Pd130 coolant leak

[Jaybeattie]

Hi all, just a quick question about my car.

Recently it has been using water/coolant over the space of a week or two. Climate control eventually just blows cold air, open resivoir and completely empty.

Is there any places that I should look at in particular ? Can't find anything obvious


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[Muttley]

When this happened to me (on a TDI 110) it was a small leak in the bottom corner of the radiator. It formed a small puddle when left parked up for a few days (using hire cars for work) which gave me a clue.

Have a look down behind the radiator to see if there is any water in the undertray, which will give you a clue where to look. I assume there's no oil in the water/water in the oil indicating a head gasket problem?

In the meantime, keep the level topped up, every day if you have to. Letting the level get so low that the cabin heater runs dry is not a good idea - you're probably only getting away with it because it's so cold out. If you run out of luck, the head gasket will be the first casualty.

 

[Jaybeattie]

No water mixing with oil, I use the car most days so don't really notice if there's any water on undertray, hope its not the head gasket. Any other sign of head gasket I should look for ? Can hear like a hissing when cars hot from underneath it bus can't pinpoint where its coming from. Thanks for your help

 

[Muttley]

The usual diagnostic for a head gasket failure is to do a compression test. Low compression on one or more cylinders is a bad sign.

Hissing may mean a small leak that's dropping onto something hot, hence the lack of a puddle. You could try using a mirror-on-a-stick and a torch to look into the corners, otherwise it's down to getting under the car (ramps/axle stands, a pit or a lift - whatever you've got or can borrow), taking off the undertray and having a closer look. But I'd guess leak rather than head gasket from what you've said so far.

 

[Jaybeattie]

I've had undertray off before and loooked but couldn't see anything, when I got my car remapped there was a puddle underneath it when it came off the rollers but didn't have time to get under and check would there be any other way of finding a leak ?

 

[zach225]

in the last 2 months i have had my coolant bottle crack, so check it isnt wet under there, and a leak where the 2 ali pipes enter the cabin begind the manifold. have a feel on the firewall around them and see if its damp

 

[Muttley]

There's not really any other way to find a water leak than to go around the pipework and components starting with the most likely (radiator, top and bottom hoses) and going on from there. The oil cooler (which is an oil-to-water type) gets reported on here sometimes, but usually that's leaking into the oil.

The hardest leak to diagnose is the cabin heater matrix. It's right out of sight and a small leak may not drip out anywhere near the heater matrix itself.

 

[asthpsw]

As reported elsewhere I have been having problems with “white Smoke” being emitted from the exhaust of my 110BHP Non PD (118000 miles on clock) on first startup on cold mornings (+1DegC or less) for a few months ago.

10 days ago (200 miles approx) I noticed that the coolant level was just about on the minimum mark so I topped it up with 50% G12.

This morning just after I started it up the Red light within the temperature gauge started flashing, I checked the coolant level and it was below the “minimum” level marker by about the same difference as between the minimum & maximum level………….so I’ve lost that amount in 10 days/200 miles !

I let the engine warm up and after I turned it off I noticed water (Red) dripping off the Far right corner (looking from the front of the car) of the Undertray.

I first wondered whether I had a head gasket going (because of the white smoke) but there is no indication of sludge in the oil or white deposits in the filler cap so now wondering if I have an external leak……Are there any hoses or part of the cooling system/heater behind the engine on the Righthand side (looking from the front) ?

In this weather it’s difficult to really look (no garage etc)

Thanks
Paul

 

[Muttley]

The cabin heater hoses go into the firewall from the right-hand end of the cylinder head, and there are several other hoses connected there, along with the coolant temperature sensor.

 

[asthpsw]

The cabin heater hoses go into the firewall from the right-hand end of the cylinder head, and there are several other hoses connected there, along with the coolant temperature sensor.

Muttley, thanks, yes I had a look this afternoon and I had a powerful LED light to look in all knooks and crannys and not damp at all. What is baffling is that where it is dripping from is the rear righthand of the undertray which is right under the engine forward of any hoses. The leak is showing itself in the area of the undertray beneath the Gearbox.........I've tried to trace to see if the undertray is wet forward of the engine (wondering if it might be the rad).....but no can't see anything. It is originating from under the the gearbox area.

Paul

 

[Muttley]

Just a thought. but the water/oil cooler sits underneath the filter, roughly in the middle of the engine compartment?

When my radiator had a small leak it showed up as a puddle down by the offside front wheel - the coolant was running all the way back down the undertray from the radiator.

 

[zach225]

Muttley, thanks, yes I had a look this afternoon and I had a powerful LED light to look in all knooks and crannys and not damp at all. What is baffling is that where it is dripping from is the rear righthand of the undertray which is right under the engine forward of any hoses. The leak is showing itself in the area of the undertray beneath the Gearbox.........I've tried to trace to see if the undertray is wet forward of the engine (wondering if it might be the rad).....but no can't see anything. It is originating from under the the gearbox area.

Paul

there is a pipe between the maf sensor and the engine that goes. top right of the engine looking at it. around the coolant temp sensor if you know where that is. my guess would be its from there

 

[asthpsw]

Had a good look today, (still can't get under to take a look), taken the engine cover off and it looks to be a very minor leak from the radiator area, however there is a lot running down the front of the engine........it seems to be coming from a plastic "cup" shaped thing with a waterhose going into it (at a right angle to the Engine block) Not sure of the function of this "cup" (its immediatly to the right of the Diesel injector pump on my 110BHP non -PD)........not sure if to get it off needs to remove alternator etc etc.

Other question has anyone had experience of K-Seal like Muttley used ?

Paul

 

[zach225]

That could be the thermostat housing. Probably a broken o-ring. Only a few quid for a new stat and seal

 

[asthpsw]

thanks That sounds promising but I always thought that a Thermostat was at the highest point of the engine in the cylinder head ? What I'm talking about is in the block between the bracket that holds the alternator and the oil dipstick.
Paul

 

[asthpsw]

I've been to the local VW/Audi parts centre and indeed this is the Thermostate housing and it is a common problem that the plastic housing gets brittle. Question is how easy is it to change it - has anyone done it ? Can it be done without removing the Alternator bracket ?
Paul

 

[zach225]

Im not sure on the layout of yours but I did the thermostat on my pd130 last week and it was hampered by the alternator but easily do able. If you're worried just let a garage do it. Cant see it being expensive!

 

[asthpsw]

I suppose the worry is that it is plastic and me being the hamfisted person I am end up breaking it !
So yes you're prob right re garage.

Paul