COOLANT LEAK FOLLOW-UP - Is It Really a Leak?

I first shared my discovery of a coolant "leak" in November 2019 at around 93,000 miles. I did a 5000-mile follow-up in February, and then this video after 10,000 (103,000 miles total). I eventually discovered a leak at 115,000 miles. Details at • CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE / ... .
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[@GTI_CHHA]

The level coming up when hot and opening the cap is normal. As the coolant heats up, the system builds pressure and the rubber hoses expand. When opening the cap the pressure equalizes and the rubber hoses regain their original shape/size (shrink so to speak), this shrinking pushes up the coolant level in the reservoir. The small consumption of coolant is very normal on Mk7 GTI. The rubber hoses keep expanding over time (ageing) and create more volume in the system. As the amount of coolant is constant, the level must drop. And that is exactly what you see on your car. So no worries, just top it up now and then. When winter approaches, you will see the light come up (if you hadn't topped up), as the coolant takes on is minimal volume at low temperatures. It's all just simple physics and nothing to worry about, provided you did not find any residues on the ground, or coolant smell inside the car.

[@StealthGTI]

This is a fantastic explanation! I've pinned it for others to see. Thanks a lot!

[@LastHumansGarage]

if he smells coolant whatsoever... he has a leak.. we been thru that this month.. lol

[@GTI_CHHA]

@@LastHumansGarage Very true.. LOL. Hence the disclaimer at the end :-)

[@LastHumansGarage]

@@GTI_CHHA yup, and 95% of the most common leak source cannot be seen without removing the intake manifold..

[@BlitzRacing-]

What if it’s coolant smoke and when u pull off the top coolant goes up

[@DC-sk1vk]

16 beetle w/ 1.8 tsi owner here. Just subscribed!! Seems like u got handful of info for vw in general!!

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting and your subscription!

[@TheWilliec1999]

Interesting. I personally wouldn't worry about it until it trips the low coolant light. And then just notate how often you need to fill it. It's really strange. Just be happy you didn't have a thermostat and water pump leak. Mine failed like clockwork at 60k miles. Leaked coolant all over the floor and it wasn't a cheap fix! Goodbye stimulus check haha. Love the vids sir, I just love the gti cause it transcends all age groups. Everyone can appreciate one! Looking forward to more content from you, have a great day!

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks. That's how I think about this. Drive more, worry less. I'm just sharing my findings for others to see. Thanks for visiting.

[@rizla2000]

If you don’t mind me asking. How much did it cost to replace the thermostat and water pump ? Which country are you from? I’m from Australia. Cheers

[@jessebremner5209]

​@@StealthGTI mine is sitting a bit below the the minimum line. No signal that there is an issue. The thermostat seems to be running pretty hot tho. Getting a bit worried..will keep topping it up to just over the minimum line and keep an eye on it I suppose.

[@jessebremner5209]

Mine is going down about a centimeter every month or two

[@jvb4218]

My assumption for the level going up when removing the cap hot. When system is pressurized and hot the hoses expand, when you remove the cap they contract and the level goes up.

[@StealthGTI]

Yes! Someone else provided that explanation as well. I've pinned their comment. Thanks for visiting.

[@Koreanrevinruralarea]

I got 2016 Mk.7, in my case, I also found out coolant level went down a bit so I brought it up to the dealer and they did not found any. As I remember it was around 60k miles. right before 60k mile warranty expired. after another 10k miles, coolant level kept went down and I took it to local mechanic who is very reliable. What they found was water pump was leaking very slowly. OBD 2 scanner didn't catch it. They found it when they lifted my car up and open the under cover. If any of you concern about coolant level issue, you better lift your car up and open the under cover and check it out. In my case, it was water pump.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@e92coupe76]

Same like mine 2015 MK7 GTI

[@Legotechs]

The amount of people thinking it’s normal to top off once in a while is crazy. You should never have to top off.

[@StealthGTI]

I agree! Still, my leak was too small to pinpoint or lose sleep over. Thanks for visiting.

[@Legotechs]

@@StealthGTI I seem to have the same “issue” with my 2.0 TDI. I’ve had the car for over two years and never thought about this being an issue. I checked a week ago just in case and sure enough, level is below MIN.

[@hitm4n1985]

@@Legotechs very common issue on the 2.o Cr TDIs is the oil cooler housing assembly just fyi. 1 of my 2 Passats is on the 3rd housing. It started with a small loss; but now after 50k miles on the 3rd housing i have less issues with the 168k mile TDI then i do with the 70k mile one. Dealerships are useless for real world diagnostics these days. Hate to say it. But at least in the us48 i haven't found one that has a good real world mechanic. Not one following the laptop instructions:p they'd rather buy back a car then let a real mechanic repair something

[@H-jb4tf]

I noted this too. Because of heat and pressure needing to refill when not hot. It does fluctuate in level from hot to cool

[@StealthGTI]

Yes, I think I noted that in either a pinned comment or the video description. Thanks for visiting!

