Hi,

have read a few threads on here relating to coolant issues. I've also read comments on seatcupra.net and forums.tdiclub.com which have helped.

My car is 2.0 TDI SEL manual registered in August 2013. I bought it in 016 from a Skoda main dealer.

Around January 2019 the low coolant light came on after a long journey, and it required a cup on coolant maybe once a month. The water pump and bottle were replaced in March 2019 (around 55k miles) and this solved the issue for 2 months, when it started drinking a cup of coolant every 2 weeks. The coolant was coming out of the expansion tank/bottle and you could see it. There was no white smoke from the back and no puddles on the drive. I took it to a VAG specialist in Coventry who was fantastic and bypassed the EGR for free, which completely fixed the issue.

 

12 months later (2 months ago) I had the dreaded coolant light again. It started drinking  a cup every 2 weeks, it's now a litre at least once a week. The advice from the specialist is either head gasket (£800) or exhaust cooler (£400). I'm unsure and would love advice on whether to try fixing either/both or just chuck it to webuyanycar or similar. My feeling is that the difference between cost to buy my car and the part ex valuation is around £2k so fixing (IF it would definitely fix) is cheaper. I also really love the space/spec/engine and would happily run the car for another 5 years. It's now around 70k miles. My concern is I've heard of 2 people with this engine on forums who replaced the head gasket and it didn't fix it, which terrifies me. If I've got exhaust in the coolant system, is there anything else it can be?

 

Our problem, like most people, is after long journeys. I haven't been able to ascertain if it's only related to the regeneration cycle.

The list I've collated of possible culprits is:

water pump (or associated seals)

expansion tank (bottle) cracks - I've had the silicone bag burst leaving grit all over the coolant system. I've had it flushed once and another new bottle put in.

EGR - currently bypassed

exhaust cooler  

head gasket

heater matrix - I've had no heating issues

engine mounting loose causing engine to shift slightly under acceleration and coolant to leak (?)

check relief pressure of cap in expansion bottle is correct

 

Any comments really appreciated!

Did you buy it by personal loan, pcp or hp?

No, just cash. Haven't tried talking to skoda but can't believe they would care. I've always had it serviced at independents too

I would try talking to Skoda, you never know and have nothing to lose by doing so. 

 

You've really already laid your only probable and sensible options out, try fixing it if you feel it is worth it or if not, PXing it. Would you be willing to start with the cheapest of the two (exhaust cooler at £400) and if that fails then go for the gasket? Even having to do both totals by your figures £1200, still £800 value in your car after that. 

Edited 3 September, 20205 yr by GlitchGolder
Typo