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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: m4nesh on 26 December 2003, 22:09

Title: Coolant Leak
Post by: m4nesh on 26 December 2003, 22:09

Hello All, Happy Christmas!

I got the christmas blues, I have a small coolant leak but can't locate it, driving me mad.  I can see white deposits in loads of places but still can't see any leaks.  ::)

Anyone got any suggestions

By the way anyone had any leaks coming directly from the expansion tank.

Cheers

Manesh
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: mk1 on 26 December 2003, 22:41
Water pump, t'stat housing, metal pipe to the oil filter housing, radiator, head gasket, heater matrix, radiator hoses are all poss. Check the expansion tank, can  crack and the seal in the cap can fail.
Steve.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: golfvr6 on 27 December 2003, 14:49
Try some radweld if the leak is only a small one.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Veedubgt18v on 27 December 2003, 18:05
make sure you follow the instructions and shake it good tho cos if you dont it can block internal passages causing more problems!
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: m4nesh on 27 December 2003, 22:13

Checked all the hoses and still no obvious white marks or leaking

I am really suspicious of the expansion tank cannister, I took it apart today and inspected the cannister and it seems to be ok no cracks or holes. However, I did notice that the cannister had a slight rattle to it - leading me to believe that water is escaping through the bottom section and out of the overflow in the top section? Furthermore, there is a hissing coming out of the cannister, after a good run, only furthering my suspicion.

Anyone here had a similar problem......

Anyone know where i can buy a new one from in Leicester...(heres the catch) on  sunday 28th cause i have to go work on Monday.....100 mile round trip
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: golfvr6 on 27 December 2003, 22:27
The actual tank itself shouldn't rattle.
try changing the cap, if no success then you probably have a small leak on the headgasket.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: m4nesh on 28 December 2003, 00:11
The actual tank itself shouldn't rattle.
try changing the cap, if no success then you probably have a small leak on the headgasket.

Your scaring me when you say "headgasket"!!! ::)
When you say head gasket are you referring to the expansion tank or engine?  If there is a leak in the head gasket can I refer to the haynes manual on sorting it?

Cheers Mate ;)

Manesh
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: golfvr6 on 28 December 2003, 00:22
Whats the problem? is the expansion tank vent leaking all the time? does it hiss after a long journey?
are the radiator hoses hard? (even after quite a short drive and when left overnight)
I would change the expansion tank cap first.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: m4nesh on 29 December 2003, 19:56

Ive changed the expansion tank and there is still no difference, its really peeing me off >:(! Coolant is still leaking from the overflow of the expansion tank and it is still hissing.

Anybody got any ideas?? ???

Much Appreciated Cheers ::)
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Gozza on 29 December 2003, 20:05
So how do you know you have a coolant leak ? Can you see it after being parked on the floor or is the level getting low often ??

If the level is gettng low and you are unable to see it then check your oil to see if any creamy sludge is present under the oil cap and dip stick !! If it is then you may well have a shafted head gasget  :-[

Also you say you changed the tank, did you change the cap too ?? Is it still hissing ??
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: kniterider on 29 December 2003, 20:46
sounds like head gasket to me!!!!!!, im not 100% but thats what i reckon!!! ::) ::) ::), not a mega hard job on an 8v!!!, dunno if haynes manual up for it, try bentley manual or download it!!!, thats what vr6 and richandhazel use ive got a ahynes but then im thick!!! ::) ::) ::)he he he
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: golfvr6 on 30 December 2003, 00:08

Ive changed the expansion tank and there is still no difference, its really peeing me off >:(! Coolant is still leaking from the overflow of the expansion tank and it is still hissing.

Anybody got any ideas?? ???

Much Appreciated Cheers ::)

It is your headgasket leaking, thats exactly what happened to my car. You can find out for sure by getting a garage to test the coolant system for exhaust gases.
DON'T leave it, if you do the head will corrode at the leaking point, i caught mine just in time.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Rob on 30 December 2003, 10:01
sounds like you have the same pain in ass car i had.
changed expansion tank and cap still did it.

Head gaskett. i also sent head away to be skimmed,just to be safe
problem solved for me.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Blue MK2 on 30 December 2003, 10:12
is there a certain amount of times the head can be skimmed? How do i check if its been skimmed before?
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: golfvr6 on 30 December 2003, 10:42
measure the height of the cylinder head.
there is a limit on how many times u can skim it, cannot go below a minimum height.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: m4nesh on 30 December 2003, 14:41

Got some mechanic to test the coolant for cylinder gases, he stuck a bottle of blue liquid on the expansion tank and to my dismay it turned yellow.  bastard bastard bastard! >:( >:( >:( >:(

Guizer will come down to my home to fix it, including skimming the head and genuine parts for no more than ?200 :'(  Said it will take two days as the head will need to be dropped of at the engineers?

Is this an ok price?

Anything I need to be vary off because I found this VW specialist from the yellow pages.

P.s. will he have to renew the oil????? ???


Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Blue MK2 on 30 December 2003, 15:17
200 sounds cheap, i was quoted ?300 for mine :'(
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: m4nesh on 30 December 2003, 16:35

I was quoted ?383.23 parts and labour by Volkswares in Leicester,
thats taking the piss, to many $$$$$,
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Rob on 30 December 2003, 18:06
mine cost around ?200 to be done
I had a bit of spare cash around at the time so i went the distance.
water pump
heater matrix
and a couple hoses
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Helios_Blue_Valver on 30 December 2003, 19:58
sounds like a fair price. as for the oil, when in doubt change it! Oil is one thing I get real picky about in my cars.
Title: Re:Coolant Leak
Post by: Sam Manning on 05 January 2004, 15:24
Now I have a coolant leak and have checked pretty much everything...I also have a slight misfire on start up but I have done a compression test and it has come up at 165 psi per cylinder hot and cold so i dont really know whats wrong now... Any ideas???