Coolant problems

[Trev]

Dealer has confirmed engine ordered and due to arrive this week. Will be fitted next week. And I will make sure they confirm they have set the ECU properly.

 

[Trev]

It’s been a while but we finally have our Cali back with new engine fitted. Also tape fitted to roof (no corrosion found).

Hopefully this the last of the problems but coolant level has dropped below minimum but as @vwguru has said they can take a couple of thousand miles to settle. Fingers crossed.

Recenty VWCC got in touch to check all was OK (the guy dealing with our case is almost a family member now given how much we’ve spoken). As a gesture for all the aggro we’ve endured they sent through £200 of shopping vouchers. Doesn’t undo anything but it seems they now have a vague idea about what customer service is.

Overall this has been a very frustrating and annoying experience. By simply listening to a customer dealer and VW could have fixed this months ago. Rant over.

Finally a heart felt thanks for all the support and advice provide by his forum. In particular VW guru your advice and guidance was invaluable. Thank you.

 

[Trev]

Latest update on the saga .....
New engine fitted.
Problem occurred again on half term trip away.
Back to dealer. Hours on the phone to dealer and VWCS. Long story short (and believe me even this chapter is a looong story) VW and dealer have agreed to replace vehicle with £ contribution from me. I had to keep politely but firmly pushing. Having sunk so much money into buying the Cali there was no way I was being fobbed off with continual repairs. All involved agreed no one could be confident they could fix the problem. VW contribution was about £400 more than mine! They effectively put it all on the dealer. The dealer eventually came up trumps as they have had to swallow a lot of £ on this case. New vehicle arrives in a few weeks. Fingers crossed for this one. Another interesting nugget of info in all of this is the division between VW (the brand) and the dealer. Customers get shunted between the two. Apparently though some dealers are still owned by VW (not in this case) but worth knowing if any of you get told it’s for the other party to sort out if you have problems (“they” may be the same “party”).

 

[California4x4]

Latest update on the saga .....
New engine fitted.
Problem occurred again on half term trip away.
Back to dealer. Hours on the phone to dealer and VWCS. Long story short (and believe me even this chapter is a looong story) VW and dealer have agreed to replace vehicle with £ contribution from me. I had to keep politely but firmly pushing. Having sunk so much money into buying the Cali there was no way I was being fobbed off with continual repairs. All involved agreed no one could be confident they could fix the problem. VW contribution was about £400 more than mine! They effectively put it all on the dealer. The dealer eventually came up trumps as they have had to swallow a lot of £ on this case. New vehicle arrives in a few weeks. Fingers crossed for this one. Another interesting nugget of info in all of this is the division between VW (the brand) and the dealer. Customers get shunted between the two. Apparently though some dealers are still owned by VW (not in this case) but worth knowing if any of you get told it’s for the other party to sort out if you have problems (“they” may be the same “party”).

I wish you the most wonderful luck with your new camper.

 

[Legin]

Finally you get a good outcome. Increasingly I find VW Group a bit of of a corrupt shambles. I own porsche skoda and VW but the shine is gone. Whats happening to your old one ? If its to be resold then it would be good to publicise the reg number on here once your past the point of any U turn.

 

[Trev]

I wish you the most wonderful luck with your new camper.

Many thanks. Can’t wait for it to arrive.

 

[Trev]

Finally you get a good outcome. Increasingly I find VW Group a bit of of a corrupt shambles. I own porsche skoda and VW but the shine is gone. Whats happening to your old one ? If its to be resold then it would be good to publicise the reg number on here once your past the point of any U turn.

Likewise we have had many previous VWs and currently a couple of Skoda’s all problem free. It’s being repaired but was put on a private plate from new which we are keeping.

 

[California4x4]

G

Finally you get a good outcome. Increasingly I find VW Group a bit of of a corrupt shambles. I own porsche skoda and VW but the shine is gone. Whats happening to your old one ? If its to be resold then it would be good to publicise the reg number on here once your past the point of any U turn.

Good point!

 

[Trollhunter]

Hi, just wondering, is it expensive for the mechanic to find out if you have a leaking egr cooler or cracked cylinder heads? Have had a drop in coolant recently and vw found no problems on initial inspection and topped it up, but level has dropped again after 200miles? Thought I may take it in again and suggest what they should look at.

 

[Trev]

Hi, just wondering, is it expensive for the mechanic to find out if you have a leaking egr cooler or cracked cylinder heads? Have had a drop in coolant recently and vw found no problems on initial inspection and topped it up, but level has dropped again after 200miles? Thought I may take it in again and suggest what they should look at.

