Radiator leak

[Imrans]

Hi I have to top up every day with water and that’s only driving local . Took to local garage can’t find leak? Any ideas

[Steve Q]

Welcome to the forum Imran, you'll find the members on here are a friendly and helpful bunch :) 

What exactly have the garage said? 

The three places where you'd expect a coolant leak is either from the radiator, pipework leading to or from the radiator or from a failed head gasket. 

What colour is the smoke coming out of the exhaust? 

Cheers

Steve

[Magnet]

Hello Imram,

When you say the local garage couldn't find any leaks:-  Did they pressurise the cooling system and leave it pressurised and most importantly - confirmed that the pressure they applied did not drop off? If not, I would suggest you find another garage to check this. Did they check the operating pressure in the system when it is hot? 

Sorry, but more questions:- How much coolant are you adding on a daily basis, and are you checking it when cold, and to what mark are you filling it? 

Last question :- Is there any smoke evident when the engine is hot and revved to around 2000rpm and held at that rev. for a couple of minutes? 

Kind regards,

Gareth.

[cliffcoggin]

Imran. Are you sure you are not over filling the header tank to the point where the excess is expelled? Otherwise I suggest you take it to a garage that will carry out a full pressure test.

[Imrans]

Hi

thanks for replies. The garage had car for few days , pressure tested, added antifreeze neat, so if it leaked it would show . But there were no sign of leak. We had AGR valve problem they thought may be it’s throwing water out through exhaust?. 

So i just fill with water on daily basis with few litres?

[cliffcoggin]

Do you mean EGR valve perhaps? Even so, I don't understand how a fault with the EGR valve can cause coolant loss unless there is a water jacket on it.  Maybe somebody can enlighten both of us.

[Magnet]

Hello Imran,

I too am confused and indeed concerned for you. If you are saying you are you are putting in 5 litres a day (that's just over a gallon!) then you really should not be using this car- there must be somrthing seriously wrong with the cooling system. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

[niedzial1983]

Change your garage. If they cant find a leak then they most likely not looking hard enough . It may not leak when the car off as there is no pressure in the system ....does it smoke white? Black? Blue ?

[rvictor]

Hi, I have a audi a3 1.8 tfsi petrol. Lately I have noticed that my coolant is on minimum. I have topped it up to just under maximum. I have travelled up north which was a 4 hour drive and drove back another 4 hours and my coolant was just above the minimum.  Am I just getting paranoid or am I losing a bit of coolant. My temp gauge is perfect on 90 and there is ko leaksnor anything. Can someone advise further please.

[Magnet]

Hello Rizwan, 

Thanks for joining. 
Any undue exhaust smoke when held at a steady 2000rpm for two minutes after a 10 mile run?
Could you let us know.

If nothing untoward there, it might be worth investigating in a new reservoir cap, before getting further investigations carried out. 
Mileage as a matter of interest? 
Kind regards,

Gareth.