Coolant leak at cylinder head?

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.

Reply to
Jem Berkes
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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. ;-)

Reply to
dave AKA vwdoc1

"dave AKA vwdoc1" wrote in news:kSXSh.2194$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr17.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.

Reply to
Jem Berkes

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

SFC

"Jem Berkes" schreef in bericht news:Xns990F10CDAA693jbuserspc9org@216.196.97.131...

Reply to
SFC

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