Oh SH!T !!

[workhorse '90 8v]

Opened the oil cap today to find a small, very small, amount of grey residue on the bottom of the cap itself !!!

I believe this means water is entering the engine oil ?

Head gasket

or could it be somewhere else?

you can get those sealents you add to the oil, or is it water,
are these products sucessful in sealing??

or should i start saving for a head gasket replacement???

[golfvr6]

Take it for a long burn then check the cap again. Could you be condensation.

[Blue MK2]

I found the same stuff 3 days ago. I had a leak and the water ran down and looked like it was sinking into the head gasket.

Just fixed the leak.

The circled bit is the part i changed, the arrow shows the water that looks like its entering through the gasket.

[workhorse '90 8v]

golfVR6

That would be good news!!
AS i said , it was only a very small amount on the cap itself..

[workhorse '90 8v]

Blue MK2

Funnily enough i have a coolant leak right on the part you show !!

I assumed it to be just a washer where this part fixes to the engine.

Anyone know if there is a washer / gasket at this join

And would i be able to get the part from a general motorfactors?

also, being a bit dull here, what would you call this part/assemble???

[Blue MK2]

i took it to VW. I brought an 'O' ring first as its sealed by an 'O' ring - cost ?85p

I found out that it didnt solve the problem and i had hairline cracks in that plastic part - Cost from VW ?9.69p

Take it to VW and show them the part, they will sort it out

[Blue MK2]

Do you think its this leak that has caused a small amount of stuff on the oil cap?

If you fit a new plastic part you have to swtich the sensors over and make sure you dont over tighten it.

Mine is an Digifant 8V with a PB engine code 1991. If yours is the same then the part number is 037 121 133 C

[Blue MK2]

one more thing, have you notice that your engine tappets make more noise that usual? could be the water mixed?
I just had an oil change and still can hear the tappets playing music

[richandhazel]

Tappets may be noisier because its got colder and the engine oil is thicker at start up. Its just taking a little longer for that oil to get into them.