[@jimhoobler6044]

My 2017 with just over 31k on it developed a minor coolant leak a few weeks ago. Took it to the VW dealer, they found it leaking from the water pump only and not from the thermostat housing. It was fixed under warranty.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@sky-zc3uz]

yeahhh mine's the exact same unfortunately. did replacing the pump fix the issue?

[@jimhoobler6044]

@@sky-zc3uz Yes it fixed the issue, no further coolant leaks. Hopefully that will be the case with your GTI.

[@vitaflo]

Timely video. I also noticed recently the coolant on my Mk7.5 has dipped a bit below the minimum. My 30k service is soon so I'll ask VW about it. Doubt they'll do anything since no lights have been tripped but this seems like a fairly common occurrence, whatever it is.

[@StealthGTI]

Hopefully, they'll inspect the system for you. Good Luck!

[@babagandu]

Any update ? I'm getting mysterious coolant disappearing 😌

[@vitaflo]

@@babagandu Dealership just ended up topping it off. No leaks found, hasn't been an issue so... *shrug* Still odd though.

[@babagandu]

@@vitaflo wow !! Mysterious fluid disappearance !! What the heck 😥😥

[@samdowler8563]

My 3 year old Tiguan 2.0Tsi has been slowly using coolant since new. Every service the dealer has topped up and inspected hoses for leaks(waste of time) and just avoids the problem. I took the underbody plastic guard off underneath and found a small amount of fluid. With a Narva work light and with awareness of where the radiator hoses went toward the thermostat/water pump area I have found red fluid leaks. I had previously asked dealer at last service 45000kms to pressure test which they said had no symptoms of loss. It’s been sent back today for full inspection with photos. I also found the sub frame bush/engine Mount rubbers badly cracked. These plastic and rubbers are pathetic from a “German” manufacturer. Didn’t expect any issues until at least 150,000kms. Of course the warranty is about to expire

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your experience. My car finally showed detectable leak at around 116,000 miles. I mentioned it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZjQinurbJ2NpKM. Thanks for visiting!

[@LetsGetTechy]

Someone may have mentioned this already in your last video but I have something very similar with my 19 GTi. I took it to the dealer this morning told them “very slow leak, and I can smell it when I pull in the garage, but no obvious leak and no puddles”… they did a pressure test, and my overflow jug cap wasn’t sealing properly. It’s supposed to hold 18 PSI and was not. They are replacing the cap. From what I’ve read it’s a common issue.

[@StealthGTI]

That is an interesting possibility. I wouldn't be surprised if the vacuum/pressure testing is done through the reservoir with the lid removed, which removes the lid from the equation and will allow a "pass." I may replace my lid just for giggles and see if I notice anything. Thanks for the tip!

[@kennyla4060]

Hi I have a 2015 golf gtd.. those issues you have are identical to mine. I have been experiencing leaks to the point I’m topping up either after a week or just a long journey. Been to many garages doing pressure tests for them to find nothing or early signs of head gasket issue. when you say overflow jug cap do you mean the cap for the engine coolant or is that something else? Thanks

[@LetsGetTechy]

@@kennyla4060 Hi there! I’m talking about the lid of the container pictured in the thumbnail of this video.

[@jimoflh5773]

The pressure could be causing the pipes to expand. When you loosen the cap, pipes may shrink a little pushing the coolant back into the tank.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for writing, Jim! Yes, that's precisely what I believe is happening. I've pinned another comment that said exactly that. Thanks for visiting!

[@Data4664]

thnxs!

[@julianduffey734]

I had a 2009 jetta tdi and a 2013 jetta gli... both did exactly the same thing. I figured no smell, no visual leak or drips, it wasn’t worth worrying about.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks! That's about how I feel. Thanks for visiting.

[@vr1908]

Similar case.However, now it's worsened for my VW Polo. coolant 1 litre.topped, it dipped below min. Topped 1 more litre to max.level mark. It sustained for around 200 kms.came to min.again. 3rd litre kept as reserved.i had to pour after 500kms.Pecularity observed is : no leakage mark, doesn't seem mixing in engine oil. Where it's going? One more thing, not using AC, it's fine.by using AC engine heats up however, no sign on dashboard, can feel sudden drop in transmission power.

[@anoldtexta8]

Having the same issues with a 2007 jetta any solution? The liquid mysteriously dissappears

[@markmaguregui7286]

Ive had the same issue it started doing as well at 5k miles, and it was a bad cap, once I replaced it i dont have those issues, im pretty sure you already figured it out but they do say that the caps to give up also every so often, but great video

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing that. You reminded me that my daughter's reservoir cap needs replacing. It feels sloppy and has no "snap" upon closure. Thanks for visiting!

