Do I have a blown head gasket???

[ZrByte]

My clio has started to get that 'mayo' build up underneath the oil filler cap. Obvious first response is that my head gasket has gone, open and shut case right?
Only thing is if I wipe it away and take it easy on the gas when the engine is cold, or if I take it on the motorway quite a bit it doesnt build back up. I dont really rag it when its cold anyway but if I drive nice and calmly or clock a higher motorway mileage it just doesnt build back up.
However, if I go back to my normal driving habbits wich would likley mean not going on the motorway it will build back up.

Any ideas?

 

[alexbleubolt]

gross man

 

[MATT BLACK]

The mayo effect is common on most engines - its just moisture mixing with oil from the rocker cover - no need to worry. Its very rare that a 1.2 16v blows an head gasket anyway - never known one to do it.

 

[ZrByte]

The mayo effect is common on most engines - its just moisture mixing with oil from the rocker cover - no need to worry

Cool, only downside then I suppose is when it comes to selling a lot of people will assume head gasket failure. So I'll need to take it on the motorway quite a bit before selling my clio (when I eventually do).

 

[Steve]

If you have only noticed it recently may be this is due to the damp weather we are having.

Short trips stop start could also cause this.

Is your coolant level dropping at all??

Just keep an eye on it.

 

[ZrByte]

If you have only noticed it recently may be this is due to the damp weather we are having.

Short trips stop start could also cause this.

Is your coolant level dropping at all??

Just keep an eye on it.

It first appeared last year and dissappeared mostly during the summer, Ive only noticed it again in the last 6 weeks or so, so I think you might be right about the weather.
Short trips could deffinatley be the problem, I only live 3 miles away from work and only 2 miles from my girlfriends house, and they seem to be the majority of the trips I do during the week
Coolant levels dont seem to have dropped at all, gonna try and take a propper reading in a bit, just waiting for it to cool down as ive just got back from a drive.

 

[MATT BLACK]

If you sell it clean the cap before the customer comes to look before hand