'07 Golf 1.4 losing coolant in cold weather.

sailordog13

Hi,

My wife's Golf has taken to showing the red alarm symbol on the dash for low coolant level, intermittently.
Before a long journey she now tops up the reservoir with water, just in case.
We have had the system checked for leaks, and none were found.

It happened once or twice last winter, and now is happening again, with a little more frequency.

The car has very low mileage, and is mostly used around town, a couple of miles a day.

Can anybody through light from experience on this problem ?

Ps, reservoir is clean, and not bubbling or smelling of exhaust.

Ronnie Beck

sailordog13 wrote: »

Hi,

My wife's Golf has taken to showing the red alarm symbol on the dash for low coolant level, intermittently.
Before a long journey she now tops up the reservoir with water, just in case.

Is the coolant level dropping? How much water are you adding? Is the coolant level low when the light comes on?

sailordog13

How did I forget an important piece of info like that !
When it goes off it takes approx 0.5 - 1.0 ltr to bring it back above the min mark on the reservoir.

At this stage I'm considering a trap on the overflow from the expansion tank if this car even has one. I cant see the water leaking anywhere.

I'm pretty sure its not leaking on the cabin heater side, its not from the rad or the pump, fairly sure its not in to any oil or combustion spaces in the head or block.....

The fact that its only happening in the cold weather leads me to think along the lines of expansion and contraction.

My wife use's the heater all year around, (sensitive creature that she is), so it isn't the sudden usage of this.

Thanks for reading !

Ronnie Beck

sailordog13 wrote: »

How did I forget an important piece of info like that !
When it goes off it takes approx 0.5 - 1.0 ltr to bring it back above the min mark on the reservoir.

At this stage I'm considering a trap on the overflow from the expansion tank if this car even has one. I cant see the water leaking anywhere.

I'm pretty sure its not leaking on the cabin heater side, its not from the rad or the pump, fairly sure its not in to any oil or combustion spaces in the head or block.....

The fact that its only happening in the cold weather leads me to think along the lines of expansion and contraction.

My wife use's the heater all year around, (sensitive creature that she is), so it isn't the sudden usage of this.

Thanks for reading !

I'd take off the undertray and go looking for leaks. Keep an eye for a puddle in the tray to help narrow down your search. Areas were coolant pipes go in and out of the engine are common spots. There are plastic flanges bolted onto the block to attach pipes too. Be suspicious of pink salt.

Maybe it's worse in winter due to the expansion and contraction of the metal and plastic rather than the coolant.

Our man in Havana

Maybe it's worse in winter due to the expansion and contraction of the metal and plastic rather than the coolant.

Had the exact same problem with a polo before. It was the metal contracting in very cold weather.

Ronnie Beck

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Had the exact same problem with a polo before. It was the metal contracting in very cold weather.

My transporter is at it at the moment. The coolant flange beside the water pump. Not sure if it's getting worse because of the cold or just getting worse.

OP, be carefull filling up with water only. Your diluting your anti-freeze all the time. It should be 50/50 water/G13.

Our man in Havana

For the love of God don't put pure water back in. I would use neat antifreeze.

Ronnie Beck

To to be clear I meant the car cooling system should be 50/50, at least 40% g13 anyway. You should have been adding a 50/50 mix all along. Probably holds 5/6/7 litres in total.

wonski

Our man in Havana wrote: »

For the love of God don't put pure water back in. I would use neat antifreeze.

I had a lucky escape last Monday. Dropped the car in for a service and while chatting to the mechanic he checked my coolant - the tool he had showed -5C:eek:
Didn't put a drop of water in 2 years, can only imagine how bad the reading could be if i did. Antifreeze only to top up at this time of the year.

sailordog13

Agree on the anti freeze water mix !!!

Only being topping up with water as a stopgap, its booked in for a short back and sides tomorrow, so lets hope they can locate a leak this time.

Will get them to purge and recharge the system with antifreeze, in case we get cold weather !

4odh4n

my girlfriends 07 1.4 golf has been at the exact same thing the last couple of weeks, but going by the replies already posted it seems to be a common enough complaint. reassuring to know what the cause is though!

Hal1

I noticed this too today whilst doing routine checks. The level was just above the min mark so I just topped up with filtered water. I have a gauge to test it's freezing level and ah sure it's grand . There was a very slight hiss from teh expansion tank so I just opened it to relieve the pressure. I will be keeping a close eye on this.

Ronnie Beck

Hal1 wrote: »

I noticed this too today whilst doing routine checks. The level was just above the min mark so I just topped up with filtered water. I have a gauge to test it's freezing level and ah sure it's grand . There was a very slight hiss from teh expansion tank so I just opened it to relieve the pressure. I will be keeping a close eye on this.

Don't do that. The drop in pressure lowers the boiling point and can create air pockets. It think it's normal for the cap to release pressure to a certain level.

I've never heard mine hissing though...

I have a feeling my cap valve may be stuck closed and over pressurizing the system causing leaks. Anyone heard of this happening?

sailordog13

Looking like its a new water pump to go in to her

Wet trail visable from that area, new pump ordered, and timing belt.... while their in there (88K).

sailordog13

2 timing belts in a modern Golf !! Who'd have guessed it?

Water pump seems to have been the root of the problem. 4 days and no low level since.

Thanks for all advice and tips.

Anti freeze mixed in anticipation of a white Xmas !!

wonski

sailordog13 wrote: »

2 timing belts in a modern Golf !! Who'd have guessed it?

Water pump seems to have been the root of the problem. 4 days and no low level since.

Thanks for all advice and tips.

Anti freeze mixed in anticipation of a white Xmas !!

What do you mean by 2 timing belts???

Ronnie Beck

wonski wrote: »

What do you mean by 2 timing belts???

Auxiliary and cam belt I would guess. Very much doubt it has a good old injection pump belt.