Oil filler cap creamy but headgasket ok?

[millswest]

Hi every body have noticed a gurgling sound from my expansion tank when I switch my car off and when I am stationary the car warms up but gets alot cooler when driving. I suspected headgasket as I have some cream in the oil cap but the oil is fine and had it sniff tested and the headgasket seems ok? Any ides?

Regards
Wayne

[Chris#101]

With this weather  weve had of late it could be condensation. What sort of journeys are you doing (long short)? enough for the car to get upto temperature? how many miles from wiping clean does it appear gunky again?  coolant levels dropping?

[millswest]

I do about 6 miles to work and 6 miles back daily thats pretty much it and the coolant looked to go down one day and ok the next? As yet I haven't wiped the gunk off I have a 2.0 8v gti AQY for reference. I had a new rad last month as it split.

[miggs2002]

it does sound like short journey syndorme, the car needs a good run up the motorway once a month or so, that should cure it, or just warming the car up before you set off anywhere will help a fair bit, wipe it off and see how long it takes to come back, you'll most likely have it in the breather pipes too

[miggs2002]

also when the headgasket goes it usually causes the header tank to boil over when the cars up to temp

[markymarkg]

It sounds like the head gasket to me. Gasses escaping back thru the cooling system into the expansion tank. Maybe when you had a new rad fitted they didn't vent the system properly and there wasn't enough water left in!?!

But just to add...

I have recently had a problem with my MK3 GTi...Oil was fine and filler cap was also clear, no bubbling in the expansion bottle, but the car would be lumpy after starting and steam would eminate from the exhaust on start up for 5 mins or so. Fine after that but i would have to top up the water every couple of days when it came up as a low level warning on the dash board. Car drove normal even with this slight problem.

In the end it was the head gasket that had gone, so can only deduce that the head gasket was sealing itself once the engine got upto temp but leaked as it sat overnight.

 

[millswest]

I have had the car sniff tested again and it has gone green but they said that they are 90% sure that the head gasket is on its way and to get shot of it but still no over heating and am having gurgling only for a short period like a few seconds in the expansion bottle afterwards?

Is it safe to drive does anybody know?

[miggs2002]

if you are ok with a set of spanners then it's a pretty simple job doing a head gasket, if it's only going and not gone then you shouldn't need to get the head skimmed, i've had numerous engines that have gone and as soon as i have realised i've shut the car down before it warps the head so no skimming needed, the gaskets are usually about £40 for a good quality one

[millswest]

To be honest if the deductions are the head gasket I will just get shot. But I haven't lost any coolant in a week really not and the bubbles don't sound forced out more like trapped air it's frustrating as I have only had it a little while but never mind. Thank you for your help every body.