Condensation in the engine?

[Darek Jarski]

I am a rookie Audi owner facing a possible problem. Recently I purchased a
1989 Audi 200tq with the later engine (MC). The car has about 185K on it and
is in fairly good shape. However, I recently started to see a bit of while
stuff on the oil cap and high on the dip stick (about where the dip stick
guide meets the crank case). It is not chucky just a bit of white haze on
the dip stick and somewhat thicker stuff on the oil cap. The car has not
been driven much in the last few months and I live in a cold climate (its
been below freezing the last few weeks so condensation is likely to form).
I've talked to three places (one of them a very reputable german car shop)
and they said that these engines have a moisture problem. I am not gaining
oil level (by the way the oil itself looks clean - no white stuff); I am not
losing coolant so far as I can tell; I see no evidence of oil in the
coolant; I took head temperature (with a laser temp sensor) and it is even
on different parts of the head and seems to be within limits; I seem to be
getting full boost (1.3bar). All seems normal and the shops seem to be right
but just to calm my nerves I would like to ask this question. Has any one
else encountered this (white stuff)? Is this normal for these engines if not
driven much and in cold climate? I am concerned about possible blown head
gasket or worse (cracked head or block). Sorry for the long queston! I would
appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks
Darek



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