Hi all,

 

I'm new to the forum in search of some clarity to my coolant leak issue. (my knowledge on car's isn't the greatest).

I've seen numerous posts on here outing potential issues with the coolant. Rather than jump on an old post, I thought I'd start a new one.

 

Issue:

Coolant leaking - filling up the tank roughly once every 2 weeks. (if not sooner)

I do find that when the car is hot and I attempt to take off the coolant cap, I can hear air trying to escape and is pretty warm. - (not sure if this is right or not. Driving to work today in my wife's Kia, the coolant box isn't hot after driving).

 

Background:

Had the car around 14 months.

Purchased the car in the UK. Me and my family moved to Rep. Ireland 2 months ago. My issues started about a month ago.

I'm travelling more in the car than previously: currently doing 140km / 86miles a day.

Last service: in April 2019 - 5 year service included water bump and belt (whatever the 5 year service includes).

 

Steps taken:

• Filled up with coolant myself twice.
• Looked online for an answer, quite a few were saying about the Water Pump. I've not long changed mine (5 year service) but apparently these might not last long.
• Spoke to my local Skoda garage and informed them that it could be the Water Pump. They said the part has a 2 year warranty so they'd have a look.
• Garage said the Water Pump is fine > Couldn't find much wrong with car > Flushed / cleaned the system.
• They were about to hand it back to me, but they'd found a leak > Repaired the leak > quite a bit of monies spent...
• Had the car back since the end of last week. 5 days on, I drove to work and back for 2 days > All fine.
• This morning before driving to work > red coolant warning light > checked the coolant > More or less empty.
• Rang garage back "could be air in the system, fill it up again and see how it goes"...> Might air be trapped air after the repairs?

 

I don't see this going away / fixing itself.

 

What to do next? From looking around online..

• Check the Header cap?
• Head gasket?
• Pipe tightening?
• Check the Water pump by putting a sheet / paper down showing the leak?

 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! 

 

After I had my waterpump changed, I did get a low coolant warning not long after, and it was just trapped air. Garage topped up the coolant, and was fine for over 3 years. Mine is also a 2014 with the 2l diesel.

 

I would see if it happens again. If it does, I have seen posts on here about a leaking head gasket.

 

Had same issue with topping up coolant every 3 to 4 weeks then 1 week before water pump **** itself. Car is 2014 TDI vrs with 57k miles. My advice is change water pump and cam belt asap

@WayTooTall I'm giving it a few days of checking the coolant levels to see whether it does sort itself, if it is trapped air. Thanks.

@Sandford these both got changed under the 5 year service earlier in the year. Garage suggesting that the current Water Pump is fine..

Update from my issue.

I realised today that the heating in my car isn't great. 

To the point where I'm driving for an hour and the car isn't heating up. I've seen a post on here stating that there might be an air bubble going around.

Also check that your coolant doesn't have a film on the top and look red (at least I think looks red). There is an issue when a pouch of silicon that is in the coolant reservoir can split and clog the heater matrix.

 

 

Edited 11 November, 20196 yr by WayTooTall
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@WayTooTall I hope this issue has been sorted now.

The coolant was a red/brown colour...

Took the car back to Skoda. Said that the hearing matrix was clogged up and was replaced. They did a flush afterwards too.

The last few days the coolant hasnt gone down and the heating works a treat!

Thanks for your advice.