Coolant not being held in expansion tank for long?!!! But no leak either. Coolant not being sent back to expansion tank!

[YKFR]

Check charge air cooler.

Common issue where coolant leaks into there

Hi,

How does one check the charge cooler? I'm assuming charge cooler is also called the intercooler?

And would the charge cooler being messed up cause my symptoms that I have listed above? Thanks for your help and input! Greatly appreciated!

 

[Compo1]

Hi,

How does one check the charge cooler? I'm assuming charge cooler is also called the intercooler?

And would the charge cooler being messed up cause my symptoms that I have listed above? Thanks for your help and input! Greatly appreciated

Coolant not being held in expansion tank for long?!!! But no leak either. Coolant not being sent back to expansion tank!

I NEED HELP PLEASE! Car: Leon fr, MK3, 2014, 2.0 TDI, 184 bhp Issue: Coolant is not staying in expansion tank properly. All the coolant stays in the system more often than not. Once I fill the tank up, coolant doesn't get sent back to the tank/stay in the tank when Im driving and once I have...

www.seatcupra.net

 

[James_R]

The charge air cooler is a coolant to air coolant unit fitted to the front of the engine, intergrated within the inlet manifold. The EA.288 diesel engines don't use an air to air intercooler.

To check, you need to remove the intake air temp sensor and put a camera inside the manifold. If it's failed then there will be obvious signs of coolant present.

 

[YKFR]

Testing the main coolant pump and its electronic shroud is pretty easy. Get the car up to temp i mean really up to temp not just 90 on the gauge.

Get the bonnet up and have someone keep the revs at a stable 2000rpm, look at the thin return pipe going back into the coolant tank. If your not seeing flow into the tank then you may a impeller and the shroud sticking issues. The shroud would usually fail open though. But impellers do come loose on the shaft.

I will say if either of the above were true id expect some over heating issues.

Gurgling behind the dash seems more like an air lock issue. If this was my car the first thing is do would be a coolant flush and id refill the coolant via vacuum filling. Its the only way for the home mechanic to ensure the system is filled without introducing air.

Hi,

Would I do this with the expansion tank cap on or off?

Also when I have seen recently at times, after little bit of driving I checked for leaks or coolant being forced out, I have seen that the coolant level in the expansion tank has risen when the car is hot. Does this mean that water pump is working?

 

[Compo1]

Hi,

Would I do this with the expansion tank cap on or off?

Also when I have seen recently at times, after little bit of driving I checked for leaks or coolant being forced out, I have seen that the coolant level in the expansion tank has risen when the car is hot. Does this mean that water pump is working?

Cap on, you should be able to see a small flow back in to the tank where the return pipe fixes to the coolant tank. Obviously look for colour at that point.

Hot water expands so you will see the level rise slightly compared to looking at the tank cold.

 

[SuperV8]

The charge air cooler is a coolant to air coolant unit fitted to the front of the engine, intergrated within the inlet manifold. The EA.288 diesel engines don't use an air to air intercooler.

To check, you need to remove the intake air temp sensor and put a camera inside the manifold. If it's failed then there will be obvious signs of coolant present.

Presume this is the air sensor to remove?
I looks like is has a copper washer - do you find these re-seal ok, or do you fit a new copper washer?

 

[James_R]

Yes, that's the one. They re-seal fine

 

[SuperV8]

Yes, that's the one. They re-seal fine

Guess what i'll be changing over Christmas
Found some water using my borescope - so brought a new charge air cooler.
I have had a very slow coolant loss, which I was thinking could be my charge air cooler or EGR cooler.

 

[James_R]

Guess what i'll be changing over Christmas
Found some water using my borescope - so brought a new charge air cooler.
I have had a very slow coolant loss, which I was thinking could be my charge air cooler or EGR cooler.

View attachment 52150

They're not a dreadful job to be fair.

 

[nd-photo.nl]

@SuperV8 Good luck, you got this Also a good sign you found a smoking gun instead of having to keep searching for ages

 

[Compo1]

Guess what i'll be changing over Christmas
Found some water using my borescope - so brought a new charge air cooler.
I have had a very slow coolant loss, which I was thinking could be my charge air cooler or EGR cooler.

View attachment 52150

Absolute joy these Mk3's aren't they !

Cooling system sent to us directly from hell