Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 Hi over the last few weeks I have noticed that my coolant is going down ever so slightly in the resevoir. Its dropping by about and inch (maybe less) each week. Now obviously this should not be happening. I cant see any obvious leaks. I do have some white smoke from exhaust first thing in the morning but this quickly goes, Engine runs smoothly, no leaking into car form possible matrix problem. although did have the very odd slight whiff of coolant every now and then. Hopefully this is just a small leak from a pipe somewhere? worse case it could be Head gasket!!!!! Have booked into local garage to diagnose next Monday - wish me luck its something small! Any thoughts or comments are welcome Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 1 Posted January 19, 2015 If you're smelling coolant in the car, there's a good chance is could be the dreaded heater matrix. Remove the trim under the glovebox of the passenger side footwell and reach in to put your hand round the bottom / back of the heater box and see if you find any coolant.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks will give this a go. The smell is not there all the time in fact its only been a couple of times I have got a whiff of it. Not sure what's the worse - heater matrix or head gasket - i'm guessing matrix is the better of the two evils! Car does seem to run quite warm gauge reads 115 after an hour of driving - not sure if this is Ok or indicates anything! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
g0ldf1ng3r 13 Posted January 19, 2015 a common place for small coolant seepage is from the auxiliary electric water pump - they tend to keep working but produce a pink smear around where the seals are in the middle just in case http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bosch-Made-in-German-Zusatzwasse Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 a common place for small coolant seepage is from the auxiliary electric water pump - they tend to keep working but produce a pink smear around where the seals are in the middle just in case http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bosch-Made-in-German-Zusatzwasse Thanks - I will pass these bits of advice onto the garage but will have a look myself to see if I can see anything at the weekend Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
g0ldf1ng3r 13 Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks will give this a go. The smell is not there all the time in fact its only been a couple of times I have got a whiff of it. Not sure what's the worse - heater matrix or head gasket - i'm guessing matrix is the better of the two evils! Car does seem to run quite warm gauge reads 115 after an hour of driving - not sure if this is Ok or indicates anything! is that your oil temp readout? FYI quite often the dash readout for oil temp is above what is at the sensor - stealth measure mine & the dash was always 6 degrees higher than said sensor. IIRC this was measured using a laser temp reader tool of some form rather than your water temp? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
g0ldf1ng3r 13 Posted January 19, 2015 also, another thing that comes to mind... do you have a black or a blue expansion chamber cap? if it is black, get yourself a blue one from VW as the early black ones are known to allow seepage. normally identified by the aforementioned pink tinge crust around the middle of the chamber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 1 Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks will give this a go. The smell is not there all the time in fact its only been a couple of times I have got a whiff of it. Not sure what's the worse - heater matrix or head gasket - i'm guessing matrix is the better of the two evils! Car does seem to run quite warm gauge reads 115 after an hour of driving - not sure if this is Ok or indicates anything! Is that the water or oil temperature? And yeah, heater matrix is better that having to do the head gasket no doubt about it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 Is that the water or oil temperature? And yeah, heater matrix is better that having to do the head gasket no doubt about it! Jim - Don't think I have an oil temp gauge do I?? Its water I believe?! its the gauge on the left of fuel?! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 also, another thing that comes to mind... do you have a black or a blue expansion chamber cap? if it is black, get yourself a blue one from VW as the early black ones are known to allow seepage. normally identified by the aforementioned pink tinge crust around the middle of the chamber Its Black - will check for any pink crust - is this on the inside of the chamber? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
g0ldf1ng3r 13 Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) Jim - Don't think I have an oil temp gauge do I?? Its water I believe?! its the gauge on the left of fuel?! oil temps are viewable using the MFA & clicking until you see the oil sign ;) hmmmm 115 water temps definitely doesn't sound right. however, it could be a sensor or stat or gauge issue rather than running too hot when my VR was at stealth I recall vince saying a general rule of thumb for oil/water temps is that oil would normally be about 10 degrees higher than water. thus I would check what your dash readout for oil temps are when the water is reading high. if you find your reported oil temp is lower than your water it would probably point to a sensor etc Edited January 19, 2015 by g0ldf1ng3r Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
g0ldf1ng3r 13 Posted January 19, 2015 Its Black - will check for any pink crust - is this on the inside of the chamber? no m8, the crust will be on the outside of the chamber. the black caps are known to allow seepage when the system is pressurised, this then dribbles down the outside of the expansion chamber & forms the mentioned crust get yourself a blue cap from VW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks..... will go for a drive later and check temps on both oil and water and let you know - will also check for the crud on the outside I do love this site!!!! And the advice you guys can give Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
