Golf tdi 115 bhp (1999)-losing water, help!

[johne]

Engine has done 70,000 miles - regularly dealer serviced but is now losing water at the rate of half a liter for every 100 miles. No visible water leaks, VW have pressure tested it and cannot find anything .Have replaced pressure water bottle which had hairline cracks but the problem is still there. Oil not contaminated. I assume that it must be a porous (?) head gasket . Exhaust emissions look normal. Has anybody experienced similar? And what was the solution ? Love the car but may be it is time for it to go if the solution is expensive to fix...

[randall977]

Hi I had exactly the same car - it's the best car I've ever had! Unfortunately the head gasket did go at 80K,as did my Passat with the same engine at 36K! There was a loss of water but no other signs - temp was normal and no mixing of fluids etc. What seeems to happen is that a leak from one (normally) cylinder allows gas into the coolant pushing it out of the header. I would say it's very likely you have this problem - it seems these particular engines are prone to it. I got my passat done for £750 at a VW garage and the Golf done for £450 at a specilaist - make sure you get the water pump done at the same time as they are a weakness to!

Depressing I know,but it will probably only happen once and they are really great cars - I sold mine for £5000 last month with 106K on the clock - so worth spending out on!

[johne]

Randall977 - thank you very getting back so quickly! I have taken it to my vw dealer twice and they could not trace the problem. I will now try and find someone who can sort it out. Will keep you posted!

[randall977]

My local VW dealer said the head gasket was fine on both cars - when it wasn't. The hole is so small I guess their stanadrd test doesn't show it up - when I took it to them a second time though, they confirmed the fact that the gasket has gone. Most cars can't really be driven when the gasket has gone but these engines seem to run well (except for the loss of water). If you get an independent dealer to do the work make sure they skim the head - they should do it as a matter of course.

Even though the water in the header was clean on both cars the tank itself was very slightly dirty - it should be absolutely clean (white / transparent).

[johne]

Had VW dealer put new head gasket and water pump - no more problems, touch wood! Very many thanks for your advice!

[amz]

Have got the same car 115bhp Golf, so just a bit worried about developing this fault. How much did the repair cost set you back johne? (just for future reference INCASE I experience this problem)

[randall977]

I have recently bought another Golf GT TDi 115 (2000 with 57K on the clock). The first thing I checked was the header tank for any signs of dirt - all looked fine and I've had no trouble so far. I wonder if over revving could do damage? Just before the gasket went on my Passat my mother red lined it by accident at a junction. My last Golf had the problem before I got it so it could have been badly treated - it was fixed under warranty.

I wouldn't worry too much, if the car's looked after it should be fine.

[johne]

If it was not for this website I would not have diagnosed the problem as the fault did not show up when tested by my main VW dealer. The car was a personal new import from France in 1999. the original 115bhp was replaced by VW at 48000 miles (35 months) so the current engine had only 70,000 mikes when it started losing water. It started with only needing topping up every 1000 miles and then got down to around a 100 miles. When VW took the head off the gasket was only slighly perforated (similar to other contributors experience) While the head was off I had the water pump resealed, a new cam belt and thermostat plus a part service. Total cost £1119.00 and they had the car 2 days and supplied me with a new TDI which I did not like as much as my MK 4 which is a much more of a drivers car.

[VW-A-Specialist]

If it was not for this website I would not have diagnosed the problem as the fault did not show up when tested by my main VW dealer. The car was a personal new import from France in 1999. the original 115bhp was replaced by VW at 48000 miles (35 months) so the current engine had only 70,000 mikes when it started losing water. It started with only needing topping up every 1000 miles and then got down to around a 100 miles. When VW took the head off the gasket was only slighly perforated (similar to other contributors experience) While the head was off I had the water pump resealed, a new cam belt and thermostat plus a part service. Total cost £1119.00 and they had the car 2 days and supplied me with a new TDI which I did not like as much as my MK 4 which is a much more of a drivers car.

Thats expensive.