1998 Golf, 2L, 4 cylinder. I've had a slow but steady coolant leak for a
while. I top up the expansion tank and after a couple weeks the level has
dropped below minimum. Not a very fast leak, but it bothered me. Never seen
anything drip underneath the car, and the water pump was examined recently
and there were no leaks there either.

I had a garage examine it again, they said the coolant housing at the
cylinder head needs to be replaced. However when I examine that housing
myself (looks like a plastic part at the side of the engine) I don't see
any evidence of a coolant drip. Would I expect to see some white residue
there? I don't have any other testing equipment.

To hopefully make it easier to see, today I just washed down that whole
area and am hoping that a leak will be visible, but no signs yet.

--
Jem Berkes
www.sysdesign.ca

Usually that pink coolant leak leaves a trail of residue somewhere if it
leaks out that much.

You could try a new cap on the bottle. ;-)
YES those plastic coolant flanges go bad and they are relatively cheap at
the dealer. They deform and deteriorate causing leaks. You might see the
leak on the top of the transmission or travelling down the cyl. head under
this flange.

You can pressurize the system and watch for leaks and even check your
radiator cap. Takes a little ingenuity, a bike tire pump, tire valve, some
hose, clamps and a bolt. Make your own coolant system pressure tester. ;-)



"Jem Berkes" <jb (AT) users (DOT) pc9.org> wrote

"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote in
news:kSXSh.2194$Q23.2069 (AT) newssvr17 (DOT) news.prodigy.net:

Thanks! I will have to look more carefully for the leak. Maybe it has been
travelling on the underside of that assembly connected to the cylinder
head.

--
Jem Berkes
www.sysdesign.ca

If you replace the plastic flanges, replace both of them (front and side)
They are very cheap!

SFC

"Jem Berkes" <jb (AT) users (DOT) pc9.org> schreef in bericht
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