Over Heating Alhambra TDi

[Russats]

Hi, I have a 2000 Seat Alhambra. I have owned it around 6 weeks and it has been fine, I took it on a long journey (2 hours) about half way going up hill it over heated.

I pulled over let it cool down then carried on.... although it never stayed cool like it usually does the temp was up and down all the time, I took it steady and got to my destination allowed it too cool for a few hours before heading back and the same thing happened again.

Having got it home I left it until the next day and used the car again for about an hour locally and the temp sat at 90 as it always did no sign of over heating. I'm being told that it is the Head Gasket, although it had not been confirmed.

I just wondered if anyone else has had the same issues.

There is water loss
No creamy oil
No smoke from the exhaust.

I'm considering changing the coolant and thermostat as I can not see any sign of Coolant in the system, it looks like just water to me.
would this be an easy job?

 

[towcester vag]

i would go for headgasket

 

[Russats]

i would go for headgasket

Would it stay at "normal" temp still while I'm local though? I thought it would overheat all the time??

Plus once cooled and releasing the expansion tank cap it sounds like pressure releases & you hear water flow for a second or two.

 

[towcester vag]

headgasket

most head gasket faults are noticed on long runs or when under load
with a diesel engine it is hard to diagnose the headgasket as it will not show any signs other than the one you have

 

[Russats]

So it was probably like it when I bought it a few weeks back!! I've just taken up plastic under cover off as it was leaking oil after any journey! The sump plug is leaking and the drivers side lower part of the radiator is covered in oil. Would this be some kind of oil cooler? I've cleaned it up to see if it leaks more.

 

[Russats]

Right I've now discovered this is the intercooler & common for them to leak at the pipe joints?

 

[Russats]

The drain plug won't tighten either!! Must be a stripped thread!! I'm losing the will to live!!!