Strange coolant colour/behaviour
- Thread starter nick9one1
- Start date
i think it depends what engine you got. i know on mine once i had removed the stat all i did was just put a finger in the hole feel to the left then you should feel the fins.... when did it last has a cambelt done ?? was the water pump done at same time ??
Checked the car before leaving for work this morning, had dropped from full to min overnight.
So there must be a leak! I'm not ruling out the water pump though as that could be weeping.
Topped it back up and got a solid 90 on both displays all the way, although I did notice the digital readout rose to 90degrees about 3-4 mins before the dial. Drove it quite hard when it was up to temp and it never went over 90 this time.
I have just noticed the drivers footwell is a little damp!!
This could be it, maybe it overheated before just because the level of water dropped too low.
I'm taking it to my local garage on sat for them to pressurise the coolant system and identify any leaks.
So there must be a leak! I'm not ruling out the water pump though as that could be weeping.
Topped it back up and got a solid 90 on both displays all the way, although I did notice the digital readout rose to 90degrees about 3-4 mins before the dial. Drove it quite hard when it was up to temp and it never went over 90 this time.
I have just noticed the drivers footwell is a little damp!!
This could be it, maybe it overheated before just because the level of water dropped too low.
I'm taking it to my local garage on sat for them to pressurise the coolant system and identify any leaks.
Isn't Damp in the footwell normally the heater matrix has failed? I think anyway.
Sorry yes that's what I meant. Going to try bypassing the heater matrix tonight and see if it drops before the morning.
Ok I have the results and they are.....
Head gasket failure.
Took him about 2 seconds to diagnose. took the coolant cap off to connect the pressure kit and he noticed there was a lot of pressure in there already. so screwed it back on and squeezed the pipe to the top of the rad, and he said "f**k me, that's harder than a stallions c**k". Then went on to squeeze the bottom hose and it was the same, ruling out a blockage.
He connected the pressure kit anyway to test for a coolant leak but there wasnt one. Then put the sniffer on the coolant, which with hgf the leaking CO2 causes a liquid in it to go from blue to green. Which it did.
So looks like I'm going to be doing a gasket swap sometime soon, this will be the 3rd ive done in 2 years!
He also said it was k-seal in the coolant, and is actually works well. He had a customer with a cracked block causing billowing smoke out the exhaust who didn't want to pay for a replacement block. So he stuck some kseal in, smoke stopped straight away and it lasted nearly 3 years.
Head gasket failure.
Took him about 2 seconds to diagnose. took the coolant cap off to connect the pressure kit and he noticed there was a lot of pressure in there already. so screwed it back on and squeezed the pipe to the top of the rad, and he said "f**k me, that's harder than a stallions c**k". Then went on to squeeze the bottom hose and it was the same, ruling out a blockage.
He connected the pressure kit anyway to test for a coolant leak but there wasnt one. Then put the sniffer on the coolant, which with hgf the leaking CO2 causes a liquid in it to go from blue to green. Which it did.
So looks like I'm going to be doing a gasket swap sometime soon, this will be the 3rd ive done in 2 years!
He also said it was k-seal in the coolant, and is actually works well. He had a customer with a cracked block causing billowing smoke out the exhaust who didn't want to pay for a replacement block. So he stuck some kseal in, smoke stopped straight away and it lasted nearly 3 years.
That's a bummer.
I've got the same prob, changed the sniff test from blue to green, lots of pressure, coolant being blown out of the expansion tank. Been like it since I got it 4 months ago.
Bought a new head that's done 25k and it'll be getting fitted Friday along with a new gasket. Not a cheap fix but no other choice really!
Hope you get it sorted though as the TDIs are so nice to drive when they're behaving.
I've got the same prob, changed the sniff test from blue to green, lots of pressure, coolant being blown out of the expansion tank. Been like it since I got it 4 months ago.
Bought a new head that's done 25k and it'll be getting fitted Friday along with a new gasket. Not a cheap fix but no other choice really!
Hope you get it sorted though as the TDIs are so nice to drive when they're behaving.
platofan OMG i thought you would have got it fixed by now mate.... it seems age's since we was going on about stat and water pump !!! 
sorry to your youve been struck down too by HGF platofan.
Sounds like the TDI's can suffer just like petrols.
