Right guys I'm in sticky situation because I drop my car off the garage because I was losing coolant around 200-300 ml in 70-100 miles of driving from max to min in expansion tank but I noticed it's coming out of the overflow of the expansion tank because wet around the bottle area and bottle and on cold has pressure in system even the car been standing for a day

So now the garage done a sniff test and it's failed because colour didn't change so means no gases in coolant so he has said that means head gasket all good

So guys what can it be?

Head lifting - need head bolts tightening or new upgraded ones?

Coolant needs flushing out - need correct done again

Thermostat is not working properly

Water pump is not working correctly

Car has done 86,000 and the water pump was changed at 58,000

Head lifting - need head bolts tightening or new upgraded ones

 

This is the same as a blown head gasket, the gasket will need replacing along with the bolts.

 

It can only be a head gasket failure, a cooling system still pressurised when cold is a dead giveaway, I'm amazed the garage even bothered to do a 'sniff test' with those symptoms.

They probably used a dip kit designed for petrol engines, it wouldn't necessarily pick up the gases from a diesel gasket failure since it relies on acidity to give an indication.

They sound like utter numpties, suggest you take the car to an independent VW specialist to get the job done properly.

I'm amazed the garage even bothered to do a 'sniff test' with those symptoms.

They probably used a dip kit designed for petrol engines, it wouldn't necessarily pick up the gases from a diesel gasket failure since it relies on acidity to give an indication.

So you can get different fluids for the tester for petrol or derv?

Never seen a dip kit, does that test the actual coolant?

Only one I've seen in use sucks the gassses out of header tank through a liquid that changes colour if there are combustion gasses in tank

From around the web.... Sniff test is usually good on petrol engines. One quote "sniff test was negative but when stripped my head had 3 cracks in it" (diesel).

 

Can do 2 things.

1) Tighten head bolts by say 45 degrees and cross fingers. (don't rely on this longer term).

2) Remove head, inspect and hope it's just the h/g. (it usually is the h/g unless you're unlucky or have tuned the pants off it).

 

 

J.

Right okay guys thanks

So you guys think should go down the head gasket route and put new head bolts in?

So you guys think should go down the head gasket route and put new head bolts in?

 

Yes. Use ARL bolts to beef things up a bit.

Yes. Use ARL bolts to beef things up a bit.[/quote

Okay nice one cheers dude where can I get them ASL Bolts from?

Yes. Use ARL bolts to beef things up a bit.[/quote

Okay nice one cheers dude where can I get them ASL Bolts from?

 

If your local parts place aren't helpful get them from Darkside Developments, they are the head bolts for a Pd150 engine, if you go local just make sure they have 12.9 stamped into the bolt head.

They are higher tensile than the Pd130 10.8 tensile ones.

If your local parts place aren't helpful get them from Darkside Developments, they are the head bolts for a Pd150 engine, if you go local just make sure they have 12.9 stamped into the bolt head.

They are higher tensile than the Pd130 10.8 tensile ones.

Thanks bud I'll ask around local first cheers bud