My 2000 "X" pre facelift Passat TDI PD 115 has used about one pint of water recently over approx. 1000 miles. The car has done 83,000 miles and has never used any water (or oil) before since new.
The coolant (and header tank) is perfectly clean with no signs of oil whatsoever. There is a VERY slight sign of condensation emulsion on the oil filler cap, but I mean very slight and the car has only done a couple of short journeys before I noticed this (less than 10 miles). There is no sign of any external leak.
I have to travel on a 400 mile round trip early tomorrow (100% motorway) and I am wondering if I should risk it? I have arranged a coolant system pressure/leakage check at my local garage on Friday.
Any suggestions as to what may be the problem and if you would risk the journey?
Thanks for any advice.
Edited by Pugugly on 03/06/2009 at 18:29
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These small water leaks are a devil to find but after checking all the hoses and the like the next common one is the rad. The very slight emulsion on the filler may have nothing to do with the problem and this time of the year is very common. A presuure check may find it but the leak may also be temperature sensitive but close examination of the rad may show areas of dampnes ot corrosion/staining by the coolant. Good Luck finding it it can be very difficult.. Regards Peter
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My Golf 110TDi started using water at around 50-55k. I was first alerted to it by the low coolant warning coming on when the ambient temp was around freezing and the motor cold. The garage initally blamed the sensor, I replied that it WAS using water. They suggested to wait for the 60k service to get the head gasket changed (under warranty) as that was a cambelt change biggy anyway. I had to top it up a couple of times before the service. The technician said that he could not see any problems with the old gasket, but it used no more coolant up to its return to the leasing company at 99k.
(Note that you have to have the correct 'antifreeze' for the VW engines as certain types are disasterously incompatible.)
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Check the expansion tank cap. On my VW that caused a minor leak.
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Well I risked the journey yesterday and the car used NO WATER at all!! The journey was 400 miles (2x 200 mile non-stops) all on the motorway with no major hold-ups so I guess the car never got hot enough for the leak to "show-up".
Had the pressure test done this morning and the radiator is holed!
The leak is now quite noticable, I'm not sure if this the result of the pressure test entirely, or the mechanic having a "probe" with his screwdriver? New radiator is £125 from VAG or £73 from my local rad specialist.
Does anyone have any specific knowledge of what (if any) specialised antifreeze is needed for this engine (aluminium head)?
Cheers for all your replies,
Nick
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Hi Nick
Had a similar issue with my facelift 2001 Passat before Christmas. Looked like stone damage to the radiator with a resulting weep. A bottle of "stop leak" or similar stopped the leak but I chose to have the radiator replaced rather than risk the coolant suddenly dissapearing on a motorway trip.
I had my done at an independant VW workshop in St Helens, the genuine VAG radiator was about £135 and fitting was about £120. It was quite a job as most of the front of the car has to come off to provide access. I did notice the replacement rad had slightly revised pipework on one side. I choose this option as I felt that given the independant does mostly VW work they would get it to fit together nicely once finished as I have seen a Passat that had the front removed by a local "do it all mechanic" and some of the gap lines were a bit too uneven for my liking. Also they were able to supply the correct pink antifreeze so I had peace of mind.
HTH
As always
Mark
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Mark,
The generic replacement rad. was the wrong one, (had a hole for the thermostat and one of the couplings was wrong). But I checked because I removed the old rad. first. The correct one was not available until Monday and I need the car, so I ended-up buying the VAG one, but Corkhills in Bootle are quite accomodating (at least the bloke I always deal with in their spares department is) and they gave me some discount. The total cost of the genuine (and correct) rad, plus 3 litres of VAG coolant was £116.50. Not too steep under the circumstances (and alot cheaper than replacing the head gasket as I originally suspected).
I have done the job myself as I had the front trim off the car last year for another reason and its not too bad a job. Like you, I always think garages fail to refit trim properly and I prefer to do it myself.
As a footnote, I have never had the oil change done by any garage (VAG or independant) that has correctly refitted all the Dzus fasteners under the engine. They always leave some out or break the plastic ones under the wheelarches!!! As the car is now five years old I do it myself, (as I always end-up under the car to fit the fasteners properly anyway).
Nick
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Hi Nick
Glad you got it sorted, I have mixed experiences of the garage in Bootle that you mention, went there once but not again.
However it was another VW dealer that did not put back about 20% of the fasteners following a service. Usual thing by the time you spot it its hard to prove they were there in the first place.
Fingers crossed though the VW Independent in St Helens has been the best of the lot and IIRC it only about £35/£40 an hour unlike the £85 p/h plus VAT my nearest VW dealer charged last time I went there.
The guy in St Helens recently did me new discs and pads all round plus a major service including a brake fluid swop for a tad under £400 all in. Thats less than VW wanted for just the brakes.
As always
Mark
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My Passat 1999 115 PD has done 132K miles. At about 125K the coolant light came on and I filled up about 750ml of G12 ccolant that VW insist is used. I checked a week later and most of the top up had been used but it took another 2-3K for the light to come on again. I used the rest of the bottle so another 750ml gone.
I reported this at the 130K service (independent VW specialist - MidlandVW near Cannock) and was told it was either the head gasket (no visible signs) or a weep at a pipe join or at the rad but they couldn't see anything at all at the service. The coolant temperature sensor had also gone so they fitted a new one of those and topped the whole thing up to the brim with the G12 coolant. Again after a week, most of the top up had gone and the expansion tank was at minimum. Move forward 1000 miles and the level in the expansion tank has shifted a few mm down and that's it.
I'm beginning to think the expansion tank cap is faulty but am getting nervous at the thought of having a major rad/pipe blow-out at motorway speeds. I suppose I could replace the cap, top up and see what happens.
Thoughts anyone?
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I've had coolant loss problems for nearly a year on my 2001 1.9 130hp PD. Problems started in summer 2008 when the coolant warning came on, just over 100k on the clock. Topped it up and levels continued to drop slowly and erratically. Took it to a VW dealer who pressure tested the cooling system - no apparent leaks, tested for oil in coolant - negative, tested for coolant leaks in engine oil (milky deposits under oil cap) - also negative. They returned the car, said they couldn't find any leaks and billed me £200. Also told me they suspected the water pump was faulty but I wasn't happy taking it back to them. A few weeks later the dealer went bust.
After that I took it to an independent gargage who replaced the water pump but it turned out to be fine. Leaks persisted so I took it back to the same garage who tested the oil cooler which was also fine, at least they didn't charge me. Coolant leaks continued: level drops over a few weeks, warning comes on, open reservoir cap and large relelase of pressure with sudden rise in level in reservoir. Also soot/grease inside reservoir. I suspect exhaust gases are getting into the cooling system and causing air bubbles/air locks in cooling system.
After reading endless forum discussions I asked the same garage to check the EGR valve, today they have told me my model doesn't have a cooler on the EGR so no chance of leakage there. Mechanic says it could be a cracked head. Time for a new car, I think. Anyone interested in buying? Apart from the problems described above it's a great runner and very economical! ;-) (apart from the cost of coolant that is).
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Just had my A6 (same engine) fixed. It was a blown head gasket, and, as I'd run it with the problems for slightly longer than you had, I'd also distorted the head. Total of £800 to fix, but that included belts and new waterpump. I know it seems silly investing that much in a 9 year old car with 190,000 on the clock, but the car drives beautifully, and the mechanic says the rest of it is sound.
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