[@maxcichon2557]

My 2015 was losing coolant veeeerrrry slowly also. A tiny crack on the t-stat housing/water pump. Look for dried coolant on the bottom of the water pump housing. Belly pan off, of course....

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the tips! No dried coolant anywhere.

[@JVranicar1]

Same here. They found dried coolant in same place. No leak on garage floor though. Housing was replaced under warranty two months ago. Fixed it for now, but won’t be surprised if the new one starts leaking at some point since it has been described to me as a cheaply made plastic housing.

[@eonr2499]

@@JVranicar1 same thing happened to my car. These VW waterpump/ thermostat housings are all plastic and get very hot.

[@sprayhawk808]

I've got a '16 GTI, 80k miles. Twice, I've had to add coolant. On some days, I can smell antifreeze, but never any liquid evidence. Figured there was a small leak somewhere where vapors are escaping, resulting in minut losses.

[@StealthGTI]

If you can smell it, then there must be a leak. Mine is still odor-free. Oddly enough, the level has been holding steady the MIN line for months now. I continue to watch and see how long before it needs more. Thanks for visiting.

[@grahamatsea3575]

Well mines only a year old and only 8k miles but my level remains constant, cold to cold. My old mk4 Tdi Golf with 190k remained constant between 4 year cam belt and coolant changes. When the engine is hot the coolant and air in the sealed system want to expand, but because its sealed it can't expand as much as it wants too (when hot and sealed you will see a rise in level but it's limited) so the pressure in the system builds up. When the system pressure is released, by opening the cap, (with the system warm / hot) , you then release the pressure in the system and the coolant can now expand freely, hence the level rises.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing. I pinned an excellent comment that provides a good explanation.

[@shivampandita1905]

There is Lot of coolant in Engine pipe line as well so when u rev the engine the coolant expands and it starts circulating, that is the reason the level goes up .

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing that. Take Care!

[@edwinhalim5426]

I had a leak at the thermostat housing. It was replaced under warranty right before 50k.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@polaris435]

I have a water leak in the radiator, that's why I turn on the engine fan directly, but I noticed a weakness in the torque when it cools down

[@StealthGTI]

I'm not sure how to respond to that. Regardless, I appreciate you sharing your experience. Take Care!

[@Janet_Airlines802]

I have a 2002 Passat, I’ve been slowly losing coolant, goes down a quarter of a inch a month, seems like I only lose it in the winter when I use the heat. I’m gonna replace the thermo and thermostat housing and see if that stops it. I replaced the thermo last year but didn’t replace the housing. The water pump and timing belt was done 40k miles ago.

[@StealthGTI]

Sorry to hear that. But I wouldn't throw parts at the problem unless you find a leak. Given the age of your car, the leak could be in plenty of places along the cooling path, particularly some of the plastic unions. I once had an internal crack in the pipe that enters the head. Have a good look for pink, chalky trailers along your coolant path. Good Luck!

[@markday6524]

When the pressure is released hoses relax and this may be the reason? Just my guess.

[@StealthGTI]

Yes, several have stated that position. It's very interesting. Thanks for visiting.

[@mk6_mark920]

I started to smell coolant only outside of my 2015 on cold starts, brought it to the dealer they my friend that’s a tech showed me the hose going into water pump was kinked and slight leak. Had it covered under warranty just 3 months ago and I haven’t had any problems/lights. Currently at 40k miles

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing. None of that for me at this point.

[@yutub561]

Mine has a slow leak too. I'm in a place with awful internet speed so I can't watch the video, but I can say that some people have pointed me towards the cap of the reservoir not dealing well and vapor leaking out. Look for dried coolant on the inside of the engine bay under and behind the bottle

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the tip. There's no pink trails anywhere. My leak is very slow. I think I'll be a "once a year top-off" driver.

[@yutub561]

@@StealthGTI that's how mine is too. Top off every year or so. The trails are more like a white powder

[@MultiInKIEto]

@@yutub561 did you find out what was the problem with the coolant being lost?

[@MegaHollywood1971]

You are right about both claims. Engine is HOT - the fluid expands / Engine is COLD - the fluid contracts. When loosening the Reservoir Cap, the pressure compacting the fluid is released; thus, the rise of the fluid. The level that you see when doing that is NOT the correct level - since it is NOT the actually operating conditions the engine is under while in operation. VW GTI coolant veining walls are thin (relative to other manufacturers) and the water that is contained within the coolant mixture will slowly vaporize in the veins. If there are not any "visible" leaks, this is the primary culprit. As long as the reservoir is filled to the FULL mark when the Engine is COLD, you will not have a problem. Hope that helps out 3 years after the fact 👍

[@StealthGTI]

Late, indeed! HAHA! Thanks for visiting, though. I replaced the pump, thermostat, and housing at 115,000 miles. I'm past 200k now. I'm working on a 7yr/200k video. Stay tuned! Take Care!

