What happens when you drive short distances in cold weather

keehn · #1 (**permalink**) 12-06-2008, 11:02 PM

I have sticky'd this thread to the MKIII forum as it is a rather common issue with the VW engines when it's not driven enough to burn the moisture out.

I thought I would share these with everyone. I got a scare today when doing an overdue checkup on my Golf. I found the oil cap had a whitish sludge inside. I immediately thought oh Sh*t, my new head gasket is going bad. I checked the dipstick and didn't see any "chocolate milk" consistency on the stick itself.

After doing a little reading, I found out that driving short distances in cold weather causes moisture in the crankcase to collect and form on the top of the engine (where the oil cap is). This leads to the false reading that coolant is mixing with the oil.

After driving on the highway for a couple hours (round trip from Groton CT to Newport RI), I cleared out the sludge and got the following result:

Mike

goatmonkey · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 11:28 AM

You want a scare, look in the pcv valve.

TTTurbo1.8T · #3 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 11:35 AM

Wow that's pretty interesting I've gotta say. I'd probably shit myself if I saw that.

96GTIVR6 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 01:08 PM

it'll rust your exhaust like othing else too, my neighbor found out about that the hardway.

TTTurbo1.8T · #5 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 02:49 PM

That's why I rock the stainless steel exhaust system

keehn · #6 (**permalink**) 12-08-2008, 06:43 PM

At first I thought the coolant was mixing with oil. But after common sense took hold again, I realized the engine would have been performing poorly if the head gasket took a dump. All this while, the engine has been performing exceedingly well. That should have told me this was nothing to worry about.

I posted this for everyone else to see as we head into the winter months and a question is asked similar to my experience. Note: I did not clean the oil cap at all, I replaced the cap with the "milk" intact and took it for the drive. The engine cleaned itself, like my research said it would.

The pcv valve should be cleaned now as well.

Mike

keehn · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96GTIVR6

it'll rust your exhaust like othing else too, my neighbor found out about that the hardway.

Not directly. However, if you drive your VW short distances, the same phenomenon occurs in the exhaust pipes...excess moisture collects without a chance to burn off. Therefore, over time it will indeed, rust out the pipes.

...This phenomenon is true for any vehicles made of metal...it's just nature.

Mike (MKIII Emeritus)