Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Folks
Hoping someone can put me out of my misery. Had a new engine fitted about 12 months ago and ever since had the odd coolant leak which kept moving to different places. The radiator then sprang a leak so had that changed about a month ago. It was the only part of the cooling system I didn’t replace when I had the new engine installed. I’m still getting random coolant leaks from different places but seems only when the engine is/has cooled down after a long run. After turning off the engine I can check and nothing. Come back to the van about an hour later and I various coolant drips. I think I’ve sorted one leak then get a different one the next time out. It’s driving me nuts and I’m always nervous on a run.
I’ve bled the system multiple times, no air apparent. Changed the dalek cap although it was new to start with, just in case it was faulty. Clips are nipped up well. Conscious of doing them too tight but they are done up. At a complete loss and downright frustrated / p’d off to be honest. Any thoughts/advice please?
Thanks

About twelve months? Still under warranty? Take it back. If dripping from engine it could be sorted out under warranty.
Start listing the whereabouts of these ramdom leaks? Get a large sheet of cardboard under your camper and place it where you believe it is losing coolant. That will give you some idea where to start.
Does the radiator fan cycle as it should?
Either coolant clips are poor quality or non VW and not tight enough. Or still air in system. When hot after a run is it moving coolant via the cap to the container behind the flap?
Hoe often are you replacing lost coolant and how much?
It is easy peasy to make a home made pressure tester from a used coolant cap and a tyre valve. Then use a bicycle pump to add a little pressure via the expansion bottle.
Or pay a garage to give a pressure test cooling system to 1 bar and find leaks.

Out of interest. Where did you get your engine?

maxstu wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 09:02 About twelve months? Still under warranty? Take it back. If dripping from engine it could be sorted out under warranty.
Start listing the whereabouts of these ramdom leaks? Get a large sheet of cardboard under your camper and place it where you believe it is losing coolant. That will give you some idea where to start.
Does the radiator fan cycle as it should?
Either coolant clips are poor quality or non VW and not tight enough. Or still air in system. When hot after a run is it moving coolant via the cap to the container behind the flap?
Hoe often are you replacing lost coolant and how much?
It is easy peasy to make a home made pressure tester from a used coolant cap and a tyre valve. Then use a bicycle pump to add a little pressure via the expansion bottle.
Or pay a garage to give a pressure test cooling system to 1 bar and find leaks.

Thanks. It’s not the engine, that’s all good. Leaks keep moving, bizarrely. It’s not overheating, fan is kicking in fine. Doesn’t appears to be moving coolant from the expansion tank though. Dalek cap replaced. It’s back with the garage now and they will pressure test it then will take it from there. My guess is still air in the system but not getting anything when bleeding it. Will update one I hear back. Thanks again.

R0B wrote: ↑04 Jun 2024, 09:36 Out of interest. Where did you get your engine?

From the VWEngine company. Highly recommended. Great service and support.
https://www.thevwenginecompany.com/

I bought my engine from them and ended up having to have it stripped and rebuilt by another company after they denied the problem was their fault. It turned out it had not been built correctly by them. Good luck getting them to put yours right. I'm not the only one on here who has had problems with their engines.

But OP says it not the engine, so give some slack. Let's be a bit more supportive instead of sniggering like school kids. Randamonia has come for help and not to be patronised.
Besides, l bought an engine from this company and did 80k without issues. And the next owner reports it is still going strong.

Well that’s all a pretty depressing read!! That thread totally passed me by.
Made me go back and check and it’s actually 2 years since the engine was done (old grey matter going I think). I’ve done 4k miles with no engine troubles, no overheating. Temps are consistent and runs sweet actually. I know it’s not a massive mileage but hopefully I’ve dodged a bullet. Obviously won’t be recommending based on what I see others have experienced.
Will test the coolant for exhaust gases. Certainly not seeing any oil in the coolant or vice versa. Hoping (maybe naively) it’s just air still from the radiator change

Just to close this off. Coolant checked out fine. Have ended up reseating a few hoses which has sorted things finally. Been running for a couple of weeks now without any leaks. Thanks folks.

"Turned out nice again."
Good news and good luck.