1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

[R-Audi]

So I need a little bit of help with my sisters Jetta...
She can't make it a week without having to completely fill up her coolant, and is supposed to drive to Kamloops this weekend.
She has had it into two shops, (Both highly regarded VW shops) both have said no visible leaks, and pressure test came out fine... where tf is the coolant going?

[turbomeyers]

Re: 1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

coolant flange drivers side of the head , waterpump , tstat housin, , all of these will leave a pink slug trail . turbo coolant line ( pink fuzz arround the fittings) or a head gasket gaskets are rare on these cars but it is a possibility

[R_Ethug]

Re: 1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

doh mark! poor lil jetta

[R-Audi]

Re: 1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

According to both Tunedub and Calgay Autoworks there is no visible signs of leaks.... so no pink slugs anywhere!

[R_Ethug]

Re: 1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

could the tank itself just be cracked like ours do?

[R-Audi]

Re: 1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

I havent seen the car myself... so I cant say. but I would assume either of the shops would have seen that. Can the car burn coolant? Thats pretty damn bad though right? as in block problems?

[R_Ethug]

Re: 1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

woulnd't that be a head gasket then? like sludgy oil?? i'm sure they would have looked there

[Kor]

Re: 1.8T Help! Coolant loss.....

I would bet its the reservoir tank or the nozzle on the tank where the hose connects.

Its hard to see when the fluid drips down one of the hoses on the bottom side, and it can collect somewhere and then just blow out when moving (but not when stationary). Try parking on a slope over night and see what happens then.

Run fingers along all the hoses and feel for wet coolant.

I have basically never heard of it being a head gasket issue on a 1.8T. Just issues with pumps, hoses and the infamous plastic reservoir.

Also if there was coolant in the oil you can easily see it on the dipstick ("milkshake") and you will also have funny smelling exhaust smoke with water in it like steam coming out. You can also pull a spark plug, sometimes coolant will taint the tip and you can see it on there as like a colored sludge or dried gunk.

If you do have coolant in the oil, it will eventually wreck your catalytic converter and you can just hold some paper near your exhaust and it will turn funny colors.