Where did you source your head?
I'm going to try keep mine running till the end of the month and get it done then. I know a guy with a garage that will let me use some floorspace/tools etc. So hopefully i can have it completed over one weekend and it shouldn't be too costly. Just the price of a skim/pressure-test and other small parts.
Here's an excellent guide if anyone else wants to attempt timing belt themselves.
VAG 1.9 TDI non-PD cambelt replacement guide
Obviously there's more two it by replacing the gasket, but not alot!.. removing glow plugs, inlet + exhaust manifolds, and draining fluids being about it.
Ill be keeping this post updated.
Sounds like the TDI's can suffer just like petrols.
Where did you source your head?
I'm going to try keep mine running till the end of the month and get it done then. I know a guy with a garage that will let me use some floorspace/tools etc. So hopefully i can have it completed over one weekend and it shouldn't be too costly. Just the price of a skim/pressure-test and other small parts.
Here's an excellent guide if anyone else wants to attempt timing belt themselves.
VAG 1.9 TDI non-PD cambelt replacement guide
Obviously there's more two it by replacing the gasket, but not alot!.. removing glow plugs, inlet + exhaust manifolds, and draining fluids being about it.
Ill be keeping this post updated.
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platofan OMG i thought you would have got it fixed by now mate.... it seems age's since we was going on about stat and water pump !!!
lol yeah after the waterpump and belt change i was low on money for a bit. Only carried on driving as i've been doing 10 min trips and the weather's been cold so it's never got too hot!
I got the head off ebay, it's from a Passat but when I put my injectors in then it'll be ready to bolt right on. Pressure tested and seems straight, it cost £225 inc delivery. Plenty on ebay but some have high miles so the cam's probably worn. Hopefully this will solve the problem though.
Good thing you can do the work yourself, i'd be too scared of messing up the timing and wrecking the new head.
Right, finally sorted.
The gasket on the car was fine which led them to think that it was something to do with the head.
New head fitted, gets up to temp faster than the old head, had a good old blast for 50ish miles (lots of accelerating / 70-80mph carriageways etc) and not a single bit of coolant lost. Taking the car for a blast with the old head would have emptied the coolant system and put it's contents all over the engine bay lol.
Hopefully it'll behave now. Not cheap but it has also seemed to have cured the clunk clunk clunk I get when I dip the clutch, probably a fooked mount somewhere. Noise will be back tomorrow.
There's a big list of stuff needed for the change if anyone is going to try it themselves. All Seat parts were used with the G12+ and 5W40 oil. Came to £441.28 for the work then another £225.00 for the head. Also the cost of the cambelt and w/pump which was done about 1000 miles ago, think that was about £283.00. Should have bought a new engine.
The gasket on the car was fine which led them to think that it was something to do with the head.
New head fitted, gets up to temp faster than the old head, had a good old blast for 50ish miles (lots of accelerating / 70-80mph carriageways etc) and not a single bit of coolant lost. Taking the car for a blast with the old head would have emptied the coolant system and put it's contents all over the engine bay lol.
Hopefully it'll behave now.
Not cheap but it has also seemed to have cured the clunk clunk clunk I get when I dip the clutch, probably a fooked mount somewhere. Noise will be back tomorrow. There's a big list of stuff needed for the change if anyone is going to try it themselves. All Seat parts were used with the G12+ and 5W40 oil. Came to £441.28 for the work then another £225.00 for the head. Also the cost of the cambelt and w/pump which was done about 1000 miles ago, think that was about £283.00. Should have bought a new engine.
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hmm thats strange, maybe it was cracked due to overheating? you would need a pressure test to identify that.
Glad to hear your all sorted though!
I've just been pricing mine up;
Skim + Pressure test ; £75
Head Gasket; £25
Belt; £22
Oil; £25
Coolant; £15
Head Bolts ; £10
Silicone Sealant £4
Exhaust/inlet gaskets; £10
Metal water pump; £25
= £201
Hopefully shouldn't cost much more than that! Providing the head isn't cracked.
Glad to hear your all sorted though!
I've just been pricing mine up;
Skim + Pressure test ; £75
Head Gasket; £25
Belt; £22
Oil; £25
Coolant; £15
Head Bolts ; £10
Silicone Sealant £4
Exhaust/inlet gaskets; £10
Metal water pump; £25
= £201
Hopefully shouldn't cost much more than that! Providing the head isn't cracked.
