Helpppp - coolant loss ( slowly )

[Baza1819]

My car is losing small amounts of coolant over a 3/4 day period & my car heaters are crap - head gasket & egr cooler checked & ok.
Water pump stripped off & checked - ok

Audi specialist is stumped !!

Any idea's from the gods' on ere ?

Cos I'll be gutted if its gotta go.......

 

[lau06275]

Possibly check this thread?

How know if your cylinder head will crack if it hasn't yet

 

[autolatry]

Do you mean every 3/4 days the coolant light comes on?
If so that's not a small leak. my old mk5 golf used to leak from where the radiator mounted onto the car. The light would come on once every 3 weeks or so.

 

[T8DPR]

if head gasket checks out fine and its leaking quite alot, any puddles??

radiator would be easiest place to check first

 

[Baza1819]

No puddles nothing, no white smoke - starts fine on a morning. Am baffled, I've spent over £200 on labour to try & source the problem. Engine temp sits at 90 & never moves, should have it back 2moro - gonna buy a tub of tad leak fix or whatever it is & try that ?

IT'S MY LAST HOPE !
Devastated.........

 

[Baza1819]

Btw my car is a 2006 2.0 tdi Quattro 170 .

 

[Lewis583]

Checked the carpets in both footwells? If they're wet, will likely be the heater matrix.

Radiator is a good shout, they normally go in the corners ( where dirt/mud usually sits and holds moisture causing corrosion). Though I have seen, on a Passat once, that a small metal cable clip on the back of the radiator fan cowling wore through a vein on the rad.

If the leak is small enough on the rad, the heat could be evaporating the coolant before it gets chance the drip onto the floor. Tell tale would be pink staining around the area where the leak is.

 

[Baza1819]

Will see if I can spot anything on the radiator but the mechanic had it up on the ramps running up to temp & he could find no leaks or drips - I gotta give the leak fix solution thingy a try or it's bye bye A3.........

 

[cwitcombe]

Hi all,

I had a similar problem, temp never went above 90, no signs of leaking however I noticed a bit of steam when stationary at lights. In the last week the steam got worse and I noticed I had to top up my coolant level. On checking the engine bay I noticed a small pink patch and a small drip from the corner of the radiator. Had a pressure test done this morning and the garage have informed me I need a new radiator. £340 all in, OEM parts and authorised Vw/Audi specialist in London. Is this the average price?

I wouldnt use Rad Seal or the like, apparently it can clog your heater matrix then you are really stuffed.

 

[Baza1819]

spot on pal - will check that out !!

 

[autolatry]

The leak on my golf was not apparent. Eventually I got some tissue and stuffed it next to each radiator mount, drove for a couple of days removed the tissue and it was pink and wet.

 

[big harty]

I had a similar leak on my s3. It was the water coolant supply to turbo. Don't know if you have the same on a tdi. But thought I may share my similar issue

 

[Baza1819]

Cheers ppl for all your help - problem solved !!
Had a blockage in my coolant system !
Cost me over £200 for investigative work only to find out it was a £10 fix

Am chuffed its sorted at last !

 

[amar06fbr]

Cheers ppl for all your help - problem solved !!
Had a blockage in my coolant system !
Cost me over £200 for investigative work only to find out it was a £10 fix

Am chuffed its sorted at last !

so what was the £10 fix? ... Shift+R improves the quality of this image. Shift+A improves the quality of all images on this page.

 

[JudderMan]

Cheers ppl for all your help - problem solved !!
Had a blockage in my coolant system !
Cost me over £200 for investigative work only to find out it was a £10 fix

Am chuffed its sorted at last !

How was it fixed? A collapsed pipe or ..?

 

[Baza1819]

Full flush of the system with some sort of fluid ?????
He also changed the thermostat gasket & put a new thermostat on cos they are cheap enough.
It had a blockage mid system, after flushing he left this fluid in the system overnight & filled with fresh coolant and all is good !
All I know is I have heating & am keeping my car - happy days.......

 

[Baza1819]

System flush was the £10 fix