Yes it is a big job. When I had my first coolant problem the dealer said they couldn’t find a problem but it could be the cylinder head but “it’s a big job” to remove and check hence they didn’t and eventually a new engine and the saga continued.

 

[TripleBee]

Hi, just wondering, is it expensive for the mechanic to find out if you have a leaking egr cooler or cracked cylinder heads? Have had a drop in coolant recently and vw found no problems on initial inspection and topped it up, but level has dropped again after 200miles? Thought I may take it in again and suggest what they should look at.

Check your engine oil level from time to time. If your engine oil level rises, you might have an oil cooler leak inside the engine.

 

[Trollhunter]

Thanks. I see this morning the coolant level has dropped a bit more. Checked the dip stick and oil fill cap for signs of milky fluid, all looks clean and normal. Car starts perfectly. Surely if a half liter or so of coolant had found its way into the engine I would notice some problems running? Would a pressure test be the way to go to find a leak in the cables?

 

[Trollhunter]

I see this damp circle on the ground and a very slow drip (above the glass). Am trying to catch some to check if it’s pink

 

[TripleBee]

I see this damp circle on the ground and a very slow drip (above the glass). Am trying to catch some to check if it’s pink

View attachment 50968

This might be the airco outlet at the front. If it is clear, it is probably airco, or just water outlet from the roof.
If it is pink, there will be a leak, but that is a very unusual place to leak coolant.

With coolant in the oil, your engine will not be running bad, unless it gets really overfilled (2 to 5 liters).
Check your dipstick. If it is above maximum, there might be coolant in the sump. This you could check by unscrewing the oil plug of the sump, and catch the oil. If it is water or pink first, then you have coolant in the engine oil, because the oil is lighter than water, the water sinks to the bottom and the oil stays on top of it.

Don't want to worry you, but those engines MIGHT have that problem. Otherwise keep searching for external leakage.

 

[Trollhunter]

This might be the airco outlet at the front. If it is clear, it is probably airco, or just water outlet from the roof.
If it is pink, there will be a leak, but that is a very unusual place to leak coolant.

With coolant in the oil, your engine will not be running bad, unless it gets really overfilled (2 to 5 liters).
Check your dipstick. If it is above maximum, there might be coolant in the sump. This you could check by unscrewing the oil plug of the sump, and catch the oil. If it is water or pink first, then you have coolant in the engine oil, because the oil is lighter than water, the water sinks to the bottom and the oil stays on top of it.

Don't want to worry you, but those engines MIGHT have that problem. Otherwise keep searching for external leakage.

Is the oil plug of the sump easy to get at without a lift? Maybe I should give that a check before spending money on a mechanic.

 

[Trollhunter]

The liquid is totally clear I guess I need to remove the plastic cover to see the sump

 

[TripleBee]

yes, you need to unscrew 6 bolts. Then you can reach the sump.
If your van is lowered, there is less space underneath.
It is easier if you can stand underneath the car, or have more clearance.

 

[TripleBee]

And at least put on a new seal to the sump plug, or a new plug with seal, because otherwise you might have oil leakage .

 

[Trollhunter]

Thanks TripleBee, looks like I know what I will be doing the rest of the day its not lowered, but maybe I can use my levelling blocks to get a bit of extra clearance.

 

[TripleBee]

I hope it is not what I think it is, but on the other hand, than you will know what is causing the coolant shortage.

If you have coolant in your engine oil, it will most probably be the enging oil cooler. Then you will need to replace that part (the part where the oil filter is mounted on), including a new seal!

 

[Trollhunter]

I hope it is not what I think it is, but on the other hand, than you will know what is causing the coolant shortage.

If you have coolant in your engine oil, it will most probably be the enging oil cooler. Then you will need to replace that part (the part where the oil filter is mounted on), including a new seal!

Im at the plug, just wondering if I slowly unscrew it, can I go till it drips and tighten again or is it an all or nothing and I have to let all the oil out?

 

[Trollhunter]

Got a few drops out, that looks like oil to me!

 

[TripleBee]

Indeed.
Might be another problem then.
Carefully check all hoses, connections to the engine block, radiator, coolant reservoir for pinkish traces.

 

[Lightning]

Indeed.
Might be another problem then.
Carefully check all hoses, connections to the engine block, radiator, coolant reservoir for pinkish traces.

Also check if there is a smell coming fr

Indeed.
Might be another problem then.
Carefully check all hoses, connections to the engine block, radiator, coolant reservoir for pinkish traces.

Also check if it smells odd when you put the heater on, which may indicate a leak in the heater matrix.

 

[Legin]

Drain some of the oil into a clear jar then leave it to settle, a decent quantity. The water if its there will separate from the oil. worth getting 100% confirmation.