CKFC Coolant loss - New pump, cap and charge cooler

[LittleGap]

Hey all,

 

Car is a 2013 mk3 Octavia 2.0 150PS CKFC ea288 Manual

 

It's loosing coolant through the coolant expansion tank relief only when driven enthusiastically/up long steep gradients.

 

It's had a new gates cam belt and water pump, expansion tank and cap and a new charge cooler. It's had a sniff test on the coolant which showed nothing (I know this isn't conclusive). It's holding coolant pressure whilst cold but not whilst hot. The egr cooler isn't showing signs of coolant residue inside. The old charge cooler was tested but not obviously faulty.

 

I've recently had it back from the garage I bought it off after they thought they had found the fault, the charge cooler. After 40 odd miles I was parked up and waiting for a dpf Regen to finish, revs were at a steady 1k and it was ticking over for about 5-10 minutes when I noticed the smell of coolant, a nice big wet patch under the car. I popped the bonnet and the coolant tank was way above maximum with coolant briefly coming from the relief hole. I opened this after it stopped and there was a lot of air coming from the tank outlet (after gushing coolant everywhere)

 

A Volkswagen specialist has told me he hasn't come across a head gasket failure on these engines yet.

 

Am I right to think that after a new charge cooler that just leaves a head related leak or the egr cooler to be at fault? 

 

Any helpful thoughts are appreciated

[cheezemonkhai]

Have the coolant checked for exhaust gases again. If it’s the head you’ll find them in there. Much cheaper than trying more bits

 

As for the cold/hot don’t forget that part of the coolant circuit is cut off by the water pump until the engine is up to temperature. Iirc, this is mainly the radiator.

 

i suspect your problem is in that part as the head would cause problems all the time.

 

i assume they have used the correct coolant, that the water pump is actually operating it’s sleeve properly and that there isn’t a blockage in the radiator etc.

Edited 21 August, 2018 by cheezemonkhai

[LittleGap]

The problem with checking the tank for exhaust gases is that when the symptoms are showing the coolant is very high in the tank, I'm assuming because of gas in the system. 

 

http://tinypic.com/r/259x5z8/9

 

Before the car went back to the garage I had torque logging the coolant temps a few times and not once did it go over 89℃ whilst driving at a fair pace though the Charge Air Coolant Temperature did see 135℃. Any idea what the target temperature is?

 

If driven fairly slow it could take a few tanks of fuel for the coolant light to come on

 

The coolant is the red stuff and is fairly clean

[cheezemonkhai]

If it’s head gasket, you can test coolant as it will be contaminated.

 

i think the fact it’s not showing a problem until up to temp suggests it’s more likely something in the second part of the circuit.

 

have the garage suggested a UC dye in the coolant to find the leak?

[cheezemonkhai]

If it’s head gasket, you can test coolant as it will be contaminated.

 

i think the fact it’s not showing a problem until up to temp suggests it’s more likely something in the second part of the circuit.

 

have the garage suggested a UC dye in the coolant to find the leak?

[LittleGap]

As in the coolant itself and not the air/gas in the expansion tank?

 

No, the garage hasn't suggested anything, they had it for 2 weeks trying to find the fault and took a stab in the dark that the charge cooler was to blame.

 

They've given me the option of handing it back for a refund or to leave it with them until fixed, after their first attempt took so long and them being 165 miles away I've opted for handing it back. I'll keep in touch with them and let you know what the fault is/was

 

Thanks you for you input and suggestions, much appreciated

[Steveyboy]

On 22/08/2018 at 21:20, LittleGap said:

As in the coolant itself and not the air/gas in the expansion tank?

 

No, the garage hasn't suggested anything, they had it for 2 weeks trying to find the fault and took a stab in the dark that the charge cooler was to blame.

 

They've given me the option of handing it back for a refund or to leave it with them until fixed, after their first attempt took so long and them being 165 miles away I've opted for handing it back. I'll keep in touch with them and let you know what the fault is/was

 

Thanks you for you input and suggestions, much appreciated

Hi. I replyed in another of your posts.  Did you ever get this sorted? I am having the same issues

[LittleGap]

No, I gave the car back, I did message them to see if they found the problem but they never got back to me