I have a -99 Skoda Octavia 1.6 GLXI. A couple of months ago, after a cold start, and about 300 meters of driving the red temperature light started flashing. I checked the coolant level and it was low, so I filled it up to recommended level (about 0.5 liters).

After that the coolant level has been consistant. I haven't had to refill after that.

 

I have noticed that there is some brown gunk on the oil filler cap. The exhaust fumes are white. When the coolant temp is in the middle (on the dashboard) the car still has white colored exhaust fumes. I usually drive the car quite short distances (>10km). The car runs fine.

 

Could it be a broken head cover gasket? I would rather fix it before it gets worse and warps the head.

 

Welcome.

Is you car getting longer run often enough to get the oil hot and to reduce Condensation (H20) in your oil?

(Burning it off / reducing it at least.)

1 hour ago, Offski said:

Welcome.

Is you car getting longer run often enough to get the oil hot and to reduce Condensation (H20) in your oil?

(Burning it off / reducing it at least.)

I go for trips longer than 30kms about once a week. Is this enough? Read somewhere that I would have to drive a couple of hours to reduce condensation 

4 hours ago, Offski said:

Welcome.

Is you car getting longer run often enough to get the oil hot and to reduce Condensation (H20) in your oil?

(Burning it off / reducing it at least.)

I go for trips longer than 30kms about once a week. Is this enough? Read somewhere that I would have to drive a couple of hours to reduce condensation 

Added pics, nobody has an idea of what this is? Could it be blocked engine breather? Blocked crankcase ventilation?

Well..... it does look head-gasket-y to me but I'm  a Pharmacist not a mechanic! There is rather a lot of it to be just condensation to my mind.

 

When the old Astra lost a head gasket my mechanic friend did a test of some kind, which may have been combustion products in the coolant or coolant  products in the oil, I cant remember which. Either way it was conclusive and I got it done. A test might put your mind at rest even if it were negative?

24 minutes ago, edwards said:

When the old Astra lost a head gasket my mechanic friend did a test of some kind, which may have been combustion products in the coolant or coolant  products in the oil, I cant remember which. Either way it was conclusive and I got it done. A test might put your mind at rest even if it were negative?

 

That would be a "Sniff test" where you sample the air above coolant in the expansion bottle, if the detector fluid changes from blue to yellow/green it indicates there are hydrocarbons getting into the coolant ie headgasket/head problem

Nige8021, that sounds like the very thing. It was about 5 years ago and the old brain isn't what it was....

 

My symptoms were steady gradual loss of coolant, a few bits of white 'froth' on the dipstick when checking thw oil and a lot of condensation in the exhaust.

 

The old girl (17 this month) is still going strong with her new owner.