[@simonbutler377]

coolant loss is expected at this age vehicle. check all your hoses. Paticularly the hoses at the thermostat housing, there are 5 or 6 hoses connecting to the housing and you should see leaks there.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for writing, Simon! The system got a thorough inspection before departing on a 7000+ mile road trip last November, several months after this video was made. All was good; no signs of leaks. After the trip, while replacing the injectors, the mechanic was able to find evidence of a leak. It only took 115,000 miles to surface! ;-) The car has a new thermostat, pump, and housing. It's been running well for 30,000 miles since that job. Take Care!

[@rolandocurro9]

Note : If anyone wants to know if the warning light for low coolant level works. Take some antifreeze out till it reaches below the lower mark on the antifreeze reservoir thank. Turn the engine on. The warning light sign should go on right away. This is just a test to see if it's working properly

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the tip.

[@rolandocurro9]

StealthGTI • You're welcome.

[@emonneil0912]

Or you can just disconnect the connection for temp sensor

[@insanegixxerdude486]

I experienced this also on a new tiguan. However after a long drive in warm weather i can smell coolant from the intake manifold side of the engine. No leaks on the ground and dealer could not find any visible leaks. They offer to pressure test it but if not pressure drop it won't be covered under warranty and will have to pay for the service. They will monitor it and have the complaint on service file. Maybe the system is venting vapor to atmosphere at this point and its not a big enough leak to show visible sign yet?

[@StealthGTI]

That may be true. Mine system finally developed a detectable leak around 115,000 miles. I had to replace the thermostat, housing, and water pump. I'm at 180,000+ miles now and all is well. Thanks for visiting!

[@davidgolfer]

I own a 7.5 and need to add a little coolant (2-3 oz) frequently, say every 2k miles. I live in the desert and perhaps our extreme temperatures cause this. I also find I need to add a bit of oil in between normally scheduled maintenance....

[@StealthGTI]

It's hard to say whether you're consuming too much. I did eventually find a leak on mine. That was at 115k. I'm at 174k now. Thanks for visiting.

[@norbib1745]

Hello! For some reason, the pressure in my 2019 vRS crtdi octavia increases in the cooling system! According to measurements, there is exhaust gas in the cooling water! Water does not boil, but it leaks from the expansion tank! Pressure test shows no holes! No bubbles in the expansion tank! No oil in the water! Egr cooler replaced !Control, thermostat too! But the error is there! Do you have any tips? Thanks

[@StealthGTI]

Interesting! Perhaps your expansion tank cap needs replacing? It's designed to bleed off excessive pressure. It may be bleeding too soon. Good Luck!

[@IBII_]

Have a 2014 Golf mk7 1.4l TSI Petrol and in the front passenger seat there is a leak in the footwell. The thing is there is a problem with the coolant aswell it finishes quicker than it should do so there must be a leak there aswell. Either it’s 2 separate issues or the coolant leak is going towards the front passenger seat footwell. Not sure what to do now as we bought it about 4/5 months ago and got tints on the car and replaced the brake pads and discs and a lot of other things so spent a lot. Not sure what to do now. Either try get it repaired because there was a problem when we bought it with the coolant leak, so try see if they can repair it again (if they even fixed it in the first place) or try to sell it. MOT and service is soon aswell

[@StealthGTI]

Is the leak in the footwell coolant? Have you smelled it? If it's water, then you may have clogged sunroof drain. That's a lot easier to resolve than a coolant leak, particularly one that's inside the car. Regarding your coolant loss, a good scenario may be that you have both a clogged sunroof drain and a coolant leak at the pump or thermostat. That would be easier and less expensive to fix than a coolant leak inside the car. The only thing that can cause that is a leak at the heater core. If that's the case, the entire dash has to come out, which would probably require most of the front interior to be removed, too. That's an expensive job if you pay someone to do it; and a huge headache if you can do it yourself. Good Luck!

[@ivicapivo]

Did you solve the problem mate, check the hitter matrix he is on the right passenger side and maybe is blocked...

[@dalesmith4985]

I have the same slow reducing in coolant on a 2012 ford LW focus topped it up 2 weeks ago and it is now on minimum mark,it's going in soon for a pressure test and will see what the problem is if there is one.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing. Good luck with your diagnosis.

