Oil in engine bay damage

[Taxman]

Looking for advice/experience on a stupid mistake I made today. Long story short, I mustn’t have screwed the oil cap back on correctly after topping up the oil in my Golf Alltrack TSI. Smoke appeared after about 10-15km of highway driving and I pulled over and discovered the oily mess and a missing cap under the hood (later found in a crevice).

No engine light came on during this time, and there was no perceptible loss of power either. I put the family in an Uber and got a tow to my next stop,

There’s still an adequate amount of oil in the engine, but I didn’t restart the car to avoid potentially damaging it after pulling over.

A mobile mechanic is coming out tomorrow to degrease the engine bay, and do an oil and filter change.

Anyway, just chasing second opinions I suppose. Anything I should look out for before I try driving it again? Or should I not risk it and get it towed to a mechanic for a proper check/diagnostic etc.

TIA

[Lucas_R]

Just buy a few cans of brake cleaner or degreaser and clean the mess up the best you can on the side of the road. Then assuming its still got enough oil in the engine, drive it home.

If the oil has drenched the underbonnet insulation then you might need to remove it and throw that out - i dont think you will get significant oil out of that insulation without ruining it.

[Taxman]

Thanks for that.
Mobile mechanic did exactly what you suggested. Doesn’t seem to be any engine damage, with all systems running normally. Due for a service soon so might bring that forward and get the full oil change to be safe.