Serious Help needed please!

[Rockey5uk2001]

So Guys the wife wanted a golf after days of searching came up trumps


mk4 VW golf on a S Reg 70k on the clock 1.6 SE Perfect condition inside and out 2 lady owners full service history uptill 4k ago

I checked the usual stuff like coolant perfectly clear (red)
Dip stick oil was smooth and clean great!
Car drove perfectly the hour drive back
and fine the next day
now it dosnt always start first time or start and stall but then fine
she got the car on Tuesday this week

so had a look around took the oil filler cap off and saw this.
it was worst than this this was after I cleaned it a bit


So Cleaned and and the cap drove it down the dual carriage way and back about 15 mins

and it was still clear but the gunk I left in a little was now on the back of the filler cap as pictured below



soo not loosing coolant

not over heating

smells a bit of petrol but not if that makes sense?

anyone got any advice /help

greatly appreciated

Thanks Sam

[George k]

Lots of short journeys can cause that due to not getting fully up to operating temp

[navmk4gti]

I would give it a oil change mate then take it for a good drive. Gunk like that normally indicates head gasket. But on these loads short journeys can cause some crap on the cap

[Rockey5uk2001]

Wouldn't head gasket failure cause coolant loss?

[mar_k]

Don't worry its normal,

Normal on cooler months and when car is used on short journeys

[Rockey5uk2001]

Thanks mark im planning on doing a oil change and flush and Saturday and take it on a run to Weston super mare
which is about an hour down the motorway each way. ill prob follow her in the 1.8T just incase

[james2]

i would not give it a engine flush .  just new oil filter and oil.

[Rockey5uk2001]

how come?

[Wayne]

how come?

Oil flush is a bad idea as it tends to dislodge crap that then will block up oilways etc, just replace the oil and filter and give it a really good run.

[Mark b]

Condensation had it on mine about a month ago took my car on a long trip and it cleared up if you touch the gunk(mayo) all that'll be on your finger is water try it