I really don't want this to be the head gasket seeing as I've had the car less than a week.

But all of the signs point towards it.

Coolant light has come on twice this week, and I've refilled the coolant twice too.

Today drained the system and refilled. There is constantly bubbles in the coolant housing (looks like they're being blown in from a joining pipe)

Feeling really depressed as a bit of a google search says head gasket.

What other things could it be, and if it IS head gasket, what sort of cost would I be looking at?

It's a 1.9 TDI pd100

:( thank you

I had a coolant leak on my pd100. Turns out it was a leaking seal by the coolant pipe. Have a look to the right hand side of the water pump and see if you got coolant leak.

Edited 11 July, 201312 yr by JC85

I have been having the same problem with mine for the past 5 months or so.   My coolant loss is coming out of the actual overflow in the expansion tank (being forced out under pressure) and so I have a puddle of coolant beneath the car most evenings when I go to put the car in the garage.    The coolant within the expansion tank/chamber is well beneath the 'min' mark so before I put the car in I loosen the expansion tank cap where the pressure release is pretty high and some coolant begins to backfill into the expansion tank but not enough to take it over the 'max' mark.  

I know if I didn't go through this process the coolant warning light would be coming on at least twice a week so its just a process I do now and it has been ok so far.

 

However I have spoke to a few mechanics and they are pretty sure it's the head gasket.   Water pump has been replaced previously (as standard, not due to this issue), expansion tank replaced as he thought it had a dodgy cap but the same thing happened.

 

The car drives perfectly no issue with the coolant loss, but I guess I have just had enough of it and am now getting the head gasket replaced in the next couple of weeks.   I told the mechanic (who specialises in VAG group engines and Head Gasket replacements) all the symptoms and he's pretty sure it's the HG and he said it will take about a week as he sends it away to get skimmed and whatever.   No cost has been mentioned yet but I have budgeted around £500 - £600 there abouts.

 

To be honest if this had happened to any other car I had owned I probably would have traded it in against a new one but I love my car and just enjoy driving it.   Just last week I got the spoiler re-sprayed as the lacquer had been peeling away and its back to 100% and looks the ticket!

Could try tightening the dead bolts 90 degrees. I've heard that can cure it for a while.

Head bolts. Sorry. Damn autocorrect.

the actual coolant bottle can be prone to splitting/leaking check that

Thanks for all of the advice chaps. really don't want to be spending money replacing the head gasket as well as my clutch that's slipping :(

 

I can't see any leaking water anywhere. Going to have a good look tomorrow.

 

Rather than having the head gasket replaced, would it be more cost efficient to just replace the engine? 

 

How many head bolts are there? and are they easily accessible? 

 

G

It won't be more cost efficient to change an engine! Looking at 500 quid labour for a straight swap plus the price of a used engine which is taking a chance from a breakers. Prob another 500 quid for a used engine and up to 2k for a rebuilt engine with a gaurentee.

I looked into it myself when I found the head bolts were sheered, I only had the car a week sold as seen and took it back to the dealer and they helicoiled it for me as they had recently done the head gasket work, for free.

Can't you take the car back anywhere?

If the diesels are similar to the petrol layout just take the plastic engine cover off and you can the bolts.

Only thought it might be cheaper or at least perhaps more worth while because my car has done 150,000 miles, and these pd100 engines go pretty cheap. There is one on ebay as we speak with only 60,000 miles and with diesel pump in 'working order" for £295 

 

60k is less than half the mileage of my car! 

 

I cant take the car back, was a private sale and was quite far away. 

does it have an exhaust gas cooler?

the one for sale - I dont know mate.

 

COMES WITH, DIESEL PUMP, INLET MANIFOLD, INJECTORS AND INJECTOR LOOM ONLY.

HAS DONE 63,000 MILES

COMES WITH A 30 DAY GUARANTEE.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221252323301?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

IMO it's not cost affective to change the engine rather than the head gasket.

As for tightening the head bolts, it can make the problem worse and it isn't easy to do as the cams will have to come out, which means timing belt off and before you know it... Your in to deep and don't know what to do.

Have you checked for gunge under the oil cap and cooland in the exhaust fumes?

 

Two good ways to help check if your HG has started to let go.

Absolutely no sign of water in the oil on the cap or the dipstick.

And no coolant in the exhaust either.

:(

Absolutely no sign of water in the oil on the cap or the dipstick.

And no coolant in the exhaust either.

:(

 

Thats a good thing.

 

Time to check for leaks. 

 

TH I'd just use water till you find the leak then once sorted flush and fill with the correct coolant

It can leak around oil resivours and water jackets so water and oil doesn't mix, giving no signs of mayo.

If your also loosing coolant out the bottle and not the exhaust, it's only happening at higher revs and pushing the compression out of the cylinder and into the coolant jackets so things like "steel seal" or other products won't be helpful.

Really confused, and feeling rather gutted.

Thanks for all of your help chaps. 

 

I couldn't see any visible leaks today when checking, but not really looking in any specific places. Just having a peak around the engine with the cover off.

Don't know where the water pump is or what it looks like. 

 

Feel silly but don't know exactly what I'm looking at. 

 

Are there any tests I can do to determine if it is the head gasket or just a coolant leak, like a compression test?

Don't know what applies to the HG though.

 

G

looking at the cam cover, there's about 15 10mm bolts going all the way round.  Undo them all (one is a pain as the EGR is in the way), and the cam cover lifts off.  Then you can see the head bolts.  10 big spline bolts, I think M10.  maybe try doing each up 45 degrees using a massive bar (will need a massive bar....)  Start with middle 2, then the 4 out to each side, ending with the corners.

 

Compression test should be possible to determine head gasket, but I don't know how it is done on a diesel.

You don't need to remove the cams to tighten the head bolts, unlike what someone said further up..

Although I would be very surprised if that sorted anything for you anyway.

Buy PD150 ARL Headbolts and replace the existing ones. Spline bit M12.

I checked mine to tighten them and assumed the bolts were camshaft bolts.

Looks like I'm wrong though!

A good way to check is to fill the water to max, drive up and down the motorway at 70mph, make sure the temp is up to 90.

Go back home, pop the bonnet and open the coolant bottle top, if you get any hissing or a loud pop and water overflowing... It's looking like head gasket.

If nothing happens its possibly a coolant leak or other faults such as thermostat.

Earlier when the car wasnt even at full temp i opened the filler cap for the water and it rushed out of the over flow!

Does sound like its over pressurising then.

 

A block test (using the correct tester and fluid) will tell you if there are combustion gasses in the cooling system.