GolfGTIforum.co.uk

Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: gamestaffords on 10 February 2013, 19:17

Title: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 10 February 2013, 19:17
Hello after some advice please,, as the title suggests im getting gunk build up in the reservoir, so after hours scaling this forum and the net ive boiled it down to oil cooler or head gaske.now i dont think its the gasket as the oil in the car has no white residue, the car runs fine starts first time and no loss of power. can i repalce the seals in the cooler or is it a new one. my car does lots of short cold runs which i no dont help,any thoughts will be much appreciated
Thanks Ross
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: dom on 10 February 2013, 19:49
If you do lots of short runs then that is almost certainly the cause :wink:
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: DubAndDubber on 10 February 2013, 20:23
In other words its normal!
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 10 February 2013, 20:40
thanks for the replys,my car does loose a little oil and first thing in the morniung its quite bad and the warning comes up saying check coolant, also i have had some issues with the system the stat went and also a small crack on the temp sensor housing appeared,so would you still say normal?
   
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: dom on 10 February 2013, 20:43
thanks for the replys,my car does loose a little oil and first thing in the morniung its quite bad and the warning comes up saying check coolant, also i have had some issues with the system the stat went and also a small crack on the temp sensor housing appeared,so would you still say normal?
   

I'm assuming your replaced the thermostat? What about the coolant temp sensor? That could well be the issue.

How much oil are we talking? Whats the mileage on the engine? It could be completely normal usage.
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 10 February 2013, 20:48
yea repaced the thermostat,sender and housing flushed and filled with coolant also serviced it about 2 months ago.the engines done about 100,000 with my missis using it mostly school runs work ect work being 3 miles away max,once the cars run for half hour the warnings stop happening
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 10 February 2013, 20:49
the oil was full when serviced and today its on min about 2 months
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: DubAndDubber on 10 February 2013, 21:32
Hang on, is it gunk in the coolant reservoir?
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: dom on 10 February 2013, 21:34
Hang on, is it gunk in the coolant reservoir?

I'd assumed oil filler cap, but re-reading it would appear that it might be :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: DubAndDubber on 10 February 2013, 21:49
Hang on, is it gunk in the coolant reservoir?

I'd assumed oil filler cap, but re-reading it would appear that it might be :lipsrsealed:

Oh dear  :undecided:
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 11 February 2013, 06:15
Hang on, is it gunk in the coolant reservoir?

I'd assumed oil filler cap, but re-reading it would appear that it might be :lipsrsealed:

Oh dear  :undecided:
that dont sound good?? is that the verdict?
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: dom on 11 February 2013, 07:20
Hang on, is it gunk in the coolant reservoir?

I'd assumed oil filler cap, but re-reading it would appear that it might be :lipsrsealed:

Oh dear  :undecided:
that dont sound good?? is that the verdict?

Is the gunk in the coolant reservoir then? How old is the coolant?
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 11 February 2013, 08:31
yea in the coolant i changed it about 2 weeks ago with the thermostat,temp sender and sender housing, reading other posts i think it could be the oil cooler,im going to look at prices today   
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: beppe2672 on 11 February 2013, 12:57
Did you put the same coolant in as you had before? I know if you mix long life coolant and normal stuff it can go cloudy and eventually cause a brownish sludge to form.
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: DubAndDubber on 11 February 2013, 13:01
Did you put the same coolant in as you had before? I know if you mix long life coolant and normal stuff it can go cloudy and eventually cause a brownish sludge to form.

That'll take years, if its sludge in the water you have oil contamination..
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 11 February 2013, 14:07
thanks for your help going to change the cooler this afternoon got the part from the breakers £35 vw wanted £125+vat ill let you all no how it goes
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: Mk2_tel on 12 February 2013, 18:19
I had same thing to be honest and it was head gasket
After a while I started to get a water leak where it was boiling out overflow
I did 29k with this problem and the hole time I had no obvious head gasket signs
Title: Re: Gunk in reservoir
Post by: gamestaffords on 31 March 2013, 15:38
Hi,,just to let you all no, an oil cooler and header tank from the breakers some rad flush and engine flush new filter,oil and coolant later and problem looks sorted thanks for the advice