Black Sludge in Water Tank plz help!

[Goops]

Hi People,

I had my golf gti 16v fully serviced recently:

-cambelt change
-both fanbelts changed
-oil filter change
-fuel filter change
-new brake discs and pads

Last week on the way home on motorway, my water temp light flashed - I did not have water on me so drove home for about 15 miles.
I topped up the water (without coolant) when I got home.

Yesterday on the way back from work the water temp light flashed again, i opened up the water tank and noticed a blackish oily sludge on the top.

Couple of questions please:

1. Is it safe to drive home by today?

2. I have read that this may be a headgasket issue!?

3. Also my radiator fan did not kick in when i reached the 120temp mark? Is this a worry? (checked the fuse in the morning and its ok)

I have rang VW and they are quoting 95 quid just for a diagnosis!
I am going to get the coolant tank flushed clean from a local mechanic near my work before i drive home today.

Any help appreciated!?

Thanks in advance....

G

[dabill]

could be a faulty oil cooler... is there any steam coming from the exhaust on startup? check the underside of the oil cap on the rocker cover for any mayo crap.
also might be worth taking off the oil cooler and checking that over, or maybe replace it.. might have been distubed or damaged when the oil filter was done.

sure other people will have some ideas.

rob

[Goops]

Hey Rob,

Cheers mate, I did not notice any steam but will check again at 5 oclock.
I checked for mayo on the engine oil dip stick and it was clean?

How much cost wise would I be looking at to replace the oil cooler?
Plus do you think its worth taking the car to VW? Seem very overpriced in all honesty!

Cheers,

G

[dabill]

even if my car blew up and the only people that could fix it were VW i wouldnt take it to them, i'd scrap it!

far to expensive! find a local vw specialist, always cheaper, or even a competant mech should be able to solve the problem fairly qucikly.

as for the oil cooler, check gsf or eurocarparts websites for prices, jus bang their names into google.co.uk

if there isnt any mayo on the cap or the dipstick then thats genrally a good sign...

but still, im not 100% sure what it could be, but take it easy on your way home. if the oil gets to 120 again i would pull over and let it cool... not worth the risk imo...

rob

oh yeah, local place to me(i say local, its a good 20 min drive ) is quoting around 50£ for a diagnosis on my mates car which is a mk2.. still seems a little steep... first i would wait and see whats thrown up here before spending 50£...

[Goops]

yeah VW seem to be taking the piss with those kind of costs mate!
yeah saw oil cooler for 35 quid on gsf, will wait for the mechs diagnosis today..

yeah will do mate, the temp did not rise on way to work (25 miles on motorway) finished parking up at 100 which i thought was good. Just not sure what the black stuff was and was wondering if im risking any damage to the engine etc by driving on?

Is the radiator fan related to this problem in a anyway? I only mention this because I havent noticed the fan kicking in last week...at what temp should the fan IDEALY kick in?

Thanks for all your help!

G

p.s where abouts you from mate, that mechanic sounds like a God send!

[Goops]

hey,

Just popped to the mechanics:
No Mayo in the oil, and no steam in the exhaust...

Mechanic said the goo in the tank is rust from the radiator coz its old and knackered.
He also mentioned the oil cooler and said that was probably damaged/tightened too much during the oil filter change 

Overall the mechanic is quoting a new Radiator change (gsf) and oil cooler change plus labour for £70

What do you think? Go for it? I am not sure as to the reliability of gsf radiators, any pointers much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

G

[dabill]

gsf rads are okies, they do two types if i remember correctly, a normal one and a best quality one, obviously, if you can afford it get the best quality one... tbh, its a 20 min job to change the rad on a gold, litrally 6 easy to get to bolts, 3 circlips and its out... put new one in and tighten up the bolts and fill the system...

then, heaters on max, cap off the water bottle, turn the car on and keep topping up until the fan kicks in, once the fans kicked in, cap back on and ur on ya way, really easy!

not worth 70£!

rob

[Goops]

Cheers mate,

I went down the vw dealer today and bought 4 bottles of g12!

The gsf rad one was the 17333 ...

https://secure.gsfcarparts.com/shop/results.asp

Wana make sure he puts the right one in, if you could point your diamond mouse at the right one, it would be much appreciated mate!

The VW dealers said a proper MK2 one will cost somewhere between 160 and 180 quids!?
So the question really is, go for the gsf or the VW one ??

I use the car daily mate, pathetic as it may sound I dont trust myself to do the job!
My luck id just muck things up!

yeah the mech is quoting 70 quids - radiator plus oil cooler (gsf as well), these any good or should i again consider VW?

Cheers for all the help rob, much appreciated!

[dabill]

best bet is to ring gsf, tell them what car you have and they will tell you which rads will suit it, ask for the price on their best quality one and get that. these are often either the same as what the dealer sells or just as good quality wise...

as for the oil cooler, again, gsf ones would be fine, and get the best quality one.

as with all parts, if you can afford it, then get the dealer ones... but as is often the case, i can think of a million things i could buy for the car for the price of the radiator...

good luck!

rob

[Goops]

Cheers rob,

I have bought the gsf radiator and oil cooler this morning and will get everything in tommorow morning!
Lady at GSF parts swore by their rad so lets see!

Cheers for all your help mate, il provide an update come saturday evening!

Thanks once again,

G