A while back I noticed my Fabia was using what I thought was more coolant than usual i.e. the warning light came on completely out of the blue and after topping up it happened again after less than a week. There was no sign of water having leaked out onto the road or into the engine bay. There has been no overheating either. It takes about a week to ten days to go from max to min but only if I'm driving the car. While I was not commuting to work and just bimbling around locally, the water level didn't move

 

I decided to leave it with my friendly mechanic while I was at home for a couple of weeks and he pressure tested the coolant system. No leaks. He thinks there might be a small leak through the head gasket into the cylinders but he's not convinced because the pressure held. It's going to cost about £400 to have the head gasket changed so part of me says leave well alone until it gets worse but by then the job may grow into something bigger. The other part of me says get it done while it's containable but I don't want to throw away £400 on a new head gasket if there's something else we have both missed that could be causing the water loss.

 

All suggestions most welcome, thank you.

 

Catman

what fabia is it ?

flaky water pump?  Not sure if that can cause actual coolant loss though.

Radiator; bimbling about locally the thermostat doesn't open fully and the radiator doesn't get hot, longer runs it does and a crack opens. Still be helpful to know which engine you have though. Could also be the thermostat housing.

A while back I noticed my Fabia was using what I thought was more coolant than usual i.e. the warning light came on completely out of the blue and after topping up it happened again after less than a week. There was no sign of water having leaked out onto the road or into the engine bay. There has been no overheating either. It takes about a week to ten days to go from max to min but only if I'm driving the car. While I was not commuting to work and just bimbling around locally, the water level didn't move

 

I decided to leave it with my friendly mechanic while I was at home for a couple of weeks and he pressure tested the coolant system. No leaks. He thinks there might be a small leak through the head gasket into the cylinders but he's not convinced because the pressure held. It's going to cost about £400 to have the head gasket changed so part of me says leave well alone until it gets worse but by then the job may grow into something bigger. The other part of me says get it done while it's containable but I don't want to throw away £400 on a new head gasket if there's something else we have both missed that could be causing the water loss.

 

All suggestions most welcome, thank you.

 

Catman

I'm experiencing a very similar problem to yourself. From the research I've done it would seem that PD engines are prone to head gasket failure. It's not widespread but it is apparent.

Mine is a PD 160 engine and I've only covered 72 K so far. However it's been using coolant since circa 66 K. How many miles have you covered and could you pass the details of the chap who's quoted £400 for the repair? That's a good price:)

As Sepulchrave has commented it may well be the Thermostat. However they're usually is some tell tale sign that a leak is or has been apparent.

My engine bay is completely bone dry on top and underneath. I had the system pressure tested vigorously and no leaks occurred whatsoever.

Also, do you notice some white smoke upon hot start?

I don't know if this works for diesels but i thought i had a leaking head gasket with my old scoobie so i took it to a local MOT station and borrowed there vehicle exhaust tester and hovered it above the coolant header tank with the lid off obviously right above the coolant and this will detect any hydrocarbons in the coolant that have mixed from the leaking head gasket.

Hope this helps

I don't know if this works for diesels but i thought i had a leaking head gasket with my old scoobie so i took it to a local MOT station and borrowed there vehicle exhaust tester and hovered it above the coolant header tank with the lid off obviously right above the coolant and this will detect any hydrocarbons in the coolant that have mixed from the leaking head gasket.

Hope this helps

Didn't know that, sounds like a good idea:) Learn something every day!

Head lift due to weak bolts is common.

The pd150 ones are harder. usually when thrashing or motorway pressure lifts the head and dumps coolant sometimes a 90 degree turn of the head bolts sorts it but careful not to snap them.

The pd150 ones are harder. usually when thrashing or motorway pressure lifts the head and dumps coolant sometimes a 90 degree turn of the head bolts sorts it but careful not to snap them.

Certainly much cheaper than a head gasket fix! Info appreciated!

Get the water pump checked

My fabia lost coolant for over a year, topping up every couple of weeks. Tried a new expansion tank cap but no benefit. The radiator developed a bad leak, so I changed it. The old radiator once out and inspected, it had various red coolant dots from previous small leaks but not enough to be visible under car. No more coolant lost since new radiator I thought originaly the worst, head lift e.t.c Your description sounds similiar to what I had, hopefully cheap fix for you.

My experience.

I had pressure in the water bottle, some water loss but little. The main issue was a lot of pressure in the bottle which pointed towards head gasket.

I have a PD130 with quite a few mods and remapped, I thought maybe headlift as well.

I change my thermostat and timing belt/water pump at the same time, this has fixed all my issues. On about 108k miles also

Did you not have the coolant system pressured tested before the belts and pump were replaced? If so that may have shown an apparent leak.

