Few months ago noticed that the coolant warning light came on, checked the expansion tank and it was sitting just on minimum. Needless to say topped back up to full and ran fine for a month, then needed filled up a second time and it only lasted 2 weeks, thinking this could end up being a daily routine soon and dont want to destroy my car because of something that could easily be sorted. Had a far more extreme coolant leak caused from a cracked thermostat casingin my old 1.2 clio, hoping this may be the same case. Apart from a leaky pipe/connection does anyone know of any common coolant problems.

Oil is fine no discolouration or cloudy/murkyness.

car>>> 2006 Fabia VRS Black Magic 50k miles

Edited 25 January, 201016 yr by gawley_2002

Could be a leaking rad temp sensor, apparently no seal on it. It's on the engine side of the rad, nearside of the car, afew inches above the bottom hose/drain plug.

Mine dribbles occasionally when hot but you don't notice the leak as coolant only escapes when your driving. You may notice a few spots off G12 on the floor after a hot run in the car and park up for 15mins. or so. The other common leaks is the sphere itself, sometimes the plastic cracks, and the heater hoses where they enter the bulkhead. Apart from that closely inspect the all yer hoses and rad.

Could be a leaking rad temp sensor, apparently no seal on it. It's on the engine side of the rad, nearside of the car, afew inches above the bottom hose/drain plug.

Mine dribbles occasionally when hot but you don't notice the leak as coolant only escapes when your driving. You may notice a few spots off G12 on the floor after a hot run in the car and park up for 15mins. or so. The other common leaks is the sphere itself, sometimes the plastic cracks, and the heater hoses where they enter the bulkhead. Apart from that closely inspect the all yer hoses and rad.

definitely will take a look at the rad sensor, it does seem to be more after a bit of vigorous yet safe driving that i noticed the leak the other night. drove home from the girlfriends 20mile trip and parked up to text her i was home safe, sitting in the car and the coolant light came on after about 5/10 mins of idling.

will look up how to drain coolant system and remove expansion tank itself and pressurise it to test for leaks first i think before checking the rest of the coolant system.

Thanks very much for your help mate

I had a leak like that couldn't find anything leaking until it overheated (my thermostat and temp sensor were dodgy) it turned out to be the water pump gasket which had started to crumble and since the water/coolant was sitting on a hot engine it evaporated mostly.

VAG radiators are renowned for leaking, normally after 4 - 5 years.

I agree,

The radiator went on mine in august, mines a 2003 on 115k miles, and this is the only non wearable part that has been replaced...cant complain realy