With the recent cold snap I was wondering is the build up on the cap normal? The car didn't get much usage over the cold spell.

Btw the oil level was at min when checked. The car is due a service in 500 miles.

If it's still there after a decent run of a good half-hour or so, follow the steps given here: http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/HOW-TO-TEST-FOR-A-FAILED-HEAD-GASKET_W0QQugidZ10000000001891247 (IF YOU CAN BEAR TO LOOK AT IT ALL IN CAPITAL LETTERS!!!)

If you're still in any doubt, I'd not wait to get it in the garage...

With the recent cold snap I was wondering is the build up on the cap normal? The car didn't get much usage over the cold spell.

Btw the oil level was at min when checked. The car is due a service in 500 miles.

I got the same thing last year in a cool period I wasn't using the car much.

I asked here and was told it was probably just condensation and to take the car for a run and let it heat up. The water should evaporate from the oil.

Also not to worry if the water in the expansion tank was clean.

Mine wasn't quite as bad as your pic but it has been a lot colder.

That looks horribly like the gunk you get when the head gasket has gone.... I hope it isn't and is just something to do with the cold spell

Perfectly normal for for a car that is not getting much use, clean the cap and take it for a good drive to get everything up to working temperature (20 - 30 miles) all should be OK inside the cap once the condensation has been 'burnt off'.

The first thing i would be checking if you thought it was a head gasket faliure is the coolant expansion tank for low fluid level and/or oil contamination.

The first thing i would be checking if you thought it was a head gasket faliure is the coolant expansion tank for low fluid level and/or oil contamination.

Checked Coolant level, which is up to the centre of bottle where top/bottle meet (there's no max line). Also the Colour of coolant looks clear, redish colour.

There was a bit of thick scum under the opening of the oil opening aswell, cleaned some out and cleaned cap so see how it goes...have a trip to NI at weekend.

Checked Coolant level, which is up to the centre of bottle where top/bottle meet (there's no max line). Also the Colour of coolant looks clear, redish colour.

There was a bit of thick scum under the opening of the oil opening aswell, cleaned some out and cleaned cap so see how it goes...have a trip to NI at weekend.

Oh that looks quite bad...

I get a little bit every time I check my oil, but it's never that bad!

Cold weather

Just get it in for it's service and ask them to check the breather pipe and for head gasket failure (exhaust gases in the coolant) at the time.

Personally I think a long run to NI, and see if it's still there as cold weather does that.

+1 for the cold weather.

I got the same problem if i do several short trips (home-supermarket) every winter...after the first 30+ miles trip all the scum is gone.

+ 2 for cold weather.

I had this problem last year, I was so concerned I took it in twice; on the second occasion Skoda changed the oil FOC which was a bonus. Having checked at the weekend which is now the only time I drive the car the scum is back on the cap, but this year I'm not as worried; I just cleaned the cap of the goo and carried on

Looks normal to me GAFF

My courtesy car, a 1.2 Corsa with 1609 miles on the clock has a little bit of scum under the filler too. Best place for it really as you usually find them driving Corsa's

Cheers all, sent dealer a pic and he also thinks is due to weather.

Don't worry. Mine is exactly the same. Just wipe it off and when the warmer weather comes hey presto it disappears. I was concerned last winter and took it to the dealers who advised that it was probably the cold, I only do about 10 miles each way to work with no jams usually so it doesn't really warm the engine. The only way to make it diasappear is to wipe it or go for a really good drive, even then it will reappear if the temperature drops or you do short journeys in the cold.

I'm really glad I read this thread before I went to look at an Octavia 4x4 at the weekend. It had a tiny amount of scum under the cap (nowhere near as bad as the pic here), but the coolant level was fine and it was clear. Normally, I would have been concerned, but just wiped it off and after an hour's test drive, it had cleared up. Obviously the car had been standing for a while in the winter weather.

Anyway, I bought the car and am looking forward to picking it up this weekend.