Coolant leak

[Alex31]

Hi all not sure if we have covered this topic but my golf 7 TDI brought up the low coolant warning. It's only 6 months old with 10000km on the clock... Checked level and it was well below the min level line. I have not noticed any leaks. Has anyone else had this problem? If so what it a simple fix. It's going into the dealer but I am worried they will just top it up and say there is nothing wrong....

Any thoughts/advice would be great

[wai]

You may have to take it to a cooling system specialist. They can pressure test it and see if the system is holding pressure (hence, not leaking).

Have you checked the oil for any discolouration? Leaks do not have to be external. You can get a leak between the water jacket and an oil gallery, or even the combustion chamber. The thing is that for the combustion chamber, this would also pressurise the system, so you would see it overflowing from the reservoir.

[irossiter]

Take it back to VW. If there are any problems it is their responsibility under warranty. A cooling specialist will (quite reasonably) have to charge you to test it.

[sports racer]

Some coolant loss over 10000 km would be expected, especially in a new car. It's very rare to have all the rubber water pipes sealed 100% as the car ages. Get the dealer to check and tighten all the clamps and keep a check on the water level at least monthly.

Or you could grab a screwdriver and do it yourself.

Cheers

Paul

[Brendan_A]

A week after delivery of our GTI I noticed the coolant was on the minimum mark. Booked it in and they pressure tested the system and topped it up.

System tested fine. They told me it probably was an air lock from factory which is why the level dropped. I've been checking the header tank every week and it hasn't gone done in 5 months 7k Kms.

[Umai Naa!!]

Take it back to VW. If there are any problems it is their responsibility under warranty. A cooling specialist will (quite reasonably) have to charge you to test it.

Agreed.

Don't buggerise around with independent shops over a potential warranty concern. You won't be reimbursed.

It's VW's warranty, only they can honor it. The dealership will have a coolant pressure tester.

[The One]

Let's not scare the poor fella. Just book it into VW, some levels e.g: oil and coolant dropping while in run in period (for any make, model etc) is completely normal.

[AJD]

My TDI has done the same thing. Einstein at the dealership has pressure tested the system and says it's fine, he went on to say it's a common problem with the TDI's - I'm not entirely convinced, this is my 3rd TDI and it's the first one to use coolant.
It's now all over the service records and it will be going back to the dealer in a couple of months if the coolant level drops again.

[Polo GTEye N9]

Ditto go back to VW now......

Take it back to VW. If there are any problems it is their responsibility under warranty. A cooling specialist will (quite reasonably) have to charge you to test it.

[Umai Naa!!]

Some of the TSIs used to burp a bit of air out, causing the level to drop once they were delivered and being driven on the road.

[wai]

My TDI has done the same thing. Einstein at the dealership has pressure tested the system and says it's fine, he went on to say it's a common problem with the TDI's - I'm not entirely convinced, this is my 3rd TDI and it's the first one to use coolant.

That's the standard "standard for this type of vehicle" rubbish that you get from the dealers these days. In other words, the customer has to prove that there is a problem because they are not going to do a thing about it.

[AJD]

That's the standard "standard for this type of vehicle" rubbish that you get from the dealers these days. In other words, the customer has to prove that there is a problem because they are not going to do a thing about it.

It's the usual dealership cop out response. Generally translates to "yeah we see what you're talking about but it's too hard to do anything about it so we will wait and see what happens. If it gets worse it should be easier to find the problem".

I'll be monitoring the coolant (and all other fluid levels) very closely and the dealer will be seeing a lot of my car until I am happy with it.

[Alex31]

Went to the dealership and got the we will monitor it as we could not find the problem... Useless

[Umai Naa!!]

I've found in situations like that, you need to have the system pressurised above cap pressure, and left overnight, and keep re-applying pressure until you spot the leak.

[oystercard]

Coolant warning twice in 4 wks then water pump replacement! Car only 6 months old!

Hi all.

I got a Coolant Warning in my 'bought-new-in-Feb-Mk7 GTI' last week along with leakage (resembling fuel) on my garage floor same day. I promptly booked it in for a going over and the diagnosis was it needed a new fuel pump. I Googled as you do and see this is a known issue with older Golfs.

I have no mechanical know-how and I am basically hoping for a Dummies type run down of the issue and what it means for me and so I know what to say to the dealer tomorrow when I hopefully collect the car (it's been there since Thursday). A friend suggested the dealer will need to flush out my fuel system as it may have been contaminated. This sounds alarming.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.