[@simonbutler377]

the warning lamp comes on on the ignition check. It doesn't check for coolant level while driving so you're playing with fire just driving around in your car with the coolant at minimum

[@StealthGTI]

I'm fairly certain that the light will illuminate if the coolant drops below the electrodes inside the tank while driving. Regardless, the "MIN" line represents the lowest ACCEPTABLE level; below MIN is when the coolant level needs to be addressed. Also, if you watched the entire video, then you know that my level was near MIN with a hot engine. Once I opened the cap and released some pressure, the level rose to above the midway mark. So, the levels shown in this video were within specs. Thanks for visiting.

[@simonbutler377]

@@StealthGTI Not sure why it dropped to min if it's not leaking, perhaps some job was done on the cooling syster, water block/radiator changed. where they filled up the coolant but they didnt run the engine long enough for the water level to rise again.

[@sashbar]

@@StealthGTI I had the warning light on my VW on the ignition check, checked the level - it was about an inch lower than MIN. Switched the engine off/on and there was no warning light. Pretty shocking. Topped it up to the MAX line, it stayed there for two weeks. Today, after 4 hours drive it's about 5 mm lower on a cold engine. Hoped it was a loose cap, now it looks like a leak. No visible leaks, no smell, nothing. Now carrying a bottle of coolant in the boot. Checking the level every other day. Lets se how fast it'll go down again.

[@StealthGTI]

@@sashbar - If you're losing that much, then start looking for white or pink chalk stains under the engine or along the side. The stains are signs that the coolant is leaking, but boiling away from the hot engine before making it to the ground. I did eventually replace my water pump, t-stat, and housing at 115,000 miles. Good Luck!

[@yiqo3508]

During the replenishing of vw coolant it is imperative to let all of the air out of the coolant pipes while the engine is cold. If air is in coolant system it will get very hot. While the engine is cold, have you let the coolant bleed and sucked out all of the air and air bubbles using the very top hose attached to the side of the coolant reservoir ?

[@StealthGTI]

No air in my system. Thank for visiting.

[@rolandocurro9]

vitaflo • Yes it has turned into a common problem. I think in almost all Vws. I just received today in my mailbox a Water Pump Settlement. Stating that the water pump in a quite afew of Vw models. Tend to start failing prematurely. Not at once. But somewhere before it reaches 60,000 miles. It starts with the level of antifreeze dropping below the top level. Then you have to be chequing on it every three weeks. That's my own experience with my 2017 Vw Passat S with 63,600 miles on it. Never had a problem with overheating thou. Runs very smooth.

[@StealthGTI]

I received the letter for two of my cars. Oddly enough, to submit a claim, you have to provide proof that the car has been maintained IAW the VW maintenance manual. I've been doing my own oil changes nearly the entire time I've owned the car. I have a log with my maintenance actions, but no receipts to prove that I used the correct oil or parts. Still, I suspect that letter is more about stuffing money into lawyers' pockets via class action suit than getting me reimbursed for a water pump replacement that I didn't have done at the dealer. ;-) Take Care!

[@rolandocurro9]

StealthGTI • Good luck anyway.

[@michael85225]

My 02 Beetle is having this weird issue where if im stopped with the car running like waiting in a drive thru then the red low coolant light will flash. The coolant will be low and i fill it up and it doesn't go down unless I'm stopped with it running. I'm too poor to pay for an expensive repair at the moment though.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting! That definitely needs a look by a mechanic! It may cost a lot to repair, but I guarantee it will cost FAR less than a new head or other engine parts. Odds are it is just a thermostat or housing. I replaced my thermostat, pump, and housing at 116,000 miles. It happens. Good Luck!

[@SaamKash]

I have the same issue with my 2016 Sportwagon, have to top off every few weeks. same as your case just few millimeter.

[@StealthGTI]

I seem to need a top-off only once a year. We'll see. Thanks for visiting.

[@bigred1731]

I’ve noticed for the second time, that my coolant will completely drain. I filled it back up the first time and it held it for a month or more. It happens on cold/icy mornings overnight. Meaning to wake up to the fluid completely leaked out??

[@StealthGTI]

Yes, that's definitely a more pronounced leak than mine. I'd think you should be able to find evidence under the car or in the belly pan. Good Luck!

[@Perra1901]

2018 MK7.5 Golf R. I had the same kind of coolant leakage tiny tiny amounts. No smell from the leakage. VW removed the housing to inspect it and replaced it due to a tinytiny upper leak of the plastic thermostat/ waterpump housing. Warranty replacement at 99000km/61515miles. I would say its more a question of WHEN it will leak and not IF it will leak. That plastic ages badly.

[@StealthGTI]

I'll deal with it when it's necessary. Thanks for visiting.

