cream in oil cap

[harbourdj]

Hi Everyone,

I've recently purchased a T4 2.0L Transporter and recently discovered oil under the oil cap.

I've changed the oil and found no hints of any water leakage in the old oil.
Nor does the the water level drop.No overheating, no nothing.

Although it's got about 330K on the clock it has plenty of power and drives like magic.

I'm wondering whether it may be a similar situation with the 4th gen Golf.

I'm just worried it could be the head and gasket

Would really like some light on the subject

Cheers

Harbourdj

[h100vw]

Too many short journeys can cause the same problem. If it doesn't come back don't worry about it.

Gavin

[harbourdj]

I take it on long journeys and the problem still exists...strange?

[The_Hawk]

I have started to notice the same thing in the Mk3, checked the oil while at the servo and it was nice and black, but when I got home to top it up I noticed the grey/white oil under the cap and started to poo myself.. then remembered the black oil from 5 minutes ago.

Seems condensation in the cold climate + short trips are the culprit. Definately something to keep an eye on, but seems it's not too much to worry about.

[gregozedobe]

Is the engine getting up to proper operating temperature ? If it is running cold all the time because of a faulty/missing thermostat you could get the same symptoms.

I believe it is possible to test for coolant in the oil (and vice versa). but have no idea who could do it for you. You could get a radiator specialist to pressure test your your coolant system.

IIRC T4 waterpumps fail fairly often, so much so that a lot of people replace them as a regular service item (ie before they fail). I'm not sure at what interval people do this.

I'd also make sure the cam belt has been replaced at the correct distance, if not (or you can't find definitive proof that it has been done) then get it changed fairly urgently.

Maybe a search on coolant or water pumps will give you more info from people who have T4s. The brickyard site is may also be worth visiting.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/default.asp

Hope that helps, please let us know what you find out.

[jets]

IIRC T4 waterpumps fail fairly often, so much so that a lot of people replace them as a regular service item (ie before they fail). I'm not sure at what interval people do this.

I'd also make sure the cam belt has been replaced at the correct distance, if not (or you can't find definitive proof that it has been done) then get it changed fairly urgently.

Maybe a search on coolant or water pumps will give you more info from people who have T4s. The brickyard site is may also be worth visiting.

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/default.asp

Hope that helps, please let us know what you find out.

The info you are giving applies to the 5 cyl engines, harbourdj has the 4cyl. In fact I don't think the 2.0 litre petrol was ever sold in T4s in the UK.
My very first aircooled VW had the problem of codensation in the filler cap, a result of driving each night to visit my now wife who lived only a short distance away.

[gregozedobe]

The info you are giving applies to the 5 cyl engines, harbourdj has the 4cyl. In fact I don't think the 2.0 litre petrol was ever sold in T4s in the UK.

I bow to your superior knowledge of T4 engines. If the 2.0 petrol wasn't available in the UK they wouldn't have any experience of problems with the water pump in that engine. Does the 2.0 petrol have a different waterpump to the 2.5 and 1.9 diesels then ? A waterpump leaking coolant into the oil still has to be a suspect given his symptoms (even if it isn't known as a frequent problem for 2.0s).

My very first aircooled VW had the problem of codensation in the filler cap, a result of driving each night to visit my now wife who lived only a short distance away.

Harboudj said "I take it on long journeys and the problem still exists...", which is why I suggested some possible causes other than short trips.

[harbourdj]

first thing is the log book and it contains info upto 45,000kms and as far as parts that have been replaced is therefore unknown...might pay to get it checked out with a specialist ASAP.

Well today I took the T4 up to port macquarie from sydney and back and on the first leg of the trip I'd checked again and to my surprise almost nothing was there so I'm assuming that it is just condensation.

Again I checked all the fluids and its all the same...still I'm puzzled!!!

I think it may be a minor flaw with this model but anyway...

I'll let you know the outcome in the near future

I'd like to say many thanks to all of you for your opinions on the matter

[gregozedobe]

I take it on long journeys and the problem still exists...strange?

Apart from your drive up to Port Macquarie, can you describe in a bit more detail the way you have ben driving (length/time of trips, how "easy" or "hard" you drive, load carried, normal sorts of speeds, how long your engine takes to get up to normal operating temperature etc).

My 2.5 TDI can take a long time (15 minutes or more) for the coolant to get up to proper operating temperature if driven gently on a really cold morning, so in those conditions anything less than 30 minutes is technically a "short" journey (because the engine has been operating for much of the time below normal temp).

[harbourdj]

Well the load I generally carry is around 300kg and with this particular journey I'd drove a non-stop trip of about 5hrs continuous and an average speed of 100kms/hr@2800 rpm
The temp gauge sat slightly above the cold mark all the way.
I'm assuming the temp would be due to the outside temp of about 5-7 degrees C,Plus the fact its also been raining most of the way so that could be another factor.

[jets]

The temp gauge sat slightly above the cold mark all the way.
I'm assuming the temp would be due to the outside temp of about 5-7 degrees C,Plus the fact its also been raining most of the way so that could be another factor.

My opinion is the temp is too cold. All diesels run halfway on the gauge [90 degrees C] I have not owned a petrol but in the interest of emissions & fuel economy the designers normally have them running quite hot.
Many years ago I owned a MK2 GTI golf. When I bought it is was running cool. The PO said it had always run at that temp. Not satisfied, I pulled out the thermostat & checked it & it was opening far too early. After fitting a new t/stat the fuel consumption improved considerably. BTW it's worth checking the new one before installing.

[jets]

[QUOTE=gregozedobe;193120]I bow to your superior knowledge of T4 engines. If the 2.0 petrol wasn't available in the UK they wouldn't have any experience of problems with the water pump in that engine. Does the 2.0 petrol have a different waterpump to the 2.5 and 1.9 diesels then ? A waterpump leaking coolant into the oil still has to be a suspect given his symptoms (even if it isn't known as a frequent problem for 2.0s).



I don't think any of the T4 pumps leak water into the oil, it's only on the T5s[different design] On the 4 cyl engines, including the 1.9s, the water pump is "outside' the cam belt drive & is not normally replaced until it leaks. The reason it is suggested to change the pump on the 5 cyl [maybe every second belt change] is that being driven by the timing belt, if the pump siezes it will bring the house down.

[gregozedobe]

The temp gauge sat slightly above the cold mark all the way.
I'm assuming the temp would be due to the outside temp of about 5-7 degrees C,Plus the fact its also been raining most of the way so that could be another factor.

I agree with Jets. Prime suspect is a faulty (or even missing) thermostat. The thermostat should maintain the engine at the design temperature, regardless of outside weather conditions (within normal limits). On a trip that long with that speed and load your engine should be running at the normal temp.

As a confirmation of this theory (faulty thermostat), do you find that the cabin heater isn't very hot ?

If it is a faulty thermostat, once you replace it you might find the engine runs better and gets slightly better fuel economy too.

Let us know what you find out.

[gregozedobe]

I don't think any of the T4 pumps leak water into the oil, it's only on the T5s[different design] On the 4 cyl engines, including the 1.9s, the water pump is "outside' the cam belt drive & is not normally replaced until it leaks. The reason it is suggested to change the pump on the 5 cyl [maybe every second belt change] is that being driven by the timing belt, if the pump siezes it will bring the house down.

Thanks for that info Jets, now I know much more about why people say to replace water pumps on T4s (this forum is a wonderful source of knowledge , and so many helpful people too ).

[jets]

I am pleased to have been some help.