Caramel coloured gunk in oil filler cap

longwalks1

My 2003 Audi has got a build up of caramel coloured gunk inside the oil filler cap, is there a way to determine if it's the head gasket on its way out, or just condensation from the cold weather and short journeys (been told it could be either)
I only drive 5 miles to work each day (10 miles round trip) and probably another 20 miles on a weekend, so hoping the gunk is just condensation - how can I tell please?

And if short journeys and the cold weather is the issue, what can I do? Surely everyone who only does short journeys has the same problem??

DUTR

When was the oil last changed? Back in the day, it was a sign that the head gasket seal maybe failing.

Silver-Surfer_2

You can get a sniff test kit or pop into a local garage.

AdrianC

Which engine?
Is the coolant level dropping?

Strider590

Unfortunately what tends to happen in cars that do low mileage, is that successive owners will have scrimped on servicing and oil changes, old engine oil has a habit of clumping and blocking the oil galleries, which can lead to accelerated engine wear AND/OR headgasket issues.

jbainbridge

More importantly - is the coolant level dropping?

thescouselander

It might be condensation. It may be worth taking the car on a run and getting the engine nice and hot - if. It's just condensation the moisture will evaporate off.

As above does the coolant level look like it's gone down?

forgotmyname

Short journeys like that you should be changing the oil twice yearly. Works for me.

longwalks1

Hi all
Sorry, it's the 3.0 V6 petrol. It's done 106k miles. Coolant level isn't dropping at all, and it was serviced about 2 months ago (about 600 miles ago?)

Mrs took it for a longer run today, 25 miles out then back a few hrs later but it's still gunky?

AdrianC

25 miles on a day like today isn't going to get the oil particularly hot.

Iceweasel

Yup - there are 2 questions

Is the coolant level dropping?

When was the oil last changed - date and mileage?

I would guess from the daily mileage that this is just the usual mayonnaise that builds up near the filler cap on an engine which hardly (if ever) reaches normal temperature.

With reference to oil-change intervals, in the handbook it will likely say that 'under extreme conditions change the oil more frequently'.

Most owners would not think that their daily short runs were extreme conditions - but they are - much more so than regular long high-speed motorway trips.

Just another reason why 2nd hand low-mileage cars are not necessarily a good buy - but try telling Joe Public that.

Edit: OK I've read your answers, did the service include an oil and filter change?

But I still think that your journey styles are the problem - and 25 miles is not a 'longer journey' - it would need more like 250miles to clear the gunk if you don't want to do another oil-change.

Check National Tyres - they offer a cheap oil-change, with decent oil for little money.