Leaking head gasket or leaking EGR valve?

[Wheakau]

My 2007 2.0 TDI Leon (PD140) is loosing coolant and puffing out massive amounts of smoke after it has been switched off for more than 25 minutes.
The smoke is very white and thick. Coolant has to be replaced every 2.5 weeks.

I think it was obvious that the coolant leaks into the engine and causes the smoke problem.
Although the car never overheats and I never felt any loss of power at all.

Took the car to independent specialist. He said it's a leaking head gasket after using the block tester.

I took the car to the dealership where I still have warranty for one month. They said before ordering the new head gasket they need to make sure it is not caused by faulty EGR valve. Said they bypass it, I should drive the car for a while and if I still loose coolant then it's definitely head gasket and it will be replaced.
I just picked up the car and now driving around with bypassed EGR.

My question is: Can it actually be EGR valve or they are just stalling me?

 

[daz_pd]

I would say its very likely a porous head, but it COULD also be EGR, as long as the fault is reported before warranty ends (make sure you get paperwork to prove this) they will have to fix it either way

 

[Marshall]

Do a search on google for bkd porous cylinder heads and it tells you how to check which revision head you have by the part number.
The last letter indicates the revision A = always fail B = some fail C = none fail
Number is under the engine cover and easily read.

 

[Wheakau]

Do a search on google for bkd porous cylinder heads and it tells you how to check which revision head you have by the part number.
The last letter indicates the revision A = always fail B = some fail C = none fail
Number is under the engine cover and easily read.

Thanks for the info!

From what I found on the web mine says: 03G 103 308 C years 2006.5 to 2007.5 - none cracked.

The dealership bypassed the EGR and told me to drive couple of days to see if the coolant still leaks. Also to pay attention to the smoke.

 

[Wheakau]

Well it is very weird whats going on.

After the dealership bypassed the EGR I had no smoke coming out form the exhaust at all for about 3 days. There was also no change in coolant level.
On the fourth day I had massive amounts of smoke again on start and the coolant level was dropping.
Went to an independent mechanic twice last week to run the head block test. No gasses in the cooling system!

So the situation is very odd:
- EGR bypassed
- No gasses in the cooling system -> head gasket allright
- Massive clouds of smoke on start
- loosing coolant -> full tank is lost in 2 weeks

Does anyone have an idea?

 

[daz_pd]

give it to the dealer, if its under warranty its covered. Thats what you pay dealer prices for.

 

[Wheakau]

give it to the dealer, if its under warranty its covered. Thats what you pay dealer prices for.

Will definitely do that!

I'm just interested if someone have ever experienced similar problem. Just to have some reference.

 

[daz_pd]

BTW those symptoms still sound VERY like a porous head!

 

[Leontdisport]

Lumpy idle

I have a 2006 tdi sport 140 BKD engine code with 99000 miles, showing similar symptoms.
The car starts on button when cold and no lumpy idle.
However when warm it idles lumpy and takes a few seconds on the starter to start.
No noticeable white smoke but uses coolant about 1 litre in past 4000 miles.
The private dealer I bought it off in January is wiping his hands of the fault.
It has a 03G 103 308 C head.
There is no lose of power and runs fine every other wise.

 

[Wheakau]

Finally the mystery solved!

Not only that the head gasket was leaking but the head itself was cracked above the 3rd cylinder..
daz_pd - You were right

Picking the car tomorrow morning after very expensive fix for the dealership