Head gasket

Tiny
CHEJDUGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
  • 2.0L
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 170,000 MILES
Hey, I bought this car two months ago (the elderly gentleman who I bought it from has not driven the car in a year). Had the oil, filters, coolant, break fluid all changed after the purchase. I am now noticing a lot of milky yellowish gunk around the oil cap and a sweet smell from the exhaust but the coolant level is not dropping so no coolant loss. Is this the early signs of head gasket failure?
Friday, November 24th, 2017 AT 3:56 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
The creamy substance in the oil is an indication of coolant mixing with the engine oil, and yes, the sweet smell from the exhaust is an indication of coolant entering the combustion chamber. However, coolant usually creates a lot of white smoke when burned. So in short, it does sound like the gasket is already leaking.
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Friday, November 24th, 2017 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
CHEJDUGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I only seem to have white smoke on morning, after the engine warms up there is no smoke. Another thing that I have noticed is that if I have the car sitting in neutral and give a few revs black powder comes out of the exhaust. The milky substance is only on the oil cap and not on the dipstick. How can coolant be mixing with the oil if the coolant reservoir levels are not dropping at all?
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Saturday, November 25th, 2017 AT 8:58 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
This could be normal for a car that was not been run for a while. Have you run a few tanks of gas through it? Moisture on the cap is normal for an engine that has not been hot multiple times.

To be safe though we can test for a blown head gasket pretty easy. Here is a guide to help you.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, November 27th, 2017 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
CHEJDUGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I will be taking the car to my mechanic after Christmas so I will post the outcome then. When I drive the car for a long period and check the oil cap after the butter/mayo like substance is gone. One thing I forgot to mention before is when the engine is on and car is in neutral you can smell the sweet smell from the exhaust inside the car. I have also noticed on the dipstick above the oil level there is a slight amount of the whie/yellow creamy substance. The oil is still the same colour, not brown. Also the check engine light is not on. Thanks for the replies. I will reply after the new year. Happy Holidays
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Friday, December 8th, 2017 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
Yep it sounds like you have a blown head gasket. Please let us know and the cost as well if we may ask.
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Friday, December 8th, 2017 AT 5:23 PM
Tiny
CHEJDUGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Yea I thought as much. I am hoping it won't be very costly. I didn't pay much for the car to begin but there was other things I wanted to do. Once I get it to the mechanic I will post a reply and let you guys know. Thanks for the replies and input.
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Sunday, December 10th, 2017 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
That would be great :)
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Saturday, December 16th, 2017 AT 1:02 PM

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