2001 1.9 TDI 115 PD BHP

[thebullettrain]

I have a Seat with a 1.9 TDI, 115 BHP PD engine. For the past 10k or so miles it seems to be getting though engine coolant faster than an MP could put through his expenses.

I have done some research and it appears that VW engines from this time have developed head gasket problems. Howvever, someobody else said that my car radiator may need replacing.

Has anybody here come across this?

[Defcon5]

Any of the usual signs of HGF? The coolant must be coing somewhere - eithr out of the exhaust, into the oil, or leaking to atmos wether by high pressure gas when hot or dripping out

[thebullettrain]

I cannot see any obvious leaks at all. As for the usual signs for a HGF - I wouldn't know what to look for!

[Defcon5]

Mayo in the oil (around filler cap or on dipstick) or excessive steam from exhaust depending on where the failure has occured IIRC

[thebullettrain]

Nothing like that at all. I did a thorough check yesterday and apart from the car drinking loads of coolant everything else seems fine.

[richierich37]

change the cap to water bottle/holder!

[Tame Technician]

have you pressure tested the cooling system and looked for leaks?? is more likely to be an outward leak that the head gasket.

Check all around the rad and right at the back of the head where there is a plastic housing, very common leaks here.

[s2driveruk]

speaking from experience with an a6 tdi with the same engine, get it looked at and diagnosed asap.

Mine was roasting through coolant at a rate of about 1ltr every 250miles when on a long motorway/autoroute journey. It turned out to be a gasket failure but went un-diagnosed for so long (3 audi dealerships had it, never failed a pressure test or gas test) but the coolant was escaping into the engine and being burnt off - so no outwood signs of a leak on the coolant circuit. One Master Tech at Camberley Audi even told me it was the turbocharger...until i pointed out its not cooled by the coolant!!!!

£2.5k later and the car was fixed...the head had to be machined loads to get a flat mating surface which then caused problems with a replacement gasket etc.

I have to say that the water circuit on these cars is terrible, leaks like a sieve, another candidate being the right side of the block where the hardline exits/enters it, the rubber seal can vibrate and fatigue causing the seal to weap lots too.

Hope that helps,
David