Golf 1.9 tdi, should i be worried??

[new to vw]

Just topped up the oil and found salad cream under the filler cap....I have been topping up the coolant as well..

Could the salad cream be a result of only doing short journeys in the cold weather we have just had and the oil is not getting upto temp or is a head gasket job
 

[dubber36]

It sounds very much like a head gasket 

[robster52]

Need to worry unless the car is really old and you think the gasket is passing.

doing short journeys causes this mayonaise because as u say u get condensation on the inside of the cylinders. wipe underneath the cap and take the car for a few long runs and it'll clear. Had this on my TT and it soon cleared up

[Wayne]

Clean it off and give the car a long run.

[new to vw]

Just a quick update, the coolant system isnt under presure whe the engine is cold..

[Mr Savage]

Also had the same problem on another car in the past. In my case it was due to short journeys in the cold weather and as others have suggested, wipe it down (make sure no lint or the like gets inside the cap) and give it a good few long runs then check your oil. For me it didn't clear instantly on the first run but eventually did after a week or so of extra driving. If it doesn't clear after that then you should start to worry as chances are it's the head gasket.