Has the head gasket blown?

jewelly

Hi. When I drove the car today the oil light flashed and warning bleep sounded. I stopped at a garage very close by and filled up with oil. The oil light continued to flash and the speedo, rev counter, petrol gauge, temp gauge all had zero readings on the dashboard. The speedo and petrol gauges worked ok after a couple of minutes, but the oil light continued to flash and the warning bleep seems to sound when I do a corner.

I came home and did some research on google - as you do!

Now I'm wondering if it's the head gasket as when I took the oil filler cap off it was covered in creamy coloured sludge. Any advice/opinions would be appreciated. It's a 1998 Polo, by the way. Thanks.

karatepet

Have you checked the water coolant?

Wig

It's perfectly normal to find some cream under your oil cap. This is not an good indication of HG failure.

Did you check the oil level with the car on the flat?
Sounds like you might have too much oil in there.

marksandsparx

jewelly wrote: »

Hi. When I drove the car today the oil light flashed and warning bleep sounded. I stopped at a garage very close by and filled up with oil. The oil light continued to flash and the speedo, rev counter, petrol gauge, temp gauge all had zero readings on the dashboard. The speedo and petrol gauges worked ok after a couple of minutes, but the oil light continued to flash and the warning bleep seems to sound when I do a corner.

I came home and did some research on google - as you do!

Now I'm wondering if it's the head gasket as when I took the oil filler cap off it was covered in creamy coloured sludge. Any advice/opinions would be appreciated. It's a 1998 Polo, by the way. Thanks.

Do you do alot of short trips? so that the engine doesn't get up to a very hot temp? that would account for the sludge under the cap.

When you filled the engine oil, how much on the dipstick was showing? and how much did you put it?

jewelly

karatepet wrote: »

Have you checked the water coolant?

The water level looked fine.

jewelly

I never checked the oil level before putting some in. I put half a litre in and checked the dipstick (on a level surface) and it was on the max marking.

jewelly

I don't tend to do short trips. Mainly I go to work and back - a 15-20 minute drive.

karatepet

I drive 15 mins to work every day and get the cream on my oil cap.But when i go on a long drive it just burns off.Depends how long it takes to get the engine to running temperature.I was just asking about the water level,to see if you had any oil mixed in with it.Another sign of head gasket blown.

marksandsparx

jewelly wrote: »

I never checked the oil level before putting some in. I put half a litre in and checked the dipstick (on a level surface) and it was on the max marking.

was the oil on the dipstick brown, black or grey?

jewelly

karatepet wrote: »

I drive 15 mins to work every day and get the cream on my oil cap.But when i go on a long drive it just burns off.Depends how long it takes to get the engine to running temperature.I was just asking about the water level,to see if you had any oil mixed in with it.Another sign of head gasket blown.

Thanks. I will check the water again to make sure there's no oil mixed in there. I just can't understand why the oil light still flashes after I've put the oil in. Actually, that's the first time it's needed any oil in the 3 years I've had the car.

I hate cars when they go wrong! I'm such a numpty with them. I'm thinking of driving to the local tesco later and ringing the RAC (I'm a member) to get them to look at it and give an opinion. Is that naughty? No garages will look at the car today and I'm worried about driving it to work on Monday.

marksandsparx

jewelly wrote: »

Thanks. I will check the water again to make sure there's no oil mixed in there. I just can't understand why the oil light still flashes after I've put the oil in. Actually, that's the first time it's needed any oil in the 3 years I've had the car.

I hate cars when they go wrong! I'm such a numpty with them. I'm thinking of driving to the local tesco later and ringing the RAC (I'm a member) to get them to look at it and give an opinion. Is that naughty? No garages will look at the car today and I'm worried about driving it to work on Monday.

Do it!! its what you pay them for