GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: AlanD on 30 September 2008, 16:03
-
Twice now my car has run low on coolant and required about half a litre of water top up. The most recent happening at the weekend and the first time was about 2 months ago. Should I be worried about this?
-
I would express some concern if this happened to me.
-
any mayonnaise around the oil filler/header tank?
shuv your finger in the header tank and wipe the side, see if it cleans?
my old leon would randomly lose about the same amount and then be fine for ages...
eventually the water pump went (stupid plastic bladed water pump)
i wouldnt immediately be concerned...
if it was overheating your header tank had mayonnaise instead of water in it i would be concerned!
-
I had this on one of my mk5's, did it twice then never again
-
I had this on my car. Coolant light would come on, i would top it up and then it would come on in another 6 weeks. HAppened three times. Took it to the dealer and they fixed it under warranty ( sorry can't remember what the fix was but I do remember it was with them for a couple of days) I would suggest you bring it in to them if its under warranty.
-
If it happens a 3rd time I will take her in. Cant bare to be without her for more than a few hours :)
-
Twice now my car has run low on coolant and required about half a litre of water top up. The most recent happening at the weekend and the first time was about 2 months ago. Should I be worried about this?
But how low is it actually dropping to? And are you only checking the level first thing in the morning when the engine is as cold as rigor mortis?
You may simply be adding too much, and the coolant is just finding its own level, and dumping overboard any excess. Different cars can often have the same level. My last S4 was happy at about an inch below the minimum - whenever I toped it up, it would just vent the excess over my cam cover. Never had any overheating issues at all, even in a scorching hot Spain. My RS4 sits just a nats below the max level, for what is basically the same engine, and identical cooling system as my S4.
-
Twice now my car has run low on coolant and required about half a litre of water top up. The most recent happening at the weekend and the first time was about 2 months ago. Should I be worried about this?
But how low is it actually dropping to? And are you only checking the level first thing in the morning when the engine is as cold as rigor mortis?
You may simply be adding too much, and the coolant is just finding its own level, and dumping overboard any excess. Different cars can often have the same level. My last S4 was happy at about an inch below the minimum - whenever I toped it up, it would just vent the excess over my cam cover. Never had any overheating issues at all, even in a scorching hot Spain. My RS4 sits just a nats below the max level, for what is basically the same engine, and identical cooling system as my S4.
Its dropping of just below the minimum and its not in the morning. Im not actually checking it and finding it low, the only reason I know its low is because when I turn the engine on it beeps and tells me to "STOP - CHECK COOLANT" and then I see its low. This was in the afternoon and not a cold morning.
-
Twice now my car has run low on coolant and required about half a litre of water top up. The most recent happening at the weekend and the first time was about 2 months ago. Should I be worried about this?
But how low is it actually dropping to? And are you only checking the level first thing in the morning when the engine is as cold as rigor mortis?
You may simply be adding too much, and the coolant is just finding its own level, and dumping overboard any excess. Different cars can often have the same level. My last S4 was happy at about an inch below the minimum - whenever I toped it up, it would just vent the excess over my cam cover. Never had any overheating issues at all, even in a scorching hot Spain. My RS4 sits just a nats below the max level, for what is basically the same engine, and identical cooling system as my S4.
Its dropping of just below the minimum and its not in the morning. Im not actually checking it and finding it low, the only reason I know its low is because when I turn the engine on it beeps and tells me to "STOP - CHECK COOLANT" and then I see its low. This was in the afternoon and not a cold morning.
Ahhhh, righty . . . .
Houston, we got a problem . . . . :evil:
Best get the stealer to check it out. Another tip you can do yourself, first thing in the morning, whip of the coolant filler cap, and quicky get your snout inside and sniff. What does it smell like? Normal coolant has a sweet kinda smell, but if you notice any petrol/oil or combustion type fragrances, that could be big trouble.
-
I had this on one of my mk5's, did it twice then never again
Mine did exactly this too in the early days of owning the car. Dropped from full to just under the minimum line on two occasions. Then since topping it up the second time, it has stayed just under the maximum mark for around 8K miles.
-
Ran out AGAIN this morning so phoned up VW to get her booked in. Had a chat with the service guy there and when I told him that I had just been topping it up with water he recommended that I go the Halfords a purchase some proper coolant and top it up with that as the ratio of coolant:water will have been messed up by me adding just water (I've added about 2 pints of water over the 3 times shes run out). This sounds fair enough to me, Im very vague on this topic, does anyone have anything else to add? Im assuming this VW chap knows what this talking about (lololol).
-
Have you checked that your cooling fans working ?
If not, coolant can boil and vent from the header tank and empty it.
Happend to me when stood in traffic - turned out to be a knackered fan.
But then I did get the overheat warning light to indicate something was wrong - have you had that ?
-
Alan i doubt your doing any harm just adding water, but IMO it is correct advice to keep the mix right with the weather changing :wink:
-
Have you checked that your cooling fans working ?
If not, coolant can boil and vent from the header tank and empty it.
Happend to me when stood in traffic - turned out to be a knackered fan.
But then I did get the overheat warning light to indicate something was wrong - have you had that ?
Nah, shes not overheating, just running low on coolant. Bought some coolant now so just going to see how it goes. Fingers crossed it wont happen again.
-
Hi there,
My Gti was experiencing the exact same problem, i took it to one dealer and they did full pressure test and found no issues, it then happened twice again with a puddle under the car. I think it might have happened after some fairly full on driving so maybe is caused when things get really hot.
