Mk4 Golf TDI coolant problem

[robin 06]

I see that this is a recurring theme on this list but I hope that someone can give me a clue about a cure for it.
My car is a 2000 Golf TDI 115bhp. 70,000 miles.
I keep getting the low coolant warning light on. When I check the level in the expansion chamber it is well below the level but as I undo the cap the pressure releases and it pops back up to just below the maximum line. I must be loosing some coolant though. The engine temp stays OK. It happens more on longer journeys, and seems to happen more as it runs for longer, taking about 2 hours to first start flashing the warning at me. If I carry on driving and don’t release the pressure the coolant leaks through the seal and spills out the filler cap, then I do loose a lot of coolant!
The garage has twice done a test to check the head for a leaking head gasket but say it is OK. There seems to be no contamination in the oil or coolant. They just replaced the water pump and the filler cap, but the problem persists. They did say it might be a small leak but I don’t want to have a new head gasket if it doesn’t cure the problem. This has gone on for a few months now and it seems to be a common problem, without a simple solution!
Thanks for any suggestion you might have...........
Robin 06

[abermaster]

Hello There,
From what you have said i am pretty shure you have a head gasket problem there sir the 115 engine seemed to suffer more of head gasket faults and usually started to play up at around 80kish or above but i have seen some at 70kish or lower not quite as common but again your symptoms are spot on for the fault.Get a second opinion

God Luck
abermaster

[gbrownlee]

Robin,

I have a PD 115. I was loosing coolant on long journeys, a little at first and first, - hardly noticeable. Then after a few thousand miles it got to the point that I was having to fill up the coolant regularly on long miles.

I spoke to a couple of garages, the cooling system is pressurised so if you get the system pressure tested and it is ok, then there must be a breach somewhere else.

This is what happened with mine. Sadly for me, it turned out to be the cylinder head gasket. A mechanic friend of mine did most of the work, we got the head pressure tested & skimmed and now the car is great.

I was quoted silly money from the first garage - £1600! But I found a garage who would do it for £800. We did it ourselves in the end and it cost about £200-£300. I bought a new timing belt, auxilliary belt, manifold and exhaust gaskets, new head bolts and a water pump - worth changing while you have the access.

When we took the old head gasket off, we could see where the water had worn a path for it to flow into the cylinder.

Best of luck getting that sorted

[spennyjas]

<P>If you really want to be sure that your head gasket has a leak, but don't want to spend a lot with a garage:</P>
<P>Snap-on Tools do a really nice cheap tool that will tell you if the combustion gasses are getting into the coolant ( this is almost inevitable if you have a leak either way).</P>
<P>It's a chamber with a blue liquid, through which you pump the air from the top of the expansion bottle, and if it has CO2 in it, the liquid turns yellow.</P>
<P>There are 2 types of this tool, buy the one which&nbsp;has 2 chambers, this is the best and most accurate, although a few pounds more expensive.</P>
<P>The content of some antifreeze can cause the same effect of going yellow in the single chamber one, but in the 2 chamber one, only gas can pass from the first chamber, so the second one is the one to be trusted for an accurate indication.</P>
<P>(I was a Snap-on Man, and I wowed many sceptical garages with this tool, yes, I sold many).</P>
<P>Have a look at the product at:</P>
<P><A href="http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&amp;tool=all&amp;item_ID=69954&amp;g roup_ID=1556&amp;store=uk&amp;dir=catalog">http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&amp;tool=all&amp;item_ID=69954&amp;g roup_ID=1556&amp;store=uk&amp;dir=catalog</A></P>
<P>You can find your local snap-on man by calling the head office in the UK on: 01536 413800</P>
<P>Good luck.</P>

[Davieboy]

I see that this is a recurring theme on this list but I hope that someone can give me a clue about a cure for it.
My car is a 2000 Golf TDI 115bhp. 70,000 miles.
I keep getting the low coolant warning light on. When I check the level in the expansion chamber it is well below the level but as I undo the cap the pressure releases and it pops back up to just below the maximum line. I must be loosing some coolant though. The engine temp stays OK. It happens more on longer journeys, and seems to happen more as it runs for longer, taking about 2 hours to first start flashing the warning at me. If I carry on driving and don’t release the pressure the coolant leaks through the seal and spills out the filler cap, then I do loose a lot of coolant!
The garage has twice done a test to check the head for a leaking head gasket but say it is OK. There seems to be no contamination in the oil or coolant. They just replaced the water pump and the filler cap, but the problem persists. They did say it might be a small leak but I don’t want to have a new head gasket if it doesn’t cure the problem. This has gone on for a few months now and it seems to be a common problem, without a simple solution!
Thanks for any suggestion you might have...........
Robin 06

hi there,

check that your cap on your expansion bottle is not clogged. it is designed to allow the cooling system to breathe. to much pressure in your cooling system, thats why the level rises again when you take the cap off. sounds like it is blocked to me.

easy to fix.


davie

[sketchyeddie]

I see that this is a recurring theme on this list but I hope that someone can give me a clue about a cure for it.
My car is a 2000 Golf TDI 115bhp. 70,000 miles.
I keep getting the low coolant warning light on. When I check the level in the expansion chamber it is well below the level but as I undo the cap the pressure releases and it pops back up to just below the maximum line. I must be loosing some coolant though. The engine temp stays OK. It happens more on longer journeys, and seems to happen more as it runs for longer, taking about 2 hours to first start flashing the warning at me. If I carry on driving and don’t release the pressure the coolant leaks through the seal and spills out the filler cap, then I do loose a lot of coolant!
The garage has twice done a test to check the head for a leaking head gasket but say it is OK. There seems to be no contamination in the oil or coolant. They just replaced the water pump and the filler cap, but the problem persists. They did say it might be a small leak but I don’t want to have a new head gasket if it doesn’t cure the problem. This has gone on for a few months now and it seems to be a common problem, without a simple solution!
Thanks for any suggestion you might have...........
Robin 06

Hi Robin 06,

This is a long shot as several years have passed but I have exactly the same problem, down to every symptom hence it being relevant.

Did you ever get it resolved? I've spent £500 already with the radiator and bottle being replaced, amongst other things and they keep saying that I might have to shell out on a gasket replacement, but obviously don't want to do this unless really necessary.

Any help much appreciated!

E

[med roberts]

Hi There,
I would get the car tested for combustion gases in the coolant system as mentioned above. I have recently had a very similar issue with my golf . Replaced the cyl head gasket and cured the issue.
Cheers, Med.