my friend has no luck

Jim B.

If it's not using coolant, then that crap under the oil cap is normal. It's caused by moisture condensing there!

No oil temp gauge, but I've got almost an identical commute and if anything I drive more conservatively than he does, and I don't see the mayo on my '04 1.8T nor did I on any of my other cars ('84 Scirocco, '89 GTI 16V) which if anything ran cooler water temps. Now I did have the oil cooler on both of those cars so the oil should have warmed up faster, don't know if they still use the same oil-to-water deal on A4s. (do they? honestly curious.) My old cars tended to hit at least 200F oil temps on that trip.

BTW, have I mentioned that I feel mildly ripped that the MFA is no longer standard on GTIs? I "ordered" this car through a local dealership the way I wanted it (silver, black leather, moonroof, cold weather package) and they found me exactly what I asked for, but I didn't realize that the MFA was no longer standard so I didn't get it. D'oh.

Just for reference we live in the general DC area (office is in Beltsville) and it has been unusually cold (around freezing temps) the past week or two.

nate

MFA's haven't been standard since '90. :-( My '91 doesn't have one either.

What is an MFA?

Isn't that optional on the Golfs? I have seen it in my owners manual, my

Well there ya have it. My newest GTI prior to this one was an '89 16V.

I guess I'm showing my age.

nate

The MFA has been standard on all GTI VR6 models since 1993. Jetta GLX had it as well. Currently,. only the GTI VR6 gets the MFA, as it is one item that seperates the 1.8T from the VR6.

No Golf in North America has had Climatronic, however the GTI GLX and VR6 had it. Jetta GLX has it as well. However, there is no longer a Jetta GLX in North America. The Passat GL --> GLX has an MFA as standard equipment, however it doesn't tell you the same info as the old one...it gives you outside temperature, average speed, average fuel economy, distance until empty, and driving time. If a warning light should come on, it will instruct you as to what needs to be done. The Audi version of the MFA is animated!

- Peter

Jim B.