Coolant loss question

[Steven715]

Ok so now I have my 2011 passat estate I done about 200+ miles in it.
Just as i was leaving work for home the temperature light came on flashing and a message saying coolant level low so I drove to our boiler house and topped up with soft water.
I then kept checking the level and it went down a little bit more and has stayed there ever since I booked the car in for Monday to get it checked over but now I am considering cancelling the appointment as I feel that they will tell me that they can't find anything and charge me £115 for that.

I suspect that the system may have had an airlock?

Maybe unrelated but when it was icy cold there was a screech from the engine bay that only lasted a few seconds but since this rain nothing since. I will be getting the Cambelt and water pump done very soon so it maybe a bearing failing

The car is a 1.6 tdi bluemotion with 58k on the clock.

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks Steve.

[Maddie]

Interesting this, I have the same issue with my 2008 Passat Sport Estate 140cr.The car has never used any water in the time I've owned it,( it has now done 98,000), did a round trip of approx. 150miles last week with no issue and parked the car up overnight. Upon starting the car the following morning, warning lights up check coolant! Upon inspection the header tank was virtually empty. The car has been in the garage all week , under pressure and has been running periodically but has lost not lost either pressure or coolant. Mechanic (luckily a good friend) hasn't a clue and is loath to start replacing parts for no reason. Coincidentally , I did have the two front tyres replaced the day before, would it be possible for the header tank to syphon whilst the car was up in the air? If so why no warning lights until the next day?

[Steven715]

Hi Maddie my passat continued to loose coolant I put in about 1 litter of coolant I over 1000 miles. Since my car was still under warranty I got vw to have a look and they found that the water pump was leaking it had leaked over the Cambelt so that also needed to be replaced thankfully all under warranty.
Mine was a wired one because it would not loose coolant one day and then another it seemed to lose quite a bit I was checking it every day just for my own pice of mind.
In your case though there could have been an air lock in the system but I would keep a close eye on your coolant level for the next few weeks / miles as something could be leaking.

Hope to help

Steve


Steve.
Passat 1.6 TDI sport estate Bluemotion
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-uk/258698.png (http://www.fuelly.com/driver/Steven715/passat-2)

[Maddie]

Steve
Thanks for the reply, I had water pump,cam-belt etc replaced at 80,000, had the fitter check all this and he says bone dry!
i think this will be a wait and see, hopefully it won't turn out to be an expensive wait!

[Steven715]

Like you say this is going to be a wait and see job I hope that you are right.


Steve.
Passat 1.6 TDI sport estate Bluemotion
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-uk/258698.png (http://www.fuelly.com/driver/Steven715/passat-2)

[bakili]

Ok so now I have my 2011 passat estate I done about 200+ miles in it.
Just as i was leaving work for home the temperature light came on flashing and a message saying coolant level low so I drove to our boiler house and topped up with soft water.
I then kept checking the level and it went down a little bit more and has stayed there ever since I booked the car in for Monday to get it checked over but now I am considering cancelling the appointment as I feel that they will tell me that they can't find anything and charge me £115 for that.

I suspect that the system may have had an airlock?

Maybe unrelated but when it was icy cold there was a screech from the engine bay that only lasted a few seconds but since this rain nothing since. I will be getting the Cambelt and water pump done very soon so it maybe a bearing failing

The car is a 1.6 tdi bluemotion with 58k on the clock.

Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks Steve.



Exactly same happened to me today

Car 2011 2.0 TDI 140 bluemotion

Bought car just over week now, done about 200-300 miles

Leaving work and low coolant warning came on. Checked coolant level and it was right on bottom of tank.

Had car serviced couple days ago, and asked mechanic to check for any signs of leaks e.g. oil, coolant
He checked pump area as well, and reported all bone dry and no signs of leaks

Steve, did your car loose any coolant since January?

[Steven715]

Exactly same happened to me today

Car 2011 2.0 TDI 140 bluemotion

Bought car just over week now, done about 200-300 miles

Leaving work and low coolant warning came on. Checked coolant level and it was right on bottom of tank.

Had car serviced couple days ago, and asked mechanic to check for any signs of leaks e.g. oil, coolant
He checked pump area as well, and reported all bone dry and no signs of leaks

Steve, did your car loose any coolant since January?

Opps sorry I never replied back to this forum. Mine kept loosing coolent still so in the end I took it into vw and they found that the water pump was leaking as the car was still under warranty I had to have a new cambelt and water pump fitted lucky for me it was done under warranty.

I hope that you get your passat sorted out hopefully the system just needed "burping" on mine I filled up the water / new g12 with in 1000 miles I put in about a litter all together.
i hope that this will help you.
Steve.

[bakili]

Thanks, i will get it booked
But how can I tell it is definitely water pump? Car was serviced couple days ago, and pump inspected, had no signs of leak. Just dont want to waste £300 and have same issue.


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[Steven715]

I must admit I don't know as I also had a juddering problem with my car that I put it in there for. I would monitor your water coolant that your loosing if you lose as much as what I did then you know you have a leak somewhere. And if you do loose that. H h the. It should leave a white trail when the coolant drys.
Is your car still under warranty?


Steve.

[bakili]

My car done 96k and it is 3 years and 1 month old :-((


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[Steven715]

Yeah I know the feeling mine is over 60k now and it will be 3 years in September.
Just keep a very close eye on its usage mine was strange as at one point it seemed like it used a lot (about 200-300ml) and another time nothing much at all.


Steve.

[bakili]

Yeah, its definitely sounds like pump. I could smell sweet smell this morning. Will have get pump and belt done as dont want take a risk, will be doing 4000 miles trip in summer


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[Steven715]

Yes even with my small amounts of leakage I could smell hot coolant after a trip out but now it's been done there is no smell at all .
I think if I was you I would get the belt and pump done then you know it's all been done on that score. I would use an indi as vw is £500 for the belt if I remember correctly its £700 with the water pump to.


Steve.

[bakili]

I paid on my B6 cr 2.0 tdi £300 with genuine vw parts and 2 year warranty.


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[Steven715]

Yes my stepdad got there 2.0 cr golf done for around the same price. Well worth doing I think.
I hope that you get your leak sorted let us know.
Steve


Steve.

[bakili]

Thanks Steve.
Will it cause any damage driving like this till tuesday?


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[Steven715]

I am no expert it should be ok keep some water with you and stop the engine as soon as the light comes on and remember if you open the expansion bottle whilst the engine is hot hold a rag over the top so that you don't get scalded by the hot water.
How much do you estimate it's loosing?


Steve.

[bakili]

Lost from half tank to empty. Probably litre. Been driving all day and level still same.


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[bakili]

Well left car in garage for diagnostic, phone call from mechanic, water pump leaking. So new pump, timing belt kit £350 fitted :-(



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[Steven715]

I am pleased that you have found the leak now to be fair that's a good price I think and it was something that needed to be done. Anyway I am pleased its all sorted for you.


Steve.

[bakili]

Thanks Steve

Timing belt on CR engines are bit expensive. Also did it want to take risk as coolant contaminated belt and who knows how long it would last.
Price is for all genuine VW parts fitted by independent vw specialist.


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