Well if you can get it done for that price doing it yourself then that's a result! 5 hours in the book for the HG change so easily done over a weekend. That kind of work is well out of my league lol but you're saving a lot of pennies doing it yourself.
I'm still told PD heads going wrong are rare but there's always going to be a few that fail. Looks like we got them
I'm still told PD heads going wrong are rare but there's always going to be a few that fail. Looks like we got them
Just won this on ebay for £65 so should make the fix a bit cheaper!
A rebuilt 1.9tdi cylinder head removed from a VW Golf.Item has been subjected to some damage due to a turbo failure,however it has been fully rebuilt as follows > New valves where required,all seats recut,valves refaced,head faced skimmed to "clean", all items chemically cleaned prior to assembly.After assembly unit was both vacuume tested and pressure tested ,both tests obviously ok. Item is complete as per the photos ready to fit.Close up photo showing damage to the cylinder head face which falls inside the gasket sealing face! Casting Number Is 038 103 373E
A rebuilt 1.9tdi cylinder head removed from a VW Golf.Item has been subjected to some damage due to a turbo failure,however it has been fully rebuilt as follows > New valves where required,all seats recut,valves refaced,head faced skimmed to "clean", all items chemically cleaned prior to assembly.After assembly unit was both vacuume tested and pressure tested ,both tests obviously ok. Item is complete as per the photos ready to fit.Close up photo showing damage to the cylinder head face which falls inside the gasket sealing face! Casting Number Is 038 103 373E
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lol saw the pics and thought **** he's got the wrong one but different casting number lol.
Hopefully that'll be a cheap fix for you. Mine's been on a week now and it hasn't lost a drop of coolant. Only thing is that I now have a boost leak and once I fix one pipe the air leak moves to the next weakest pipe - wether that's coincidence or the fact that the engine is putting out the right amount of power since getting a new head, I don't know.
You'll have to let us know how you get on with that one. Bargain though!
Hopefully that'll be a cheap fix for you. Mine's been on a week now and it hasn't lost a drop of coolant. Only thing is that I now have a boost leak and once I fix one pipe the air leak moves to the next weakest pipe - wether that's coincidence or the fact that the engine is putting out the right amount of power since getting a new head, I don't know.
You'll have to let us know how you get on with that one. Bargain though!
I received most of the parts today!
Cylinder head arrived, looks almost brand new! really shiny and has all new seals/guides, valves etc. so I think it was a bargain at £65.
The rest of the gear arrived too. head gasket, head gasket set, cambelt and waterpump, came to £88.
- waterpump note - the cheapest 1.9 tdi waterpump on eurocarparts is manufactured by circoli and has metal vanes, not plastic. (£19)
I'm at about £150 as it stands.
hopefully looking to get the work done this weekend providing the weather holds out.
I'm also hoping to borrow the specialist VAG tools I need from a mate at a local garage. But if not I will have to buy the kit ebay for about £90. Good thing is it doesn't limit you to just the 1.9 tdi, it covers petrols and diesels from '76.
I may also do a little guide on head replacement.
Cylinder head arrived, looks almost brand new! really shiny and has all new seals/guides, valves etc. so I think it was a bargain at £65.
The rest of the gear arrived too. head gasket, head gasket set, cambelt and waterpump, came to £88.
- waterpump note - the cheapest 1.9 tdi waterpump on eurocarparts is manufactured by circoli and has metal vanes, not plastic. (£19)
I'm at about £150 as it stands.
hopefully looking to get the work done this weekend providing the weather holds out.
I'm also hoping to borrow the specialist VAG tools I need from a mate at a local garage. But if not I will have to buy the kit ebay for about £90. Good thing is it doesn't limit you to just the 1.9 tdi, it covers petrols and diesels from '76.
I may also do a little guide on head replacement.
good luck then ,
one thing thats worried me since getting my car back , when engine is running , i see coolant trickling back into the expansion tank from a pipe at the top , is everyone getting this , is it normal
cheers
one thing thats worried me since getting my car back , when engine is running , i see coolant trickling back into the expansion tank from a pipe at the top , is everyone getting this , is it normal
cheers
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