Hi Folks,

I have a 2003 TDI Octy which drips coolant (characteristic smell etc.) from around the driver's side (RHS) suspension arm (about 8 inches under drivers door). Flow is about 12 drips / minute but only when the heater / A/C system has been ON during a run of the car.

Have topped up about 1 litre water per 200 miles. Dripping and loss completely stopped when I switched climate control (Elegance model) OFF (car has been working like that for a month).

Yesterday I had it in at a Skoda specialist who pressure tested and replaced header (expansion) tank. I picked it up, drove home with the climate control switched back on and ... the drips are back just the same. No sign of loss header tank, no damp or smell in the cabin. I cannot get the car in the air, but can root around a bit.

Any ideas?

Well, that's about where mine drips distilled water on a hot, humid day, so it must be where drips from the condenser go, which makes me wonder if you have a leak in the aircon.

Just sounds like the normal condensation drips from using the AC.

I wish it was Paul. However, I am familiar with the condensation dripping. This leak, as I said: (a) smells of antifreeze, ( looks pink when collected, © is perfectly correlated with a loss of coolant fluid. Ken - I did not know hot coolant went to the A/C. condenser : sounds ominous if true. I was thinking (perhaps hoping) it was a hose (or attachment) feeding the heater matrix. Other explanations I have seen all seem to appear on the left (passenger) side.

Thanks, ... still interested in your thoughts.

If it's pink it's definitely coolant. I'm thinking maybe the water pump seal is failing.

Pink would suggest OAT coolant, or that the AC has been filled with a gas + dye mix. My thought was that the condenser was possibly leaking gas + dye + oil, and that was flavouring/colouring the condensate.

Update: the leak was a cracked header tank. However, following replacement of that, the level would fall, giving the appearnce of a persistent leak. Closer inspection revelaed that it was in fact gas presure drving the level down, as it would 'bubble' back up on releasing pressure form the tank. This has been getting worse: you can see the fluid drain from the tank as the engine revs. Return of fluid (via pump) seems fine. I have booked into another VAG specialist to have a look at what is causing this, but if anyone has any ideas or experience, it would be good to hear.

 

Thanks,

 

Keith.

Further update: news today is that the head gasket has gone (some would have guessed that).

This became obvious when a little reving (just a few seconds) from cold (left overnight) produced a good amount of pressure in the cooling system.

Major expense ahead, end of trip and flight back home.