Urgent - Leaky VR6 (coolant) advice please!

[mariojoshi 1]

Hey guys and gals!

Before you ask, yes, I've done a search already and read various bits of info, but just wanted to get a bit of advice from your experiences.

 

The story - Checked my coolant on saturday before doing about 150miles.

On monday my Dad took the car out to take my sister to work (His volvo wasn't too healthy) On the way back the coolant light came on and started flashing. He managed to get it home (a couple of miles) without it overheating. Temps were up a little but not ridiculously so.

 

So, he told me.. I wasn't too happy! Checked the coolant header bottle - nothing in it! :shock: A bit worrying.

 

Let the car cool and then topped it up with water (no G12 to hand) I had a big journey to do the next day, so I took the car out in the morning. The level dropped a little i think.. but not very much, the car heated up fine, themostat and fans kicked in ok, all temps ok. I did the 200mile round trip taking it really easy, stopping at each service point to check levels. All was fine. I actually got 40MPG out of her!

 

Got back, the next morning I had very little coolant again.

I've also got a minor oil leak, so i was cleaning/degreasing the sump/oil filter etc to try and pinpoint it.

 

Topped up the coolant bottle later in the day to find it leaking out (I'd noticed some wetness here before) somewhere that i think is near the thermostat housing and crack pipe? There's a plastic cover over the thing I want to look at.. so it's difficult to see! The odd thing is: when i put water in... it came back out until the coolant returns to a certain level in the bottle (lower than you'd normally want) If i put the cap back on the bottle.. that's the end of the matter. If i take the cap off again.. it starts leaking from the same place?

 

Now.. unless i'm just a complete idiot and the coolant level indicator is NOT the big plastic moulding line on the bottle.. then it's overflowing from somwhere and it's meant to do that. However, that doesn't explain why it starts leaking again with the cap off the bottle, nor why it ran very low on coolant in the first place, so there must be a problem!

 

Also - even though it has been topped up, the coolant light on the dash flashes 3 times on startup. Did it always do this? I've no idea! It goes out afterwards, that's for sure. Is it meant to do that?!

 

 

Thanks for reading.

If you've had similar symptoms and know that its defo the thermostat housing etc.. it'd be nice to get some advice. My main problem is not being able to see WHAT is leaking!

 

Ta,

Josh

[CorradoVR6-Turbo 0]

You will need to presure test the coolant system to find a leak if you cant see one,the pressure cap seal is a good point to start.

[mariojoshi 1]

Surely that's unlikely to be the problem if it isn't leaking from the coolant bottle?!

 

I've seen it dripping from where I think the thermostat housing and related pipes should be... but as previously mentioned, I can't actually see anything round there due to the various gubbins around/ on top of it!

[CorradoVR6-Turbo 0]

Surely that's unlikely to be the problem if it isn't leaking from the coolant bottle?!

 

I've seen it dripping from where I think the thermostat housing and related pipes should be... but as previously mentioned, I can't actually see anything round there due to the various gubbins around/ on top of it!

 

 

well start there then at the housing,its only plastic and over time it will heat up and distort and leak.

 

Good luck.

[Laughingboy 0]

Mines just done exactly this and it managed to take my head gasket with it as well due to my bloody low coolant light not working either. The plastic thermostat housing looked like its been chewed by the dog! :gag:

 

its only around £20-£30 from vag so get it changed pronto. :)

[mariojoshi 1]

OK boss!

 

Since I can't tell where the leak is.. I kinda just wanted some advice from experience.. so that's what you've given me!

My local mechanic is going to have a look at it tomorrow morning to see if they can confirm. Luckily, they are the type that will tell me what it is and ask me if I want to fix it (and give me some advice as to how to go about it) or if i want them to fix it. :)

[Jim Bowen 1]

i had exactly the same and was the thermostat housing, suddenly got a whole lot worse one day, but before that was hard to find any signs of a leak

[mariojoshi 1]

Thanks guys.

 

The car is over at my local spanner works at the moment. Explained the problem and what I thought it probably was based on having read a few things here and there... we'll see what they say after they pressure test it (just to make sure)

 

*EDIT*

 

It was a cracked thermostat housing. The garage are replacing the entire cooling section round there including the crack pipe etc.

Although I'd love a gruvenparts crack pipe and associated bits, I don't think I could justify it all. Yes they will last forever, but I doubt I'll actually have the car for another 12 years (which is how long standard parts last..) Don't get me wrong, I love my C, but i think maybe some bits of expenditure are a little uneccessary and OTT?!