Hi guys,

I am having some strange coolant loss issues with my car. The coolant alarm keeps coming on roughly every 2 weeks/200 miles. The rad is not that old and I haven't spotted any leaks under the car. When I take the expansion bottle cap off when it has been left overnight, it is very pressurised and it does seem wet just in front underneath the bottle. The level is normally sitting between the bottom of the bottle and min until the cap is removed, then it is just below min. Took it to a local independent garage and pressure and sniff test came back clear. They told me that I probably have problems to come as it should be that pressurised from cold. Was also told it could be the flow not being maintained on the water pump and to keep an eye on it.

What else should I check? Hoping it's not the head gasket, not even put 10k miles on it yet and it's only done 67k. Not had much luck with it so far and don't want to keep throwing money at it. Can't say my skoda experience has been good so far... Can anyone help?

I had a similar thing a few weeks ago. Turned out to be a leak on the metal pipes that go through the bulkhead into the heater matrix. Water was dripping onto the hot exhaust so never saw any leaks, there was a pinkish crystallisation around the pipes where the leak occurred. Worth checking.

Same problem here - searched the forum and looks like loads of people suffer similar issues - had mine looked at and pressure test was fine - they couldn't find any leak and it didn't loose water with them - I changed the expansion bottle and and took it out for a run - when got back watter was bubbling from the cap - changed that today and tried again - light came on mid journey and when I got back I noticed new cap also loosing some water.

Expansion tank was full to the top as the water was trying to get out.

I have noticed mine looses water only when I drive it harder - used it all last week with dodgy MAP sensor (ie never went over 3000 rpm) and didn't loos a thing so I assume the higher pressure is causing a weakness somewhere.

I was also told it would be the water pump.

I'll let you know if I solve this - post your results if you will and I'll keep an eye out

cheers

Correct me if im wrong but doesnt these car drink a little bit of coolant anyways?? I have to fill mine up like evert 3-4 weeks but only about 2cms worth

The car shouldn't loose any coolant, if it does it's leaking somewhere.

I had a similar thing a few weeks ago. Turned out to be a leak on the metal pipes that go through the bulkhead into the heater matrix. Water was dripping onto the hot exhaust so never saw any leaks, there was a pinkish crystallisation around the pipes where the leak occurred. Worth checking.

Thanks, is that towards the back of the engine? I'll take a look.

I have noticed mine looses water only when I drive it harder - used it all last week with dodgy MAP sensor (ie never went over 3000 rpm) and didn't loos a thing so I assume the higher pressure is causing a weakness somewhere.

I was also told it would be the water pump.

I'll let you know if I solve this - post your results if you will and I'll keep an eye out

cheers

Mine doesn't seem to just lose it after a hard drive, it is consistent over a certain time/mileage (2 weeks/200 miles). I drove it quite hard the other day and the coolant stayed on the min level i filled it to. I have no signs of white smoke out the exhaust and the oil and water are clean - no mayo. I will keep you updated.

Should it be that pressurized when the cap is removed when left overnight? Is it worth replacing the bottle and cap? Could it be anything to do with the thermostat?

Thanks

It shouldn't be pressurised when cold, you fill it with G12 with the lid off so it has no pressure, then seal the lid and it has no pressure, you run the engine which heats the coolant causing it to expand, it's this that builds pressure, when the engine stops the coolant cools back to ambient and contracts reducing the pressure to normal.

Yes right at the back of the engine directly above the exhaust. 2 silver metal pipes going through the bulkhead.

Here is the thread I had on the subject. Post #2 shows the pipes I am talking about.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/234734-leaking-heater-matrix/page__fromsearch__1

So what you saying is, that engine get 90 degrees hot every day and will never ever lose a bit of coolant. I think not lol

So what you saying is, that engine get 90 degrees hot every day and will never ever lose a bit of coolant. I think not lol

Let me put it this way, my Rav, Golf, Leon, Roadster and SWMBO's Astra used no coolant between changes, same on my parents Merc and two Rav's, I'd know as I'm the one who does the coolant changes on them. The one car I worked on that did was the ex's Renault POS and the one bike that did was her's as well (Italian). So yes, in a sealed system you will loose no coolant, that's why it's called a sealed system.

Firestarter03,

Had the same issue, the reason of the coolant loss was a leake in the motor water take and a seal of a hose that was connected to the water take.

You only have to buy the water take, not the whole part that include the thermostat if there's no issue with it. Money saving advise.

Also you can check my post that was related to the issue to see if you find anything else: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/236207-coolant-consumption/

I had a similar thing a few weeks ago. Turned out to be a leak on the metal pipes that go through the bulkhead into the heater matrix. Water was dripping onto the hot exhaust so never saw any leaks, there was a pinkish crystallisation around the pipes where the leak occurred. Worth checking.

I had exactly the same problem very recently!

I too was very confused as no white smoke, radiator seemed fine and no leaks underneath the car. The garage found the leak for me with it up on the ramp and replaced the pipes. Problem solved.

It was quite prolific they said. Basically the entire contents of the coolant system had gone in about 3 miles!

Phil

Just thinking. To raise the pressure in the system you have to put more contents in or make the contents that are already in there bigger. Expands when hot = raised pressure. Cools and returns to initial volume. Any fluid loss = less pressure. But you have excess pressure the following morning. So (1) you don't have a leak (2) there is something extra in there. In the absence of any other candidates = exhaust gas.

Still having the same problem, the coolant light came on while I was driving to work (not just after turning it on like it has the past few times). The small amount of water left in the tank shot out of the top when I opened the cap 7 hours later.

