1.6 fsi coolant leak/ warning

C

Choppski

Member
Hi guys, just need some advice.

I've been suffering with some coolant loss, which judging by the pink stains around the expansion tank and beneath it, appears to be where the issue is localised. I can not see any splits in the pipes when hot or cold. I've ordered a new end cap just in case but not replaced yet. The loss is from max to min within 3-4 weeks.

Has anyone had issues with the tank centre seem failing? I ask beacause when I looked tonight there is a fresh accumulation of pink fluid around the top part of the centre seem. It could come from the end cap and dripping down...

The other part of the issue is the yellow engine light comes on for 20 seconds in the morning and then goes off. I'm sure it's connected.

Thoughts?
 
I've had two coolant leaks on my FSI in the past year. The FSI runs quite hot and puts a lot of demand on it's cooling system. Audi also decided to go down the route of plastic coolant pipes in lots of places, and they are kind of reaching the end of their life now as a part. Typically you end up with one cracking or breaking after a service when they get disturbed.

My ones that went were:

The Y piece coolant pipe just back from the engine looking towards the car
Heater Matrix pipe

The Y piece one was easy to spot, and took a couple of minutes to change, then top up with coolant and ensure the system bleeds itself. The VAG hose clip tool is really needed for this.

The heater matrix one happened when I put a lot of mileage on the car in the space of a few weeks, and it's coolant went down, but I could never track where it was going since I normally do very short journeys. It was only when the AA guy pressurised the system that you could see the problem.

Both issues popped up after services or jobs being done under the bonnet.

I've also had an expansion tank lid breakdown with age it seems and had that changed too.
 
Just to update.

I have noticed the coolant in the header tank 'boiling' when the engine is up to temp but the fan doesn't kick in at all ( I can only get the fan to come on if I switch on the a/c ). So I suspect either a head gasket leak with the gases entering the coolant system or a termostat issue which isn't turning the fan on to keep temp down.

I'm more in favour of the fan issue because there is no black grim or oil in the header tank. But is there a simple test for a gasket leak?

The other symptom is that the car loses coolant over night, could be it is boiling out of the cap on header tank because it doesn't cool fast enough whemN pRked up from a commute Home.

Any comments or advice always appreciated!
 
I've had fan failure on the FSi causing overheating / hot running and subsequent head failure.
Thought initially Fan ECU but ultimately it was fan at fault.

Pulling the connector on the temperature sender in the lower radiator hose should kickstart the fan or alternatively VCDS / VagCom can be used to run output tests which also include the fan and would confirm whether radiator fan is working.

If fan has failed, then you're likley in for Fan + Coolant expansion tank + hoses +/- thermostat and radiator pipe to rear of engine block + headgasket + cambelt and waterpump.

I had this lot done and a total bill nearly £2000 last year- that was before the misfires and replacement of Lower intake Manifold and a full set of injectors.

Hopefully head is intact - sniff test / pressure test would indicate what's going on although symptoms sound suggestive of head failure due to fan.

Sorry. Hope you have good news soon.

I'm back with Misfires again despite all this work although ECU reset seems to have worked for now.

Regards

Pete
 
Hi.
Last summer my A2 1.4 TDI started to loose coolant over a few days. Noticed that there were a LOT of preassure in the system when opening the cap on the tank. I could not find any leaks, but tightened all the clamps I could find. Off for summer hollidays and long drives in the Norwegian mountains, the car started to overheat every single uphill.

The problem was a blown headgasket. The preassurebuildup caused the coolant to be forced out the cap, (As it should when the preassure builds.) and when enough coolant had been lost; overheating.

The headgasket is renewed, and there is no more problem with coolant loss.

Regards....
 
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