Mayo under filler cap !!!

[belfastmark]

Hello all !
About two weeks ago, I went to my local mechanics who specialises in VW with a problem of "mayo" on the underside of the oil filler cap, this was around the time of the bad weather. The mechanic reckoned it was the oil emulsifying due to the bad weather combined with short journeys and not to worry about it.
Today, I got back from a long drive and thought that I would check it again.
To my suprise there was more "mayo" than in previous times.
Took the engine cover off to see what was going on and to my suprise found that one of the breather tubes which seems to be coming from the air filter area had "mayo" in it aswell.
The oil was changed about 4000 miles ago using a semi-synthetic variety.
There is nothing suspicious at the end of the dip stick.
The car is a 2001 VW Golf 1.6 16v with around 42,000 on the clock.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what may be going on ?


Thanks for any help that can be given.


Mark.

[mastertech]

If there's no coolant loss etc Would says its just normal oil emulsification due to cold weather/short journeys etc. Not uncommon that breather pipe get clogged -May be the first time they,ve been checked for maybe 42K,And once mayo is biult up ,it won,t just go away just by giving it along run
Clear out /change oil and don,t worry

[belfastmark]

Thanks for getting back to me so promptly Mastertech.
You mention clearing it out. How would I do that ?
Also, the oil filter, should I get that directly from VW ? The last one I bought was from GSF. I have heard stories about cheap alternatives being used and causing more problems than they are worth, eg clogging ?
Thanks again !

Mark.

[Gee]

i had the exact same problem with my golf 1.6.....

I immediately assumed the head gasket had gone and took it to a local machanic.

After a quick browse he was certain that it wasnt the head gasket, firstly, he had never repaired a head gasket an a golf and secondly the water in the gauge was smack bang on the line were it had always been, which would show otherwise if the head gasket had gone because you would lose water leaking into your oil, hence the mayo.

Anyway he tells me to leave it for a while and see if it goes away or becomes worse.

I kept an eye on it and was regularly monitoring the 'mayo' levels which were small deposits on the underside of the cap and on the dip stick. I then began to realise that it was worse when there was bad weather, i.e. Heavy rain!

I then thought that it could be my induction kit sucking water in from the air pipe directing on it so first of all i took that off which also stopped spreading **** all over the ehgine bay!

I had a browse round and eventually found that the air intake had a crack in it, which could also be sucking up moisture. I popped down to local VW garage and purchased a new one, rigged it up and problem was solved! Never had mayo since!

Just give your a pipes a thourough check because the plastic is pretty flimsy to be honest, you may have the same problem.

Hope this helps, Andy.