My fabia lost coolant for over a year, topping up every couple of weeks. Tried a new expansion tank cap but no benefit. The radiator developed a bad leak, so I changed it. The old radiator once out and inspected, it had various red coolant dots from previous small leaks but not enough to be visible under car. No more coolant lost since new radiator I thought originaly the worst, head lift e.t.c Your description sounds similiar to what I had, hopefully cheap fix for you.

I'll mention this to the garage when I get the car inspected again. Can't hurt to take a look.

I'll mention this to the garage when I get the car inspected again. Can't hurt to take a look.

Air con radiator is sandwhiched with coolant radiator, so you can't visualy see it I don't think :( My radiator did a full on wee wee out the front bumper in the end

Sorry I've not replied to any of your posts before now but I'm just back at work after a couple of weeks off and so things are a bit busy - only just logged back onto the forum for the first time since raising the question. Hopefully the following will answer most of the points made so far - all your replies are appreciated.

 

The Fabia is an 8 valve 1.4MPI on a 52 plate that I've only had for just over a year so not too much history known. The service and MOT info left by the previous owner mentions the belt change at about 55K but nothing otherwise except oil/filters/plugs etc at regular intervals. When I bought it the garage had it MOT'd and during the inspection the guy noticed a leak in the radiator so it was replaced. It's only done about 10K miles since then so I'm not sure the radiator is the problem. Total vehicle mileage to date is just under 90K. I've not noticed any steam yet, the mechanic said that would be a sure sign to look out for. I will ask him about tightening the bolts though.

 

The mechanic I use is a local guy here in Nailsea near Bristol. Very good mechanic and honest with it! Have used him since we moved here many years ago.

 

Thanks for all the feedback so far 

An update!

Still haven't booked car in for head gasket change because my "gut feeling" is that it won't solve the problem. At the weekend I decided to do a routine water level check. The level was below minimum although the sensor hadn't tripped. When I loosened the expansion tank cap, there was a gurgle, the water level rose and some brown water landed on the engine just below the tank. The water had not come from the filler cap so I'm wondering if it's possible that there is a leak in the expansion tank or associated connectors which only reveals itself when the coolant system is de-pressurised. Is that possible?

In any case I think my next job will be to replace the expansion tank. the thing is, where is the best place to get such a thing at a reasonable cost? I have used Jorilys in the past but I'm not sure if they are still around?

Suggestions for reliable parts sources please!

Thanks in advance.

Get a UV light and have a look at night

VAG coolant is ultraviolet so if you have a leak you'll see it under the UV light at night

There can be a few things

Leaky thermostat

Leaky resevoir

Leaky radiator

Knackered resevoir cap

Leaking waterpump

Pinhead hole in coolant pipe

Or HG failure

Edited 23 October, 201312 yr by BigJase88

I had exactly the same problem.

could see no leaking of coolant from anywhere.

Changed timing chain and oil & filter.

Water pump

Thermostat housing

But it still lost coolant, so i gave it back to my mate who said HG failure.

So he used Steel Seal as it is fix or money back! as he diagnosed HG failure (paper proof) and he owns the M.O.T station.

 

And steel seal fixed it, no more coolant loss

sure beats an expensive fix, i know there are disputes over steel seal not working, but it worked in my Skoda 1.4 8v mpi 2003 plate.

for how long i dont know, but ive just been on a few hundred mile motorway runs, and the coolant is unfazed

 

I personally would of rubbished Steel seal, and not used it ever, as when i used it once before on another car it clogged my radiator up with white chalky gunk.

but he told me he had done it, after he had done it, so i had no choice

Anyway the car is running great and gets me to work every day.

I'll log and see how long this steel seal does work for.

I agree there must be a leak somewhere, but apart from the water I saw last weekend I haven't seen any drips, puddles or anything. When the mechanic did the pressure test he checked the coolant system for leaks and he couldn't find anything leaking either. I need to spend some time checking the parts identified above more thoroughly for leaks and then take it from there.

 

I'll keep you posted and thanks for the continuing advice

Did i say UV light.....

I have had all of the above...I am losing my coolant through the overflow on the exspansion tank, after a motorway run the coolant is getting too hot and flowing out of the overflow.

 

So far i have changed the:

 

Head Gasket

Water Pump

Expansion Tank & Cap

Radiator

 

Still no joy.....any other ideas on how to solve this common problem with Skoda's?

Just to add, I've got a 2000 mpi. 130k, head gasket done and head skimmed a few thousand miles back. After a couple of hundred miles or so the head needs to be retightened after the head work is done, things settle and sometimes you can have a small lift on the head. Try the head bolts first. Easy to get to under the plastic cover.

£400 for a head gasket?!?!?!

I changed mine for a total cost of £57, the heads on these engines are soooooo easy to change. DIY and save a lot of dollar.

AzCoop121 change your thermostat next