Coolant Loss

[Laurie2212]

Hi

Traded up from a B5.5 to a B6 - drove Mondeos, but no comparison in my eyes and the depreciation is awful, so it had to be another Passat. I knew about the injector issues via the forum, but got 12 months warranty and hoped that any future injector issues would be sorted on the back of the VOSA support. Anyway my 'new' car is the 140 TDI (2007) SE. Bought from JCT 600 (Peugeot) with 60K and full VWSH. After the no quibble 30 days warranty had run out I noticed slight coolant loss - JCT were excellent - and diagnosed (via JCT VW) a leaking EGR water jacket - the Car Care Plan warranty rejected the claim so JCT paid the bill for the repair and the courtesy car. Coolant loss still ongoing, and workshop manager suspects that the head gasket may be porous, so it's back in next week for more diagnostics. I was told that in these water loss cases, VW replaces the cheapest part (the water jacket) before thinking about the head gasket. The good news is that if it is the head gasket and the warranty company reject the claim again - JCT will foot the bill - My faith in main dealers has been restored. Anyone else has similar problems?

[martin1810]

On the passat B6, coolant loss is most often a radiator leak. I presume the dealer have checked for that.

[DSG4ME]

Slight loss, like max back to min over say 4000 miles is par the course, mine does it every now and again, I actually think it's the tank cap not sealing and allowing it to evaporate past.

[Laurie2212]

On the passat B6, coolant loss is most often a radiator leak. I presume the dealer have checked for that.

Hi Martin

Your advice (coupled with Crashers) saved me over £1,000 with my last Passat (turbo issue) so thanks again for this advice - I will have a word with the workshop manager (at JCT Peugeot) who admitted that he was not a VW specialist. However, my car was sent to the JCT VW main dealer for the orginal diagnostic, so they should have got it right! However, a bit of advice from the professionals may help the Peugeot workshop manager with his diagnosis. I had to replace the radiator on my B5 due to coolant loss, but (perhaps wrongly) assumed that VW would have fixed this particular problem. DSG has also commented that his B6 is the same - my coolant loss is not significant, but I was worried that it may be a sign of impending doom/expense. I will update this post when I get a solution.
Thanks again
Laurie

[Stuart W2]

Slight loss, like max back to min over say 4000 miles is par the course, mine does it every now and again, I actually think it's the tank cap not sealing and allowing it to evaporate past.

Don't think the coolant has been touched on mine. I've certainly never put anything in myself.

[Laurie2212]

Don't think the coolant has been touched on mine. I've certainly never put anything in myself.

Thanks Stuart - will assume that no coolant loss is the norm and go from there.

[Laurie2212]

Update - car pressure tested and pressure drop noted. No external leaks so workshop manager suspects porous head gasket or even a porous cylinder head - back in tomorrow for strip down - head to go to machine shop for pressure testing and light skim. Warranty company to inspect car before sanctioning payment for repairs, although JCT 600 has agreed to pay if the warranty company do not - just as well as I think the work would run into a few hundred! I just hope that this will sort the problem.

[DSG4ME]

I'd start with a new coolant cap myself unless it's a weekly top up.

Not wanting to throw you out, but once an engine comes apart it's never the same.

[Laurie2212]

Update - Cylinder head tested and hairline crack found which passes coolant when under pressure. New head ordered from VW - estimated cost for full job about £2,000 - JCT 600 have said that they will try to get the warranty company to pay, but if not, they will foot the bill again. I have been looked after by JCT 600, but at 60K this seems to be a bit of a drastic failure! Not a good start with my B6 - I think I will be buying another warranty when this one runs out.

[Laurie2212]

Further update - got car back after 2 weeks - new head, new valves and cams - warranty company picked the bill up. JCT were supposed to charge me 14 days @ £6.50 + VAT for the courtesy car insurance, but only charged me £30 all in as I had been inconvenienced, so overall excellent service from JCT 600. However, car is back in on Tuesday - engine rough on cold start - white smoke evident (unburnt fuel?) so assume glow plug failure - perfect once it has run for 30 or 40 seconds, so hoping it is a glow plug or two. I'm so pleased to have my car back after running around in a Peugeot 206 petrol for 2 weeks - but 3rd class riding is better that 1st class walking.