Coolant

[AlanD]

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?

[bacillus]

I would express some concern if this happened to me.

[WobGTI]

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!

[gazbutmk5gti]

I had this on one of my mk5's, did it twice then never again

[keyser]

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.

[AlanD]

If it happens a 3rd time I will take her in. Cant bare to be without her for more than a few hours

[Teutonic_Tamer]

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.

[AlanD]

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.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

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 . . . . 

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.

[WhiteGTI]

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.