and still drips..

I check the level and the dip is still saying it is at the max level...

 

[Gene K]

Price to fix the leaking seal is hard to say. It will depend on how hard the seal is to get to.Rear main seal might be expensive. A leaking washer around an oil drain plug on the other hand might be free (usually replaced at each oil change). You might get lucky and be able to fix it just by torquing a bolt or two on the valve cover.

 

[JulieMc]

I took the car in today and the oil was changed and so was the filter..

However they DIDNT fix the oil leak..

He said it was a valve cap and just didnt fix it when i asked he said car should be fine aslong as i watch the oil level..

is this true is it ok to drive around with an oil leak aslong as the oil does not drop to below min on the dip stick..

im abit [censored] to be honest i took the day off work and the garage was highly recommended and they seem to feel that the leak is ok to leave??

 

[JulieMc]

Sorry i think it was a leak from my sump gasket he said????

is it ok to keep driving even with this... he seemed to think so..