Is my friend wrecking his Golf?

[Motorrad]

I was at a friend's house yesterday and he mentioned he had 'mayonnaise' under the oil filler cap of his MKV Golf GTi.

I presumed this was water/condensation, took a look and there was loads of it under there. He cleans it out weekly after his commute of 2.5 miles each way, 5 days a week. I also checked the dipstick- there was mayo in there as well!

He says the car doesn't use any water so I presume that rules out HGF? Is this just a symptom of a car that never warms up properly and if so what sort of harm could it be doing?

If I was him (he's a shift worker) when I finished at 2am I'd go for a late night blast down the lanes every now and again to wind down after work to get the car properly warmed up every now and again but he isn't the type for that......

[S3_Graham]

Those symptoms are common and 'normal' on the big 6cyl BMW's.

[HustleRussell]

Without other symptoms it probably isn't HGF, just normal condensation as you suggested. It's not going to do any harm.

[philmots]

HustleRussell said:

Without other symptoms it probably isn't HGF, just normal condensation as you suggested. It's not going to do any harm.

I'd still take it for a 2am blast though!

[m44kts]

I've found my mk5 gti takes a while to get up to temperature so 2.5 miles a day isn't really doing it many favours. Mine doesn't get used much so I have the occasional bit of mayo on the oil cap. Few weeks ago though I gave it a good 200 mile motorway thrash and its been fine.

Tell him to give it an Italian tune up.

[soad]

m44kts said:

Tell him to give it an Italian tune up.

This!

[Holepunch]

The MK5 gti forums are full of posts regarding this topic and all state it's not HGF just a characteristic of the engine. Mine suffers from it occasionally but I clean it away and take it for a good blast.

[HustleRussell]

philmots said:

I'd still take it for a 2am blast though!

There's a lot to be said for a good 'ole Italian tune-up, I'm a big fan. Each car I've bought has benefitted from a bit of rough treatment.

[barky]

2.5mile commute? needs to take long route and multiply that by 20 at least a couple of times a week ... ahh the fun I used to have bouncing off the rev limiter in a low gear on quiet rural roads in my gti to keep it 'right'

[aka_kerrly]

Short journeys mean too much condensation/damp stays in the engine as it must rarely even reach optimum operating temperature.

[ging84]

just needs an Italian tune up every once in a while
edit: oh thats been said about 5 times already

[Jacobyte]

Condensation in the oil will not burn off until it reaches 100 degrees Centrigrade. A short journey will not give it enough time to reach that temperature, so the oil/condensation is creating more and more emulsion. Long term this can be damaging as the oil loses its chemical structure and becomes less effective.

As has been said, a regular 50+ mile thrash should help to keep on top of it, but perhaps an oil and filter change is prudent now anyway.

[Motorrad]

As I thought, thrash the bugger from time to time and change the oil more frequently. Thanks fellas.

[Ozzie Osmond]

This is pure comedy from the macho brigade. There's no need to "thrash" anything. All the car needs is a decent length run so that the oil gets to and stays at a good working temperature.

[RobM77]

S3_Graham said:

Those symptoms are common and 'normal' on the big 6cyl BMW's.

Interesting. I've had a 325i, 328i, 330i and Z4 Coupé 3.0si and never seen that. What's BMW's reasoning behind it being normal?

[kambites]

Hmm, our Octavia gets used predominantly for short trips and has never had any visible emulsification.

[Gad-Westy]

RobM77 said:

S3_Graham said:

Those symptoms are common and 'normal' on the big 6cyl BMW's.

Interesting. I've had a 325i, 328i, 330i and Z4 Coupé 3.0si and never seen that. What's BMW's reasoning behind it being normal?

All four of my six cylinder BMW's do it in very cold weather if they've been used for short trips. No idea why but gives you the willys the first time you see it.

In fact I remember a couple of years ago, my header tank split on the A1. Called breakdown company. He takes one look at the oil cap and says 'your head gasket has gone'. I disagreed but he was adamant. We agreed to disagree seeing as it was going to need towing home either way. 30,000 miles later, still going strong.

[Meoricin]

Ozzie Osmond said:

This is pure comedy from the macho brigade. There's no need to "thrash" anything. All the car needs is a decent length run so that the oil gets to and stays at a good working temperature.

It's more fun to 'thrash' it though.

[Motorrad]

Ozzie Osmond said:

This is pure comedy from the macho brigade. There's no need to "thrash" anything. All the car needs is a decent length run so that the oil gets to and stays at a good working temperature.

There may be no need but given the excellent fun roads in close proximity to his workplace he'd be insane not to. I can't think of a more fun way to wind down after work save maybe a visit to a brothel.

[Devil2575]

Gad-Westy said:

RobM77 said:

S3_Graham said:

Those symptoms are common and 'normal' on the big 6cyl BMW's.

Interesting. I've had a 325i, 328i, 330i and Z4 Coupé 3.0si and never seen that. What's BMW's reasoning behind it being normal?

All four of my six cylinder BMW's do it in very cold weather if they've been used for short trips. No idea why but gives you the willys the first time you see it.

In fact I remember a couple of years ago, my header tank split on the A1. Called breakdown company. He takes one look at the oil cap and says 'your head gasket has gone'. I disagreed but he was adamant. We agreed to disagree seeing as it was going to need towing home either way. 30,000 miles later, still going strong.

It's normal to see it after short trips. If it's excessive or still present after longer drives it points to a blocked/failed Crankcase vent valve.