mayo build up, Not the norm

[Chris#101]

Howdo, fairly mechanically minded and havent ever seen this before so I was wondering if anyone could shead any light on it. Ever since fitting my oil catch can I get a massive build up of mayo on my dipstick guide, quite litteraly mm thick. and a very slight 'dusting' on the filler cap. Not loosing any coolant, nor is it contaminated. anyone got any ideas 







cheers

[gti gaz]

Even a slight leak could cause it but that's quite a lot try a compression test go from there

[clipperjay]

You can buy hydrocarbon test strips stick it into coolant and see what colour comes out.
But no oil catch tank is going to cause that much Cum in you're oil!
I personally would not drive it until I found the source which looks like headgasket 

[Chris#101]

Il try get a comp test done this weekend anyone know the figures I should be achieving?

if it was the head gasket would there not be more in the filler cap and inside the head?

On the dip stick the gunk look like it goes right down to the sump but I think its all collecting in the guide so when you pull the dipstick is pulled out it covers it all. Reason I say this is when I wiped the stick and put it back in  normal coloured oil was appearing on the guide
 

[clipperjay]

I can't say how the water is going down to the sump, but if its just started the whole sump could just start filling up with the mayo and then the oil pump will start bring it up to the head signs of this is already on the cap!! It could be dropping water on a down stroke making its way down to the sump.
Hence don't drive it anymore and get it sorted.
I can't say where the gasket is leaking from or I could say there is a gasket on the oil cooler linked with collant pipes thats gone?
No point in guessing whats caused it its already there so start stripping the block to see whats happening?
If you arent confident to strip a block or don't have the tools to do the job I wouldn't care how mechanically minded you are I would just get it sorted as once the channels start to block up and carbonise its a new block for sure!
There is NO EASY FIX mate you have oil and water mixing from somewhere   
If it was me as back up I would see if I could find another cheap block just incase as I can drop another engine in without special skimming tools to do a block   

[Wayne]

I had to look at a mk3 this week that was the same and it was the headgasket.

[kahunajb]

Wayne are you thinking of going back to a mk3? DO IT.

[Toby]

Short journeys.

Condensation.

[kahunajb]

Short journeys.

Condensation.

That is more than condensation.

[Wayne]

Short journeys.

Condensation.

That is more than condensation.

Agreed, howevre it might be worth doing an oil and filter change and then see if it comes back after a good long run