Hi. Have been experiencing a loss of coolant for quite a while (VRS tdi) and has recently become worse. Used to be 3 weeks between needing a top up now its down to less than one. I  believe that the most common culprits are leaky waterpumps and possibly EGR valve? However I'm wondering if anyone has had a head crack because on a few occasions on startup the engine has refused to initially turn over, I've never experienced a hydraulic lock before so don't know how this manifests itself. The car is due a cam belt/ waterpump change but am reluctant to get that done if I've got other issues elsewhere. Oil consumption is also quite heavy. Car runs fine with no loss of power. 

Best you go see a Trained & Qualified Motor Mechanic and one that is experienced with VW Group engines. 

No point waiting to the engine really is wrecked.

 

Hydrolocked.   Don't think so. 

 But then that is a guess as that is all anyone is doing without getting to look at the car. 

Edited 12 October, 20223 yr by roottoot

A few ways these engines seem to lose coolant. Mines currently at the mechanics for similar symptoms. 
 

in no particular order:
 

water pump leaking

egr cooler leaking

charge air cooler leak

blocked matrix causing overspill from expansion tank

head issues

 

5 hours ago, T07 said:

A few ways these engines seem to lose coolant. Mines currently at the mechanics for similar symptoms. 
 

in no particular order:
 

water pump leaking

egr cooler leaking

charge air cooler leak

blocked matrix causing overspill from expansion tank

head issues

 

I'm going to drop into a local VW specialist tomorrow to ask their opinion. 

So my apparently trained Vw mechanic couldn’t find the leak. Ordered an endoscope, removed the intake air temp sensor and had a nosey. Whilst looking inside a few drops of water rolled past the camera, so looks like it’s my charge air cooler leaking! Easy to check with a wee endoscope if they can’t get to the bottom of it. 

On 17/10/2022 at 19:45, T07 said:

So my apparently trained Vw mechanic couldn’t find the leak. Ordered an endoscope, removed the intake air temp sensor and had a nosey. Whilst looking inside a few drops of water rolled past the camera, so looks like it’s my charge air cooler leaking! Easy to check with a wee endoscope if they can’t get to the bottom of it. 

 

 

Which Endoscope did you get out of interest?  

DDENDOCAM Wireless Endoscope USB Borescope Inspection Camera 1200P HD WiFi Snake Camera for Android/IOS iPhone/Windows/Mac/Tablet/PC (Black, 2M) https://amzn.eu/d/6pH7bfz

 

got the above. Seems to be exact same as the draper version. Worked perfect 

Edited 26 October, 20223 yr by T07

On 12/10/2022 at 08:08, summerof44 said:

Hi. Have been experiencing a loss of coolant for quite a while (VRS tdi) and has recently become worse. Used to be 3 weeks between needing a top up now its down to less than one. I  believe that the most common culprits are leaky waterpumps and possibly EGR valve? However I'm wondering if anyone has had a head crack because on a few occasions on startup the engine has refused to initially turn over, I've never experienced a hydraulic lock before so don't know how this manifests itself. The car is due a cam belt/ waterpump change but am reluctant to get that done if I've got other issues elsewhere. Oil consumption is also quite heavy. Car runs fine with no loss of power. 

 I still have an ongoing issue where I have been losing coolant which has progressively got worse over time but now I believe it to be from the intercooler - coincidentally I previously had an issue where the car would initially not turn over first time - almost like a failing starter or battery failure - It would throw a code "5456 starter will not turn" - I tested the voltage on the battery and it would drop to 8 volts when cranking - then one morning it did the same but never again - same day my car overheated to 130 and got an engine stop warning - the water pump had failed - so I believe the water pump was jamming up when starting and something broke within the water pump on that day - after replacing water pump I no longer have any issue with starting the car