Checking my oil on Saturday I noticed that the coolant level was down a bit. It dropped a bit last year too and needed topped up.

Remembering a post on here about water in the oil I took off the filler cap and there was some emulsion on the cap and below it. Just like the crema from the top of an espresso.

Not as much as the post here (which I can't find now) but noticeable.

It was after 12 so Skoda servicing was closed. So I took the car round to the independent dealer that does SWMBO's can and used to service my Clio. He didn't think it was anything to worry about. Just a bit of sludge. He thought that the coolant would be contaminated if there was a leak.

The car was serviced about 6 weeks ago and hasn't been doing short journeys. Most trips are 60miles or more at motorway speed. The drop in the coolant just made me worry.

Any opinions? Give Skoda a call?

Mayo under the filler cap could well just be condensation in this cold weather, especially if the car's not had a long run recently. I, too, had a scare recently (bit higher pucker-factor than yours, though - see here), and actually found this guide:

eBay.co.uk Guides - HOW TO TEST FOR A FAILED HEAD GASKET

...covered all the bases (despite the dodgy spelling at times, and my reservations about anything related to the 'bay!) I'd recommend working your way through as I did, and only going to a garage if you find anything alarming.

It's noticeable that mayo under the filler cap isn't mentioned as something you ought to worry about!

To be fair if the weather is cold the coolant level will drop a touch, so I wouldn't think it's much to worry about.

Just keep an eye on the coolant and oil and if you're concerned use a head gasket test kit (looks for combustion gases) on the coolant.

Also it can be worth just taking the breather pipers and catch off and giving it all a clean out.

i think its just the cold weather, i pulled my dip stick out the other day (-3c) and it had like espresso froth on bit of the dip stick, nothing in with the water so im just guessing its the cold causing the oil to go like that.

With any mayo / froth like that, if it goes away after the car's been driven for a bit, it's almost certainly condensation - not least 'cos driving the car with a blown HG would actually force MORE water into the oil, rather than boiling off any traces that could be there because of cold, damp air getting into the engine through the breather etc.

My wifes Fabia gets a lot of short journeys and she gets a lot of "mayo" stuck to the bottom of her oil filler cap during winter months. I just wipe it clean every week. I am reassured that there is no problems as long as the coolant is still a nice pink colour and it gets no lower than the "min" mark.

Problem goes away during the summer.

Been the same for the last 7 years.

Ok thanks for the replies.

I'll just keep an eye on it for now. I don't do many short journeys but the car does sit for a while. I tend just to drive it at the weekends. Possibly that's allowing a bit of water to accumulate.