Hi all!
I have a 2012 Skoda Octavia 4x4 2.0 TDI (103kw).
This is my third Octavia and the one that is most neglected.
I bought it a few months ago and it has worked well for me except for a few things.
The thermometer in the dashboard rarely rises, except when the load is high.

I thought it was a thermostat and had it replaced, but nothing changed.

Heard that there were two thermostats in the car, upper and lower.

Had the upper replaced, but do not know which thermostat I should order to get the right spare part for the lower.

 

I have also been experiencing that the car loses all cooling water

Sometimes it happens 5 times in a short 15km drive, but sometimes weeks go by without anything happening (I commute 15 km to work every day and use the car at work as well).

The water cooler is undamaged and does not leak, and the leak seems to be coming from the back of the engine, is it likely that it is the EGR cooler?

 

I have been looking at the "Darkside 2.0 TDI Common Rail EGR Delete / Race Pipe and EGR Cooler Delete", and I wonder if this is the solution. 

 

 

All the best, 
Harold

It is probable you have a coolant leak where you surmised although a thorough inspection should reveal the location, no need to purchase aftermarket parts just replace like with like.

 

Nice lights up front, you could drive wearing sunglasses at night!

Welcome.

 

Find the coolant leak.

If the water pump needs replace then it needs replaced.  

 

?

How many km has this 10 year old car done?

@roottoot

Surely if the coolant pump is U/S the temperature gauge would initially spike?

 

Pump operation can be assumed to be okay if you see a return flow of coolant at the reservoir.

The question is concerning a leak.   KISS, find the source of the leak.  Use UV dye / ultravilot if need be. 

 

 If the pump is gubbed then yes the Coolant Gauge would move, as will with a thermostat or other things. 

34 minutes ago, MicMac said:

It is probable you have a coolant leak where you surmised although a thorough inspection should reveal the location, no need to purchase aftermarket parts just replace like with like.

 

Nice lights up front, you could drive wearing sunglasses at night!

It seems that this is the EGR cooler... But a new one costs a liver and kidneys of a newborn here in Iceland, and spare part from a wrecked car not available at the moment. 
I am thinking of doing an EGR Delete so this way is perhaps the most sensible.

Regarding the lights, I live in a rural area and drive alot during the long winter nights. 
The car is also equipped with "police lights" in the bumpers, headlights and backlights as it is also an emergency car..

33 minutes ago, roottoot said:

Welcome.

 

Find the coolant leak.

If the water pump needs replace then it needs replaced.  

 

?

How many km has this 10 year old car done?

Thanks, 
I have been following this site for quite some time but never had a reason to ask anything ...

I think I'll replace the waterpump when I replace the part that is leaking. 

It has done 235.000 km as of today. 

Identify your engine type and check p/n here:

 

https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/octavia/oct/2012-663/1/

 

It may be you only require retorquing of loose fasteners or a new gasket/rubber hose.

 

Prices for EGR coolers are reasonable on the bay even with shipping to Iceland, just search the required part number(s).

Edited 24 June, 20223 yr by MicMac

3 hours ago, HaraldurHelgi said:

The thermometer in the dashboard rarely rises, except when the load is high.

I thought it was a thermostat and had it replaced, but nothing changed.

Well, that makes me think Coolant Temperature Sensor, not thermostat. As for a leak, try adding some ultraviolet dye, run the car for a week or so, then look for the leak with a UV lamp (in the dark, and yes I read that you said Iceland).

Hi there sorry to hear about you car troubles. Judging by the mileage your car has done the egr valve may have already been replaced. On my car which has the same engine as yours when the egr valve was replaced by the previous owner they damaged one of the coolant pipes going to the egr right where the clamp sits and made it look a bit like the egr cooler itself was leaking (to my relatively untrained eye). Maybe it would be worth inspecting the hoses be for going through the pain of removing the egr as it's not a very pleasant process.

So, I had plans to take the car to a workshop but they didn't have availability for me... and being diagnosed with "immediate illness" I tore apart what I saw in the engine bay and found the reason for the leak.
The workshop I was going to have this checked at had changed this not so long ago, but they still did not find anything leaking it in a quick inspection, just said "it's the EGR cooler"...

 

I cleaned the seal and made sure to tighten the lug bolt well, the one on the right (facing downwards in the picture) was clearly not tightened enough before I took it apart.

I have already ordered a new seal to replace this one. 
Am glad this was the "only thing" wrong with it...

On 24/06/2022 at 12:42, HaraldurHelgi said:

It seems that this is the EGR cooler... But a new one costs a liver and kidneys of a newborn here in Iceland, and spare part from a wrecked car not available at the moment. 
I am thinking of doing an EGR Delete so this way is perhaps the most sensible.

Regarding the lights, I live in a rural area and drive alot during the long winter nights. 
The car is also equipped with "police lights" in the bumpers, headlights and backlights as it is also an emergency car..

 

I don't know if it's any help but I replaced the cooler on my 1.9tdi with a used one and it didn't last, so I just piped around it instead. Its not caused any issues.