> You say the PO  may be responsible? Maybe he or she drove it way
> south of
> Mexico into say,Columbia.Maybe the white stuff is contraban. I mean
> they
> did use the secret compartment under the seat.So secret VW
> advertises it in
> the origional window sticker.

Add baking soda in water solution.   Three possibilities:

1. The powder was baking soda, in which case you now have double-
strong baking soda to soak up the next battery acid spill.
2. The powder was battery acid, in which case it will be neutralized
and you'll end up with salt.
3. The powder was cocaine, in which case you'll rock it up for some
nice crack cocaine  (the vanagon stove may come in handy here).

No matter what, you can't lose!   ;-)