What else could cause 'mayo' under oil cap?

[Blakeatron]

Taken possesion of grandads car due to ill health.

Its a 2001 1.2 corsa breeze with 33000 miles. Full service history, last one being july ish last year.

For the past 3 years its mostly done short 3-5 miles trips a few times a week, but since christmas its not moved.

I went to it today, and it started first time so tentatively drove it the mile or so home.

It stank of damp and inside was all mouldy, so a good clean later it is now drying in the sunshine!

Went to check under the engine and it was suprisingly clean, lots of leaf pulp.

Took off the oil cap and a good smearing of mayo - argh!

Anyway I started it up and let it idle for a good hour or so, it took a while to warm up to about 90, then the fans kicked in, and so on. Never got any hotter and no unusual signs.

Mayo is definately now less - but just worried something is wrong and a friend is interested in buying it.

[jagnet]

Short journeys - even an air cooled VW engine can get mayo.

The sun's out, give it a good blast down the road for a bit.

[iva cosworth]

You answered it yourself.

33,000 miles on a 2001 car.

Never really used enough.

My tip is clean mayo off cap,change engine oil and filter and use a flusher and go for a

long drive to thoroughly heat it up.

Or the head gasket could be leaking.

[CO2000]

Probably just the short runs esp if its not using water, is the oil clean ?

[Zeemax_Mini]

jagnet said:

Short journeys - even an air cooled VW engine can get mayo.

The sun's out, give it a good blast down the road for a bit.

This - it probably just needs an Italian tune up!

Dom

[wst]

It's condensation. It's been sitting around a while. To be honest, with that mileage and that age, it's probably never seen north of 3000 rpm and never seen the temperature needle move. I'd suggest getting all the fluid levels up to the recommended amounts (so a top up) and run along a motorway for an hour, then run back the other way.

To be honest, it's fitting all of the stereotypes of one of those knackered low mileage cars - was it maintained on schedule, etc?

[Six Fiend]

As others have said, wipe cap, oil and filter change and take for a good long drive

Bought a Passat that had the same. Was fine really

[BrewsterBear]

Sounds very much like condensation, especially if it hasn't been used over winter. I'd doubt the headgasket has gone of all the other fluids are fine.

As others have suggested, just use it and it'll clear.

[Hoofy]

What they all said! My Golf has been like this for about 4 years.

[Blakeatron]

Cheers - yes oil is fine and all other fluids seem pretty clean.

Serviced to the exact date every year.

Will do an oil change and thrash it around - fingers crossed!

[Nickyboy]

I had a 1.2 Corsa till last year, drove it 2.5 miles to work and back every day and had exactly what you described. I was concerned when i forst noticed it so marked the coolant level and it didnt budge for 2 years so was pretty safe in my mind that it wasnt the HG

[BorkFactor]

Probably just short runs - my Mum's 2004 1.2 Corsa does this and has done for a couple of years, no other problems and no head gasket issues.

A good service and a good blast should sort it out

[Astra Dan]

Paranoia always strikes with head gasket issues! Doesn't help when garages charge a fortune, do more damage than good with skimming heads etc.

To create a lot of mayo under the oil cap, that would have caused a lot of water to mix with the oil. All of it would be a nasty brown, sludgy mess. Did it mis-fire from cold?
HG failure does not mean instant over heat, only once the water has been consumed/ ran out will the engine overheat.

Chill man, get some clean oil in it and rag it a bit.