Well if I have to take the heads off then i will clean it...

 

That is "short trip" build up. The more important story is the crap that is in your overflow tank. Have you even opened the radiator cap. Much less looked in there?

With the crap (read as rust and corrosion) in the block, the temperature sensor could be screwed up and not allowing the computer to know the engine has warmed up and could be staying in enrichment mode. Which could explain your lousy fuel mileage.

 

How should I go about this situation then?

 

A complete and thorough engine and radiator flush done with the proper "flush" like prestone for starters. Remove the overflow tank and clean it out too. Remember to use either 50/50 or use distilled water when cutting straight antifreeze.

Get a scanner that can give you real time sensor data.

 

You've got to take it out and drive it hard to warm it up fully, at least once a week. If the oil doesn't warm up, it stays full of the condensate from the blowby in the crankcase. The water and other compounds in the oil forms acids.

It takes a good 15 minutes of solid driving to warm the oil up fully in cold weather.

It would also be a good idea to check your PCV valve. If that's as crudded up as the fill tube, it's not pulling the harmful vapor out of the crankcase. Check the line from the throttle body to the passenger valve cover too. All that stuff has to be clean for the PCV system to work and protect your engine.

 

So fred, you don't believe its the heads leaking?

I am on the fence because the oil filler with a "brown milkshake" seems to be a tell tale sign if a blown head gasket. My car idles very smoothly and accelerates very smoothly, and has no overheating issues. Even sitting in traffic.

Also, it seems to have a reddish color in the condensation on the oil filler neck. Maybe I just don't know what exactly to look for.

 

Try googling "milky condensation at oil filler neck"

 

.....the reason I said I wasn't sure was BECAUSE I googled it and there are so many mixed results, which led to my confusion. That's why I asked about it on here, so I could get results based off of my specific case.

 

no not a blown head gasket just build up from lack of getting the oil hot. most of the time if you blow a head gasket you know it. over heating, smoking, oil in the coolant and coolant in the oil. did you check the dip stick? sounds like you aren't driving it long enough to really get any sort of gas millage out of it. its just trying to worm up for most or your drive. it warms up a lot quicker in the summer. If there's no check engine light on then the most i would do right now would just be spark plugs.

also if your still running dex-cool get rid of that crap. flush it as stated and put some good coolant in it. Im sure ill get **** but being a VW tech i use VWs pink coolant. super high boiling point, protects against rust and electrolysis seals small leaks by gelling. helps you find big leaks by leaving a nice stalactite oh and of corse its free for me.

 

Hmmmmm....are you sure I should use a different coolant? The manual is pretty specific in saying only dexcool...

 

Dexcool is garbage. Only green. Never use tap water.

 

What would you recommend I use then?

 

Any brand of green 50/50. Prestone or Peak comes to mind.

 

Why green?

 

Because Dexcool is NOT green.