GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: bertmort8 on 11 September 2009, 09:46
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my coolant keeps getting low, i fill it up between the min and max and within like 4/5 days it drops below the min.
just to off the cap and its nearly overflowed bubbling, ive just topped it up with bit more coolant but dont want to keep doing this
anyone got any ideas
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How old is your car as I've read that the radiators on the gtis have a tendency to rot with age...
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only a 54 plate
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Yes , I have just noticed on my Edition30 that its low, only done 8,000 miles 58 plate? Whats going on here then? Do I need to get coolent for it or top up with water? Thanks Steve :undecided:
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Did it used to hold a consistent level or has it always been like this?
Certainly don't sound right to me, it must be leaking from somewhere. Does it leave coolant on the drive?
Do some basic checks on the hoses and rad, you should be able to see where it is coming out. Try doing this when it is both hot and cold, sometimes the system will only leak at a certain temp. due to things expanding etc.
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I'd get the pipework checked first...can you spot a leak when you set off after the car has been stood?
Radiator could also be penetrated and leaking
How often do you check your oil? - is the oil filler cap creamy around the rim/dipstick encrusted? (possible leak through gasket)
max to min in 4-5 days is terrible. Mine doesn't use a drop between services although I still check it monthly.
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didn't AlanD have coolant loss issues and have some kind of seal replaced? :huh:
EDIT - found it!
AlanD's Leaking Flange (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=100997.0)
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Hurdy , there no leaks on my car at all mate? But its at the min level right now 58plate 8,000 on clock? Not another bloddy visit to dealers???? :undecided:
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we have had the car about 9 months, only been doing this for like the last month or so, but using far too much
really havent got the money at this point to take it to a garage incase it costs too much
i never see any signs of leaking on the drive whatsoever. just had to go to halfrauds to buy more coolant as do not wanna top up with water
someone told me it maybe the radiator. will have to ring my warranty up and hope that they will cover the cost if any (just this minute realised i got warranty still)
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Can you use water to to top it up with? Mine is low as well? :undecided:
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Happened to mine 6 months ago. Basically it was traced to a perished rubber washer near the flange which was leaking a tiny amount of water. You could see the burnt coolant but there was never a drip. It would go low every month. Fix was 11p plus a bit of labour and mine has been perfect since. I'd imagine it's a common problem judging by how many people have had the same issue
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Can you use water to to top it up with? Mine is low as well? :undecided:
im pretty sure you can 'top it up' with h20 but be sure not to thin out the coolant too much or summut like that
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You can buy ready mixed coolant at halfords cheaply. Make sure you buy the vag orange/red version
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my coolant keeps getting low, i fill it up between the min and max and within like 4/5 days it drops below the min.
Does it ever completely empty the bottle? Some engines will just 'find their own level', and are perfectly happy to sit below the minimum. As long as there is some coolant in the bottom of the expansion bottle, and doesn't completely empty the bottle - it should be OK.
just to off the cap and its nearly overflowed bubbling, ive just topped it up with bit more coolant but dont want to keep doing this
Eeek - you should only really remove the coolant filler cap when the engine is stone cold! And you should never top up hot coolant with cold coolant (or water) - there is a possiblity of craking the head or block! :shocked:
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How old is your car as I've read that the radiators on the gtis have a tendency to rot with age...
Really? :huh: Not heard that myself! Maybe peeps arn't using the proper G12+ coolant? :undecided:
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Yes , I have just noticed on my Edition30 that its low, only done 8,000 miles 58 plate?
How low is low?
Whats going on here then? Do I need to get coolent for it or top up with water? Thanks Steve :undecided:
You really need the proper VW coolant. Plain water will reduce not only the frost protection, but also increase the corrosion.
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Hurdy , there no leaks on my car at all mate? But its at the min level right now 58plate 8,000 on clock? Not another bloddy visit to dealers???? :undecided:
If it stays at the min level, it will be fine.
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just had to go to halfrauds to buy more coolant as do not wanna top up with water
Noooooooo. You must ONLY use a special VW coolant - G12. Halfrauds stuff may claim to meet G12, but I would strongly advise on only using genuine VW coolant. :smiley:
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You can buy ready mixed coolant at halfords cheaply. Make sure you buy the vag orange/red version
No no no NOOOOO. :rolleyes: You must ONLY use G12 coolant. Put anything else in there, and it will congeal and block all the internal coolant passages, and the radiator!
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Does it ever completely empty the bottle? Some engines will just 'find their own level', and are perfectly happy to sit below the minimum. As long as there is some coolant in the bottom of the expansion bottle, and doesn't completely empty the bottle - it should be OK.
Eeek - you should only really remove the coolant filler cap when the engine is stone cold! And you should never top up hot coolant with cold coolant (or water) - there is a possiblity of craking the head or block! :shocked:
it has never emptied the bottle completely but veryvery close to it and waaaay below the min line.
i didnt put the coolant into the car for atleast afew hours after parking her up
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The VW G12 stuff is around £7.00 a bottle from the dealer & should be purple in colour. :smiley:
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The VW G12 stuff is around £7.00 a bottle from the dealer & should be purple in colour. :smiley:
:afro: Yup. The stuff is actually 'G12 plus plus' now - part number 'G 012 A8G M1' - 1.5 litre bottle, and can be mixed with all previous VAG 'G' antifreeze specs.:afro:
Must update this handy part numbers thread: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=95565
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the coolant i have always had in the golf since i bought it is RED in colour, in reading up this was correct? no?
will go buy some of the g12 plus plus tomoz hopefully
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For general top-ups, I'd imagine the 1l bottle of coolant from VW would last you ages, so it's a false economy to use water. Something like screenwash or oil is different. I've had the car for a year and have gone through something like six bottles of screenwash. VW really need to do a 5l version for me.
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the coolant i have always had in the golf since i bought it is RED in colour, in reading up this was correct? no?
will go buy some of the g12 plus plus tomoz hopefully
G12 was red
G12+ and G12++ are a lilac/purple colour.
The minimum spec in the Mk5 was the red G12 - so red is fine. But if it goes an orange or browny colour, drain it, flush it, and refil with proper spec asap.
HTH