Mayo on dipstick...

[Colesy]

Checked the oil over the weekend and noticed a mayonnaise type blob on the dipstick

Had the same problem before the summer but changed the oil and it had been completely clean for 3 months so had assumed that it was due to short trips etc.

I'm hoping that the return of the mayo is due to the cooler weather and condensation. Also over the summer I have been trying to get to the bottom of a slight roughness in the idle. I have eliminated spark plugs coils and POS from the potential causes.

So now I'm thinking that the HG is on the way out...

Am I barking up the right tree?

How should I proceed? I would guess that the next thing to check would be the compression of each cylinder?

Does anyone have compression test kit in/near London?

Much thanks as always!

[EspenW]

Most likely due to cooler weather and condensation, since you won't get the engine oil up to 100degs (to boil off condensation) as easy as you would in the summer.

How is the coolant level?

[SteveH]

you can have the coolant checked to see if there's a HG leak. No idea what it costs though.

[Colesy]

It uses absolutely no coolant and there are no visible bubbles coming into the header tank.

Can anyone recommend the best way to analyse the coolant?

[Jamo]

You have a sniffer test such as http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-CYLI...item3ca64f5812

Also check your PCV system is up to scratch.

[bluequattro]

has it sucked water up through the air filter?
i ran mine too low to the road and it sucked enough up to make the exhaust steam!
oil was like mayo, changed it n moved filter, fixed it

[Colesy]

I'm running an RS2 airbox at standard ride height so doubt that any water go in there, I will check though.

Are there any shops that are likely to sell that block tester kit as our post is behind by about 3-4 weeks!

Thanks for the suggestions

[s2driveruk]

any garage worth their salt should be able to do a test to analyse the gas in the coolant....seem to remember a test kit or sorts being available from halfrauds too....?

[Knight Rider S4]

First place I would check is the oil cooler as this becomes porous over time letting water into the system(especially in colder/wet months) and gives you the impression of HG failure with mayo on dipstick

[Colesy]

Just an update on this.

On Sunday the slight miss fire developed into a very heavy miss fire and it now runs rougher than ever.

One minute it was fine, turned off the engine for 2 mins started it back up and the idle was awful, wiggled the MAF wire etc and nothing changed. So it's consistently running like this at the moment.

Took it easy all the way home and got it into the garage.

The mayo definitely hasn't got any worse and isn't always there so I'll be having a look at the oil cooler and testing the coolant on Friday.

Did a compression test and all 5 cylinders are all around the 165-175 psi mark which was a relief!

So my next thoughts are coils, sparks and injectors.

I'll be eliminating the coils & plugs this Friday hopefully as I have a set of Apikol 1.8 ones which I can plug in.

Is there anything else that I should look at?

And is there an easy way to test the injectors?

Does anyone have a Vag Com I can borrow in the Banbury or London area?

Cheers,

[GazzaG60]

do you do lots of short runs. thats the usual for the gloop.

misfire is i suspect a different thing.

i had one last week. seems if you get a little moisture under the coil cover and clamp it down its trapped and causes havoc.

run her up to temp and release the cover. pull oif off the plugs and leave it for 10 then refit. if it goes its moist.

cheap first test.

if its runnning like a sack of turd id take the plugs out and clean them with some brake cleaner and a little wire brush or wet n dry.

[haaran]

Also have a look at the POS's as one of those caused a similar problem with mine. You might just be able to swap them round as one if for 3 of the cylinders and the other for2 cylinders.

[Colesy]

Thanks for the tips

Any other ideas as to what I should check?