[@justahappywelshguy9251]

We have a 2020 audi a1, I check fluid levels every so often. 2 months ago everything was on the max.. last night i checked and the coolant level was below the minimum mark. We are getting this inspected as it seems a bit excessive to me

[@StealthGTI]

Good idea to have it inspected. Is your car still under warranty? Thanks for visiting!

[@justahappywelshguy9251]

@@StealthGTI Yeah, 3 years manufacturers warranty from new. Still haven't got round to getting it inspected. It's on a lease and will be returned next year so might just leave it!

‼️PLEASE HELP‼️ I have VW Passat CC 2009, and I have problems with coolant fluid levels. I have to pour liquid almost every second day. Sometimes when the red warning light pops up and I open the coolant bottle, the fluid comes a lot above the normal level. But most of the time I have to pour liquid in. Around 2-3 liters a week. Water pump and refrigerator has been replaced. Do you have any ideas what could have been the problem? PLEASE HELP‼️

[@StealthGTI]

I cannot be certain. Sounds to me like your car needs attention from a specialist. Good Luck!

[@jessicaabsalom5629]

Hi brother if got that same problem yes but my coolant boils and it disappears on emty level where it goes i dont now and theres no leaking signs

[@StealthGTI]

I did eventually find a leak. It took just 115,000 miles to surface! ;-) Be patient. All leaks eventually reveal themselves. Thanks for visiting!

[@TheJkrmenec]

My mark 6 GTI had that same issue then I decided to get the system flushed and never had any more issues cuz system had build up

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@rafaeltafolla4086]

I have a 2014 Jetta and I am an uber driver full time. Ever since summer started I been having to top it off every 2-3 weeks. No signs of leaks can it be cause of the heat its about 105 to 110 degrees when im driving. Havent had any problems, i just notice that it goes to Min every couple of weeks.

[@StealthGTI]

Eventually, I did find a leak. I think it's detailed in a video about my #3 injector. It only took 115,000 miles for it to reveal itself. ;-) Just keep looking from time to time. Given how hot your temps reach, you may not see liquid leaks on the ground. Instead, look for light-pink chalky residue in the vicinity of your coolant path and pump, maybe even along the bottom edge of your block. All leaks eventually get worse over time. You'll find it some day. Start budgeting for a replacement now. Thanks for visiting!

[@abdulbasirghafari9693]

I have a Passat estate 2018 Changed EGR COOLER today . By the time I picked up the car from garage the coolent was more than max point engine cold . After driving 80 miles I feel the coolent is ... On the minimum point. I did top up to the maximum point. But still goes up and down. The liquid coming from top . Don't know how? From where .?

[@StealthGTI]

The coolant level with drop when the engine is warm because the hot coolant will expand the hoses. See the top/pinned post for details. Thanks for visiting!

[@luuminhquan]

My car just recently drove about 10,000 miles and the coolant is way below the minimum level already Go to dealership and we told them to fix it and surprisingly they told us the issue is a common with atlas but think back the car we bought more than $45,000 and they said it a common issues but we only drove 10,000 miles Would stuck with Toyota or Honda really regret what I bought already

[@StealthGTI]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. My leak finally became more apparent at around 115,000 miles. I replaced the thermostat, housing, and water pump and have driven 40,000 trouble-free miles since then. Thanks for visiting.

[@Newyork535]

Check the pipes. Is one pipe in front down

[@StealthGTI]

My coolant leak eventually appeared. I had my thermostat, pump, and pump housing replaced at ~115,000 miles. I'm past 220,000 miles now and all is well. Thanks for visiting!

[@topg4400]

I saw that the coolant level of my car drops when the engine is cold but it goes up to almost the same level when topped it up the last time when I open the raditor cap what does that mean? Is that normal?

[@StealthGTI]

That seems backwards from what I'd expect. Still, I'm happy as long as the level is somewhere between the lines when the car is running and hot. Take Care!

[@topg4400]

@@StealthGTI yeah the coolant level is between min and max of the reservoir just wondering why it goes up to the previous level when I open my radiator cap. My car is moving smoothly with no over heat

[@deanmarr785]

Seems normal. I top my coolant off 3-5 times a year. 62k miles.

[@StealthGTI]

My leak will get bigger at some point and then be detectable. ;-) Thanks for visiting.

[@deanmarr785]

@@StealthGTI We have the exact same car and set up. How many miles do you have on your car now? And have you done a carbon cleaning yet?

[@StealthGTI]

@@deanmarr785 - The car has ~115,000 miles. I did the carbon cleaning primitively before the coast-to-coast road trip that I'm currently showcasing. The car ran fine and the intake wasn't that bad. I could have gone much longer, for sure. I have a recent video about it... the "Four Year" video. Thanks for visiting.

[@betterwithrum]

Have you had the system pressure tested?

