Raizorpoke

Thank you for this tip I will certainly give this a go.

Its not good still, I guess. I probably just have to pray that it was used for something that won't cost the car again to fix so soon! The garage doesn't seem to think I have a head gasket issue and with the block tests my resivoir overflow issue isn't being caused by engine gases (yet). I'm just hoping there's something up with the matrix with the lack of flow etc and someone has tried to fix it with something like you mentioned. Think its the best I can hope for. I'm still trying to work out the coolant level issue, I'm hoping a flush does something.

Interesting. I did also have some receipts with the car stating the water pump was done in July last year. I read somewhere that a failing water pump would also cause metal in the expansion tank but I'm not familiar with what type. By the sounds of it I just have to pray it was used for something to try and cure the heater problem... At least there's some hope. I have budgeted a but for repairs given the situation with the car and it's price but I'd like to think I won't have to blow the whole lot within a week of ownership on just one issue 😂😅 Can only happen to me!

Would k seal or similar be used for any other issues other than a head gasket problem? Does it function to seal off anything else? In a sense in still not out of the woods then which isn't good. I can't imagine a chemical compound will be much of a fix if it is a head gasket problem.

Yes, rad weld was one of the culprits mentioned it seems to be the foam itself that creates the pressure and flows over. The fact that one heater matrix pipe is a lot warmer raised my eyebrows as well. I'll try and get the car booked in for a service and then a flush and pray...

I'll have to take a closer look at it , as you've pointed out it doesn't look good anyway. The plot thickens, the garage took a look at the car, they didn't put it up on the lift due to time but he checked out the resivoir test drove it and experienced the foam first hand. Unless he is giving me a false sense of hope he says he is 95% sure it's not head gasket related , I assume a mechanic would have easily twigged a HGF otherwise so that's giving me some hope. He is suggesting it's something related to an attempt to flush it with a product or even dish soap... The plot thickens. I've ordered a new cap so ill check that. I think I also need to more closely inspect the resivoir itself.

Yeah I have done a couple of runs where the fans were running when I got back but stopped within about 15 seconds of switching the car off so I dont think I've pushed it hard enough for a long overrun yet. I've been so petrified of HGF and the coolant hat I am reluctant to do the 2hr 100 mile drive to Cardiff. I've read about the cap, I thought I've my resivoir looked old and stressed that the cap may be as well. I have ordered a new one just in case there is a rare chance this isn't a catastrophic issue. I do suspect that the resivoir is the original, it's certainly very old looking and has a distinct area of stressing on the left you may be able to just make it out on the other images.

Thank you so muchfor these points to look at, I even doubt if the tests are accurate and I'm just hoping it isn't worst case. Another point I noticed. Which I assume could be related is where the two pipes go into the heater matrix one is significantly hotter than the other, a night and day difference. Also, is the coolant based intercooler around the radiator or the radiator at the front? Sorry, as you can probably tell I'm not the most clued up on cars , a recipie for disaster when buying used cars apparently , who would have guessed 😂

Oh sorry if I have put it in the wrong spot I'm relatively new! 2012 2.0L TDI VRS 109k miles

This is the kind of thing I'm dealing with , it remains over pressure even over night on a cold engine but I keep testing with the block testers and I'm yet to get a positive result. There is some stressing on the resivoir and a lot of the markings are rubbed off as well.

I wanted to add as well. The for a brief period while I was doing the block test (2 to 3x longer than recommended, I was doing it for a good 15 min at temperature with no colour change) As I revved the car the windscreen blower would actually blow hot again, as it did on my test drive, then suddenly, back to cold.

I am just crossing my fingers its related to the heater matrix being blocked or something as simple as a dodgy reservoir or cap itself. I.e something less than a grand to rectify!

To anyone looking at literally my last post, the timing of this one is comedic. I took a punt on a car I knew needed some work. Including an issue with the heater not blowing hot. I took this on assuming at worst there would be an issue with the heater matrix or a leak etc. But I am now worried I am looking at a head gasket failure or crack .... I just wanted to see if there is any likelihood of this being something else. To break it down: No overheating (done a few 40 min drives to test 22 mile) with some high rev driving. Maintains a solid 90 degrees. No white smoke. No gunk under filler cap. No oil in coolant (or not obvious). No power loss. However; It all started when a colleague noticed a pool of coolant under my car, the reservoir after a long drive had foamed up and leaked it clearly had built up pressure during the drive and was pouring from the bypass tube and some of the lid even. I am a novice at cars to say the least, I stupidly let the car cool, it was still hot about 2.5 hours later, but I let some of the air and it foamed like hell. I had some drained out in the garage but when I got back, by the time I got home the level in the reservoir was very low. Like, below minimum. I topped it up a bit, and ran it with the cap off. It bubbles, over time the bubbles go away but its made worse when I rev the engine. Scared that this was compression gasses entering the coolant (Head gasket failure) I ordered a block test, which claims to have a 99.9% accuracy at detecting this. I have tested twice, for far longer than recommended and the test does not change, suggesting that there are no engine based contaminants in my coolant. Heater won't blow hot. But it warms up a bit when revved, this is most noticeable with the front de-mister blower. The main cabin blowers aren't as effected. The heater matrix pipes has one pipe significantly hotter/warmer to the touch than the other. In essence, is there anything else that could be causing the bubbling of the coolant and foaming issues. I only "lose" coolant when it bubbles over, I find when I fill the coolant, after a drive it expands exponentially. So I am finding it hard to find the right level or if I need to fill it a bit lower to counteract the effect. I am using the correct coolant. If it wasn't for the negative block tests I wouldn't be so in denial.

Pending some unsavory news, im making a post about it now as it happens, it might not be a massive issue as im not confirmed yet but I could be having some issues with a head gasket... ill share details shortly!

I am paying the price already, after two days of ownership 😂