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Mystery coolant leak

  • 17-04-2013 6:03am
    #1
    duploelabs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,986 ✭✭✭✭


    in a '96 1.4 vw polo.
    coolant reservoir emptying after 50 miles. No mayo around the oil cap. No leak in the heating system. Pressure tested whilst stationary and engine off with no drop in pressure. Mechanic is stumped as well.
    Any ideas?


Comments

  • #2
    Anan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,815 ✭✭✭✭Anan1


    It might only be leaking under pressure - ie when the engine's running under load. Your mechanic really should know this.


  • #3
    duploelabs
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,986 ✭✭✭✭duploelabs


    Anan1 wrote: »
    It might only be leaking under pressure - ie when the engine's running under load. Your mechanic really should know this.

    Well that's why he pressure tested it


  • #4
    mockysham
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30 ✭mockysham


    a friend of mine had the same problem with a 01 astra he bought a bottle of sort of sealer and problem solved dont know what the name of the stuff is but try a motor factors


  • #5
    S28382
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭S28382


    I had the same problem in my car it turned out there was a tiny hole in the bottom corner of the rad and over a period of a few weeks the coolant was dripping out of it i was topping up the coolant every month, i only noticed it where the leak was when i had the car over a pit. It always pays to give the cooling system a good going over.


  • #6
    H3llR4iser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,028 ✭✭✭H3llR4iser


    duploelabs wrote: »
    in a '96 1.4 vw polo.
    coolant reservoir emptying after 50 miles. No mayo around the oil cap. No leak in the heating system. Pressure tested whilst stationary and engine off with no drop in pressure. Mechanic is stumped as well.
    Any ideas?

    I have a very similar problem - overflow tank emptying within a couple of days, pressure test coming back fine, no overheating at all (more often than not, a pretty significant leak also prevents the system to pressurize, the water then boils and the radiator can't really cool it down efficiently).

    In my case, it turned out to be the water pump leaking pretty badly. I have to bring it in for a timing belt job next week anyway, so everything will be taken care of. Have your mechanic take a look at the pump in your car...


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