[@StealthGTI]

No. I don't think it's necessary at this point. Thanks for visiting.

[@gunterification]

It's normal. some engines in the gti's and r's use a little bit of coolant. My golf 7 r went from the max to min line in about 6/7 months. No leaks.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks! Yeah, mine's been hovering just below the MIN line for months. I'll share another follow-up next months. Thanks for visiting.

[@eonr2499]

These cars have a serious problem with small coolant leaks from the water pump/thermostat housing. They have made many revisions to this part. Dealers will tell you it just evaporates.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the note! I've had a new water pump, thermostat, and housing for about 25,000 miles. I cannot recall when I made this video, but I'm fairly confident that the "leak" lasted 50,000+ miles before becoming a discoverable problem.

[@user-te8id4vm6r]

What maintenance should u do when u get higher mileage like 60-80k mark

[@StealthGTI]

I just keep doing the maintenance as scheduled. I'm passed 223,000 miles now. Thanks for visiting!

[@user-te8id4vm6r]

@@StealthGTI could u send me the list of maintenace intevrald

[@MoparHollics]

I'm still trying to figure out why I've been adding coolant to my Audi Q3 no leaks almost every two months 🤷

[@StealthGTI]

Mine stumped me, too. Leaks, if present, will almost always get worse over time. Mine was finally significant enough to find after about 115,000 miles. So, just give it time and enjoy your car in the mean time. If your car is under warranty, keep returning to the dealer so that the problem is well documented. Good Luck!

[@Datacorrupter234]

i noticed this exact same issue creep up on my 2012 jetta gli 69k miles i still havent figured it out

[@StealthGTI]

I eventually did find a leak around 115,000 miles and replaced the water pump, t-stat, and housing, all with the latest parts updates from VW. I'm past 200,000 miles now and all is well. Thanks for visiting!

[@JonathanB007-]

Yes, Mine is the same on my golf r

[@StealthGTI]

My thermostat housing eventually revealed a leak and was replaced at 115,000 miles along with the thermostat and water pump. I'm beyond 180,000 miles now and all is well. Thanks for visiting!

[@nathanthompson8728]

Not sure if mine has a leak or not. Have to top it off every 1000 miles but get no warning come on. Car is 7 years old with 80k and today I had an mot test and didn’t mention it but the test didn’t mention any leaks. It’s of to the main dealer for a service so I’ll see if VW pick it up. Had a coolant leak when I first got the car and they fixed it under warranty. Car was almost 3 years old then

[@StealthGTI]

Good luck getting another warranty repair! I'm would not be optimistic. :-( The good news is the water pump and housing has seen some revisions over the years. While you may wind up paying for the replacement, it should also be a better part. Good Luck!

[@nathanthompson8728]

@@StealthGTI I know it’s well out of warranty 😂. I wanna if I have a leak or not? I can’t find one or smell any coolant but it seems to be disappearing 🙈

[@Datacorrupter234]

aww dang i just wrote a long thought out comment but had to pause video because youtube would change the video. Anyway i lost my comment anyway from going up to pause! screw youtube. good video though! and thank you

[@StealthGTI]

Haha! I hate it when that happens! I have "auto-play" turned off, but it still auto-plays when on a playlist. Thanks for your comments and the visit. Take care!

[@danijelbarac5916]

I have the same thing with my 2002 Passat B5.5 1.9 TDi,no leaking no nothing, the level goes up and down,the car goes normal and not heat up..

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Take Care!

[@avasadventures8299]

Coolant is leaking trough the air conditioning System in on to the foot pedals how is this

[@StealthGTI]

Actually, it's leaking through the heating system. The heater core is on the cabin side of the firewall. I don't recall if it's in the center of the car or slightly to the driver's side. Regardless, you have either a leak in the core or perhaps the hoses. That leak WILL burn the driver's feet if not repaired and allowed to expand. Good Luck!

[@avasadventures8299]

@@StealthGTI thank you

[@Newyork535]

And change the cap. And the termostat

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks!

[@karmendimas5274]

yes, this is normal for VW, they have whats called an OPEN cooling system, thats what the VW tech said, not sure why VW cannot get a cooling system from having to add coolant every so often, never heard of that, had the same problem with ALL My VW cars, from 2015 jetta, 2015 Audi a3 tdi, and now 2021 jetta GLI,,, VW needs to get there act together

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your insight. I appreciate your visit!

[@apolgi8393]

do you still problems? I might give you some hints

[@StealthGTI]

A leak finally did surface. It only took 115,000 miles! HAHA! See this video if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZjQinurbJ2NpKM. Thanks for visiting!

[@darkmode4290]

Mine drops low when driving then the following day goes back to the normal line

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've pinned a good comment that explains what you're seeing. Thanks for visiting.