The garage where I had it pressure/sniff tested are going to come back to me. Does anyone think it is worth getting a new tank and cap from TPS? I cant for the life of me find any leaks, its not overheating and no signs of HGF I can see...

Still having the same problem, the coolant light came on while I was driving to work (not just after turning it on like it has the past few times). The small amount of water left in the tank shot out of the top when I opened the cap 7 hours later.

The garage where I had it pressure/sniff tested are going to come back to me. Does anyone think it is worth getting a new tank and cap from TPS? I cant for the life of me find any leaks, its not overheating and no signs of HGF I can see...

Finally got mine sorted (fingers crossed) - bought new expansion tank and cap from eurocarparts - flished system until it ran clean (was very brown to start) then fitted new tank and refilled - seems to be OK a week later so hope thats it - will have to drain again before winter though as no antifreeze in it at the mo.

hope yours turns out to be as simple

PS don't buy tank and cap from ebay as that added to my problems for ages as that was leaking worse than before.

Finally got mine sorted (fingers crossed) - bought new expansion tank and cap from eurocarparts - flished system until it ran clean (was very brown to start) then fitted new tank and refilled - seems to be OK a week later so hope thats it - will have to drain again before winter though as no antifreeze in it at the mo.

hope yours turns out to be as simple

PS don't buy tank and cap from ebay as that added to my problems for ages as that was leaking worse than before.

I would put antifreeze in asap,it doesnt just prevent freezing it also has a corrosion inhibiter in as well so if your running neat water in at the moment you are creating corrosion in all the water jackets and metal pipe work etc,not a good idea,plus if you have a leak you wont see where it is from as the antifreeze generally leave a stain.

I would put antifreeze in asap,it doesnt just prevent freezing it also has a corrosion inhibiter in as well so if your running neat water in at the moment you are creating corrosion in all the water jackets and metal pipe work etc,not a good idea,plus if you have a leak you wont see where it is from as the antifreeze generally leave a stain.

What he said plus you will also find once you put antifreeze in the leak will return.

Unless the bottle and cap have actually resolved the issue.

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Ok so a new tank and cap might be worth a shot then? Didn't realise eurocarparts sold them as well, are they genuine OEM from there or am I better with TPS?

Any ideas how much it will be?

Thanks

I was also loosing coolant for quite some time, replaced the expansion tank and cap and it seems to have cured my problem so far (touch wood)

Got mine from Eurocarparts, the tank and the cap come separately, but all in was £14 odd I think, so worth replacing if you think it could solve your issue.

Dead easy to replace, I managed it which is saying something!

Edited 7 June, 201214 yr by jgarside90

Bit of an update with this. I got a new tank and cap from eurocarparts and changed them over the weekend.

I did notice with the tank off that it was a bit wet underneath and pink residue had been left on the bolts under where it sits.

After I got back from work today, the coolant level has gone from max to min. It is slightly wet around the middle of the tank and very wet down the left hand side/underneath it. So I don't think i'm losing it internally. Could it be the water pump causing this?

Bit of an update with this. I got a new tank and cap from eurocarparts and changed them over the weekend.

I did notice with the tank off that it was a bit wet underneath and pink residue had been left on the bolts under where it sits.

After I got back from work today, the coolant level has gone from max to min. It is slightly wet around the middle of the tank and very wet down the left hand side/underneath it. So I don't think i'm losing it internally. Could it be the water pump causing this?

Or even the thermostat? Really don't know what to do about this and worried about the coolant level every time I drive it! Will take it to an independent but just want some idea of what it could be...

i used to have an old mk2 escort and the pressure cap was on it's way out, causing it to overheat!

i replaced the cap and all was cured, the pressure cap does as it say's it puts the system under

pressure which raises the temperature of it's boiling point. when they go they can leak

but i think you would notice this more by the temp gauge on the dash going past the halfway

mark (normal running temp), gauges sometimes just stay as normal if it's run out out water though. If the thermostat was sticking shut it would overheat but if it was stuck open it would just take longer to heat up.

Well I was still having problems so I took it back to the independent garage is was pressure/sniff tested at. They said I would have to be charged 1 hour's labour to find out what it is for sure as there is another pressure test they can do. They found the thermostat to be faulty, replaced it and said that there was nothing else wrong with it.

Since I have had it back, it has got worse and the coolant alarm started coming on daily. Now it is at the point that I cant drive it 8 miles without it coming on.

I did notice the 2nd to last time I opened the tank, I saw some gas come out (7 hours after I left it so it was cooled down). The coolant seems to be coming out of the tank where it is so pressurised, i can hear how pressurised it is by a fizzing noise. The outside of the tank is wet as if it has come out of the top.

Could it really be HGF? I have no other symptoms and it isn't being lost internally. At the moment I have sent it back to the garage as I think it is unacceptable that I have had it tested twice and paid over £160, assured it is fixed when it is now worse. Do you think this is reasonable? Can anyone advise?

Thanks

i have a leak from somewhere near the bottom of the rad on mine. i need to get the bumper off to have a look at it. Is it difficult to take the bumper off??

Hate to say it my vrs was doing the exact same as you have described. It would always be pressurised over night and p*ss out in the morning when the cap was opened. And the buzzer going off all the time when I went to top up.

Took it back to the dealer where I got it from and they changed the head gasket under warranty and I'm pleased to say the problem has gone. Mine was pressure tested and had a sniff test done and they came back fine.

It was only because one of the guys that work there had a vrs and the same problems and said what it was that the garage changed it.