g0ldf1ng3r 13 Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks..... will go for a drive later and check temps on both oil and water and let you know - will also check for the crud on the outside I do love this site!!!! And the advice you guys can give Cheers happy to share experiences & help out fellow forum members - its what makes this place & the community we have rather special :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 oil temps are viewable using the MFA & clicking until you see the oil sign ;) hmmmm 115 water temps definitely doesn't sound right. however, it could be a sensor or stat or gauge issue rather than running too hot when my VR was at stealth I recall vince saying a general rule of thumb for oil/water temps is that oil would normally be about 10 degrees higher than water. thus I would check what your dash readout for oil temps are when the water is reading high. if you find your reported oil temp is lower than your water it would probably point to a sensor etc OK just been for a drive - drove for 25 mins Water temp 112 and oil 102 Stopped at a mates for 20 mins and then drove home another 15 mins Water temp 117 (ish) and oil 112 - parked up and at for 5 mins oil temp started to drop and water temp stayed about the same - I could here fan running - when turned off ignition I think one fan stopped and another kept going - how does all that sound And is this the correct part - is it the same price / more / less direct from VAG? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Corrado-Coolant-Expansion-Bottle-Tank-Cap-/331093750676?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d16b9b394 Thanks very much Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 Oh and there is not actually any crud round the expansion tank Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Storm Guy 0 Posted January 19, 2015 ,,...... And is this the correct part - is it the same price / more / less direct from VAG? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Corrado-Coolant-Expansion-Bottle-Tank-Cap-/331093750676?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d16b9b394 Thanks very much Yes thats the part - Or try http://www.gsfcarparts.com/parts/cooling-heating/cooling-system/radiator-cap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanl82 23 Posted January 19, 2015 They are all the same across the Vw range up until recent models. (maybe even new models?) so don't be worried about finding one specific for the Corrado. Dealer is probably cheaper than that one in the link but not by much if you include postage from Greece! Probably get one from a local breakers yard for £2. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 Ok there are quite a few on eBay for about half that price for other vw cars... But they do look identical ... Thought they may be different size or fitting. Seems like there is a premium on the ones marked Corrado!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 22 Posted January 19, 2015 How old is the aux belt driven waterpump? I've seen them where the fins have completely corroded away Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 No idea. Bought the car in December. There is a big file with it but no mention of that being replaced. So I guess it could still have the original one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted January 19, 2015 OK just been for a drive - drove for 25 mins Water temp 112 and oil 102 Stopped at a mates for 20 mins and then drove home another 15 mins Water temp 117 (ish) and oil 112 - parked up and at for 5 mins oil temp started to drop and water temp stayed about the same - I could here fan running - when turned off ignition I think one fan stopped and another kept going - how does all that sound And is this the correct part - is it the same price / more / less direct from VAG? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Corrado-Coolant-Expansion-Bottle-Tank-Cap-/331093750676?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d16b9b394 Thanks very much Am sure thats quite hot for the coolant temp, should sit around 90, do the coolant pipes feel hard after a drive? The fans would be on at 117, thats for sure. Am they both joined by a belt so probably just changing speed when you turned ignition off. The cooling guide thread on here by Dinkus is really worth a read, explains the whole lot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 19, 2015 Cheers Jim - not checked the pipes will do - should they be bard after driving - take it they should be Will take a look at the guide - cheers Goldfinger mentions earlier in this thread that oil temp should be higher - but it is lower - se perhaps his suggestion of a sensor not working is possible? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted January 19, 2015 I'd be looking for where the water is going, that should be the 1st thing to worry about. Oil temp should be higher really, if you think that's inside the engine and the coolant is trying to cool the engine and oil, the coolant wouldn't be doing much if its hotter. You can check the sensors if you have access to vagcom. If the pipes feel really hard and looks a little bloated near the clamps its a sign of the coolant system over pressurising, it will usually blow the pressure out the header tank and you should notice some water marks around the middle of it, or underneath it. Are all of the hoses getting warm after a drive? Could be the thermostat stuck closed causing the overheating. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuggs1 10 Posted January 20, 2015 Looks like I will be busy this weekend. All but the vagcom as don't have access ... But will see what h can find before I take her into the garage on Monday ... Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