[@jasonweikert1922]

My 2015 Audi A3 does the exact same thing.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for sharing! I eventually replaced the pump, thermostat, and housing at ~115,000 miles.

[@zlatkofilipovic1509]

All vw engines after 200.000 km losing coolant .The most golf 4 ,5 ,passat n5.5 ,b6 etc . They leaking on block engines .(back on side )Only way to solve that problems is takedown motor head ,grind and install a new " toplocks packning. Vw Assembling Lundebärg Austria 🙋‍♂️

[@StealthGTI]

I did wind up replacing the thermostat, pump, and housing at 115,000 miles, all with revised parts. I'm approaching 200,000 miles and all is well. Thanks for visiting!

[@ja-kl8rg]

Is there any cheap fix , like glue or something?

[@weinjohn]

Can you be any more specific please? What about jetta's and TDIs

[@Liverpool909]

Anyone else thinking head gasket? Coolant level rising and going out the overflow under regeneration.

[@StealthGTI]

The pinned comment details the best explanation for why my coolant level changes during operation. Thanks for visiting!

[@ELQvideos]

So did you ever find out anything?

[@donchez65dacres]

Your leak is coming from the trunking oil filter / cooling pipe of the oil filter close to the engine block.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for your comment. I eventually had to replace the water pump, thermostat, and their housing at 115,000 miles. The revised parts seem to be working well at nearly 200,000 miles. Thanks for visiting!

[@MultiInKIEto]

@donchez65acres do you know where possible the leak could be on my Audi A3 2018.... Dealer has already done 2 pressure tests and they come up ok but I am still losing coolant only on summer months

[@Ultraxfinance]

my 2019 golf r low coolant light came on today im scared

[@StealthGTI]

Don't be scared. Just top it off and pay attention to how long it takes to drop to the min level again. Good Luck!

[@rotinareynolds6706]

Air in the system

[@StealthGTI]

No air in the system. But the leak eventually grew to a detectable level by around 115,000 miles. Either that or it was a real leak that was completely unrelated to what I experienced here. HAHA! I now have a the water pump, thermostat, and housing. Thanks for visiting!

[@kkleneave3838]

where is the max line

[@StealthGTI]

The MIN line has the arrow pointing to it; the MAX line is the line above it. Thanks for visiting.

[@peterdurnien9084]

Two to three mm? Why be bothered with that? Do you know what a mm is in inches? 2 - 3 .. is 1 /16 of an inch. It's an expansion tank after all thats what it does it contains the expansion of the coolant and yes the level will come up once you remove the cap releasing the built up pressure that is forcing the level down.

[@StealthGTI]

I agree with you. The point of my video was to say "is this really a problem?," with the lean being toward "it's not." Still, I had a few comments that I was on the path to killing my engine. HAHA! Thanks for visiting!

[@peterdurnien9084]

@@StealthGTI Unlike my engine problem, trying to find the leak in the system. Its not in the oil so its external but as far as can be seen by me external is OK too. Maybe a garage (shop to you) will be my next move at 68 I to old to be crawling around looking for stuff dripping out of a car.

[@kvmods]

My coolant drops the last few months in 1 month time from Max to minimum...

[@StealthGTI]

Oddly enough, my main cooling components are new. I still lose coolant... just a little. A recent vacuum test came back perfect. I'm going to just drive! Thanks for visiting.

[@calin073]

I have the same problem in my VW Atlas 2021. I will never buy a Volkswagen again.

[@StealthGTI]

Are you actually losing coolant? Or do you simply see a fluctuation within the overflow bottle? See the pinned comment for a possible explanation. Take Care!

[@zakzak2774]

Thermostat closes

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for posting. See my pinned comment for what I think is the best explanation. Take care!

[@nightstorm9128]

2 mm in 10k Miles is not a leak,,Its just evaporation,,

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting!

[@IvanJankovicDC]

1mm in 5K miles 😂. Sure you can notice a cahnge of 1mm with your eye 😂

[@StealthGTI]

It may not be obvious in the video, but the bottle has markings on it that are in increments of ~1mm, maybe 2mm. So, yes, I can see the change with my eyes. Thanks for visiting.

[@padilla2435]

Rec auto repair course.

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for visiting.

[@rosscarlson7948]

this is insanity, you lost a mm of fluid? who CARES

[@StealthGTI]

Exactly! That was my point. I'm not sure if you're aware of how many times I've had people tell me that there's a leak or that VWs are junk. HAHA! This video's point was to show how minimal, if anything, it was. With that said, the thermostat housing did eventually blow a big leak around 115,000 miles. So, the car now has a relatively new pump, thermostat, and housing. Thanks for visiting!