Water Loss Issues

[Mark & Cath]

Our Galaxy (1.9 TDi AUY) has used a little water in the last month and was down to the minimum marker. I top it up and noticed there was a 1/4 inch of mayo scum under the oil filler cap (Gulp) but no oil in the coolant header tank.

 

It is running perfectly and there is now sign of mayo on the dipstick. I have wiped it clean and driven the car for 20 miles and the cap is still clean and no water usage. I have read the oil coolers can put oil in the water but can they go the other way?

 

What do you guys thinks, am I at the beginnings of a HG failure and are there any checks I can do?

[Mirez]

This time of year see's an increase in this - white mank is a result of moisture. Now while it could be from the coolant system its likely as a result of short little drives where the engines not properly warming up. Normally when a HG fails in such a way that it produces white mank you'll certainly know about it, there will be an excess of white smoke/steam from the exhaust and it'll be pretty lumpy to drive.

 

Either way get an oil change done, if its as a result of the short drives it'll be ok for a few days/weeks and then come back. If its as a result of HG it'll come back much quicker and the old oil will come out looking brown rather then black.

[Mark & Cath]

Thanks for the reply Mirez.

 

Sadly it has got worse. The last couple of days there has been a bit of smoke on boost from cold but it stopped after 1 or 2 minutes. Today however it let go completely, when you press press the accelerator it sends out loads of white smoke and it is a little lumpy.

 

The water is slightly below max and when you press the accelerator it drops in the bottle and rise when you lift off so it isn't pressurising the coolant system. Oil is quite clean but cap has mayo as I have said.

 

The smoke is not blue and when I put my hand over the exhaust it doesn't get oil on it so I assume the smoke is either unburned diesel vapour or water. I think it is the HG but would welcome some advice before I split the head.

 

One final thing that may or may not be relevant. 5 or 6 times over the last month the turbo has dropped out with an over boost error (sticking veins I guess) so I was looking to change that in the next few weeks anyway, perhaps that has let go but would that cause the symptoms and how would I tell?

 

Many Thanks.