A4 Head Gasket Blown?

[A4baldy]

Mayonaise found on oil filler cap. Is this a problem?
Any help appreciated.

[martinj]

The mayonaise is due to water mixing with the oil, it can be due to condensation when a car is used for short journeys where it does not get a chance to warm up properly, say if you are going a mile to the station and back each day.

If you are doing short journeys, clean off all the mayo you can and then take it for a decent run to allow it to get up to temperature. If you are doing short journeys, try and get a decent run in atleast once a week.

If the head gasket has gone then this will also cause this mayo and you may also find that the water hoses are rock solid as the system is pressurised by the exhaust gases and you may see an oiliness in the header tank.

Losing water from the header tank can also be a tell tail. A decent garage should be able to check the coolant for evidence of exhaust gases to help with a diagnosis without having to strip anything down.

Hope this helps.

Martin

[cubbyno9]

Hi,

I have found my coolant expansion tank full of mayo.....it looks like a creamy consistancy. Silly question but I take it my head gaskit has gone? I have been quoted £600 for new head gaskit, head skimmed etc etc does this sound a fair price? The car by the way is a 1.8 Coupe GT 1988, in good nick apart from the engine.