Possible head gasket?

Hi, guys need some help please. I am a proud new owner of a mk1 golf GTI, absolutly love it, just sorting out a few little issues most of them are fixed but i have 1 which is worrying me:

Over the past few weeks i have noticed my coolant level going down a bit more then it should. I topped it up with some VW G12 +, but its gone down again to half way down the expansion tank. Tonight i just checked the oil cap and there is a little blob of mayo    only a small bit, but its i think the start of possible the head gasket going  :dontknow:

Will the car be alright to drive over christmas until i get it fixed in the new year? Can any of you give me some recommendations of decent garages around the south east who can do the work?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

mayo could also be condensation

worth cheaking all the coolent pipe before rushin in to do the head gasket

8) Cool i will check the coolant hose's as soon as i can. The car is not over heating at all and there is no white smoke from the exhaust. I will check the hoses for any splits etc.. i will repost once i have had time to have a look. Hope its not the head gasket.

Ok, so last night i had the car on axle stands and had a good look underneath the car, and checked all the coolant hoses.

All hoses look fine and cant see any leaks. I also checked the back of the main block where there are a few blanking plates just below the manifold as these sometimes get rusty and leak, but these look fine.

Took the car out for a little trip last night to check everything over, car sounded sweet and has not lost any power, popped the bonnet and had another look while engine was running, looks fine, car is not running hot or anything.

Any ideas why the coolant is going down?  :dontknow:

If the coolant is going down, its going somewhere, if its a head gasket problem, there will be emulsification (mayo) in the rocker cover
(where you put the oil) or oil in the water (less likely).

Thinks to do……..

Drive car & warm up (check for mayo in oil filler cap)
Open expansion tank SLOWLY & CAREFULLY dont take your face off….. :wink:
Sniff for exhaust gasses….
Check expansion tank for oil………
Get someone to rev car up, check exhaust for steam / water  lots…..

Got non of these??????  good…..

Try…..

Parking car over some old newspapers…..when warm
leave overnight……….

take car for a drive , open bonnet, look for leaks etc…

Mine had a pin hole leak in one of the hoses (nov visible or obvious when cold) and lost 4 -5 ltrs in about 10 mins…….. which I suspected was a head gasket problem, so you may find its something simple…….

Just remember to replace anti freeze!!!!!!! as each time it leaks you loos some…….. hope this helps & let us know how you get on.

cheers

Dibbler

another thing to look at is if there is any white milky bits on your dipstik if there is then think you will be lookin at a new gasket mate

Happy new year everyone, took my car to Race Power motorsport over christmas, it turns out it was leaking from the coolant level sensor. When it was pointed out to me i could see it straight away, replaced it for a second hand one and have now done around 200 miles and the coolant level has stayed the same. Thanks for all your help guys.