In any case, took it to Drift Bridge in Epsom who were excellent, they found a leak from a hose connection to the head and replaced it all under the used warranty (thankfully as the invoice came to £270, £200 of labour :shocked:)
Hopefully it will be fixed now, I have a bottle of coolant in the boot if not, seeing the number of posts on this site about this there is clearly a design fault.
Anyway, hopefully yours gets sorted too, get them to check the pipes to the head,
Cheers,
R
-
Cheers mate.
I am 100% fully expecting this to be covered by my warranty should I need to take it to VW.
-
Cheers mate.
I am 100% fully expecting this to be covered by my warranty should I need to take it to VW.
Think I posted here before, I had this exact problem on my first mk5 GTi, pressure tested by dealer no problems found, it did it a couple of times then it never happened again, very strange
-
This should be a reminder to everyone to check their fluid levels regularly. I do mine weekly.
-
Your DIS will let you know if get 2 low
-
Me again. I pooped into Halfords on my way home to some coolant in case I ran out again. I then checked my coolant and found it to again be below the minimum level, however every other time Its warned that its below the limit. Whats this all about? Going to top it up with the new coolant and see how I get on.
I am correct in saying it should not be this low?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/twior/IMG_0017.jpg)
Whats the ideal level to top it up to?
-
Me again. I pooped into Halfords on my way home to some coolant in case I ran out again.
Ha ha - best you get some Imodium to control that bowel habit! :evil:
On a serious note though - are you purchasing Halfrauds anti freeze? :shocked: Are you absolutely certain it complies with the VW G12, G12+, or G12++ standards? If not, then you will have just invalidated your warranty. Mixing any kind of "generic" antifreeze with a G12 coolant with cause it to solidify and block the coolant passages.
I then checked my coolant and found it to again be below the minimum level, however every other time Its warned that its below the limit. Whats this all about? Going to top it up with the new coolant and see how I get on.
I am correct in saying it should not be this low?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/twior/IMG_0017.jpg)
Whats the ideal level to top it up to?
Actually, that level doesn't look too bad. Basically, as long as there is some coolant in the expansion bottle, then it isnt a problem. I would suggest leaving it, and try to let it "find its own level". My last S4 would sit at about half an inch below the minimum - whenever I tried to top it up, it would just vent it out the overflow, until it sat ½ inch below the mininmum.
Have you actually noticed any "pink" tel-tale deposits anywhere? Underneath the bottom of that expansion bottle is the integral overflow outlet - fiddle around underneath, and see if you get any crusty pink dried antifreeze residue on your fingers.
And maybe the coolant level sensor needs recalibrating too. When you remove the cap, look inside and you should be able to see two metal "prongs" - which is the coolant level sensor. Are both ends below the surface level of coolant?
-
Yeah, its the proper G12, I made sure I got that (VW said to me on the phone that you can get it from Halfrods). Its a bit dark now so I will take a look in the morning and see. Thanks for reply matey.
-
Well, she ran out again at the weekend :( something is def not right. A slow leak im guessing :( Bit of a nightmate getting time off work to take her to dealers, AM off the the wonderful town of Loughbough this weekend to visit some mates at uni and put the pulling ;) power ok the MK5 to good use. Iv got the Monday off so have got her booked in a VW Loughbough Monday morning and see what they can do for her.
Anyone had any dealings with these lot? Spoke to nice chap on the phone called Colin who sounded pretty sound. This will be my first encounter with VW other than for buying the car (MK4 never went to VW when she had problems) but as its still under warrenty its going to VW. I've just got a horrible feeling im going to get a call on Monday saying they cant find anything wrong :(
-
UPDATE:
To cut a long story short it never got sorted in Leicester. Took her into my local dealer yesterday as she was due for a service as well. Just got a call saying that I have a leaking "flange" which was slowly letting coolant out. In true dealer style they dont have the part in so going to have to wait till the weekend to get it fitted. I've been driving around with it like that for 3 months now as VW really didnt want me to bring it in so a few more days isnt going to hurt. PLUS IM GETTING MY CAR REMAPED THIS AFTERNOON !!!!!!!"£$"£!%
-
alan, any idea of cost. I'm out of warranty and suspect I have the same problem
Thanks
Ryan
-
alan, any idea of cost. I'm out of warranty and suspect I have the same problem
Thanks
Ryan
To get mine fixed (touch wood its still OK) would have cost £270 according to the invoice, the issue is that they have to do exploritory work, the dealer eventually balmed a pipe connected to the head, there is clearly a design fault so might be something you can take up with VW UK?
-
No idea of cost I'm afraid, mine is all being covered under warranty.
-
What a bunch of muppets !
My car was in again this morning to get the new flange fitted and I have just had a phone call from them saying in doing the work they have snapped a hose which is something to do with my braking system and once again in true dealer style they dont have the part in stock (Im begging to wonder if they stock anything :rolleyes:). I now have to collect her tomorrow. Bloody lucky I dont need my car this evening as I wasn't given a curtisy car due to non being available.
-
sorry to hear that mate, have you had the map sorted yet? or am i jumpin the gun abit?
-
What a bunch of muppets !
My car was in again this morning to get the new flange fitted and I have just had a phone call from them saying in doing the work they have snapped a hose which is something to do with my braking system and once again in true dealer style they dont have the part in stock (Im begging to wonder if they stock anything :rolleyes:). I now have to collect her tomorrow. Bloody lucky I dont need my car this evening as I wasn't given a curtisy car due to non being available.
Alan,
Make a complaint and mention that damaged door trim! Got the pic if you need it.
-
Finally got her back and all sorted now. Had the remap done the other day cookie with no problems, so much more fun now :D
For anyone that wants to know (I know other people have had coolant issues) it was £150 for the new flange + fitting (covered under warranty).