coolant problem

[bwdsm]

I have a 91 tsi awd, my problem is that my car is using a gallon of coolant every 20 minutes
and ive checked the compression but that was good. I havent seen it leaking any where either. Could the motor still burn coolant and have good compression. The oil looks fine also.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

I had a GM car that the heater core took a dump and was leaking fluid inside the car. However, I think you would smell/see it if it was loosing that much.

Jim

 

[ddavisaf]

It must be leaking either outside the car or inside the car. What were your compression test numbers?

 

[efrider89]

I am having the same problem with my 1g where the coolant is just disappearing. I found out that when I run my car the coolant is leaking from the water pump pully area. I need a new water pump. I am not sure if this is what is exactly wrong in your case but it sounds like it. I would check that area.

 

[femmeDSM]

Cars don't consume coolant, so you've got to be losing it somewhere, and losing it fast (as the other posters mentioned).

I assume you are overheating, at least a little? What are your temps like? Put some white poster board under the car after a drive and check in a few hours for green spots. That'll show you where you're leaking, at least.

 

[megadeth0]

It must be leaking either outside the car or inside the car. What were your compression test numbers?

He is probably right with the inside the car thing. The heater core is on the passenger side so you won't notice it as much. Pull back the carpet and you might be surprised.

 

[femmeDSM]

The heater core is on the passenger side so you won't notice it as much.

Unless you have really bad allergies, there is no way you wouldn't smell over a gallon of coolant on your passenger side floorboard. When my heater core went in my old Volvo, I was overcome with "coolant smell" by the second day.

 

[ddavisaf]

I agree. It's not something you could miss.

 

[chaclark83]

Radiator cap could be leaking and blowing through resivor. Also ive never had to change a heater core on a dsm but most cars have a drain so if the core leaks it goes outside. also used to remove a/c condensation.

 

[ddavisaf]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200575
Here's a good bit of information about cooling related problems (overheating).

 

[oldman]

Unless you have really bad allergies, there is no way you wouldn't smell over a gallon of coolant on your passenger side floorboard. When my heater core went in my old Volvo, I was overcome with "coolant smell" by the second day.

I suspect that the car is probably over heating forcing coolant out through the resovoir, assuming compression numbers are truly in spec, no white smoke out of your exhaust and no visible external leaks. Answering some of these questions will help narrow things down.

 

[91gsxdsm]

id be willing to bet it was your water pump leaking or your thermostat housing gasket leaking. I was loosing around the same ammount you described and could never see it replaced my water pump 3 times still had a leak, put a new thermostat in it and noticed the gasket shot to hell....good luck

 

[femmeDSM]

thermostat housing gasket leaking.

That's a good idea.
I dealt with this on my boyfriend's Mustang. A *lot* of coolant can escape through that tiny gasket. I was like "WTF "

Thanks for pointing this out -- I hadn't thought of it

 

[91gsxdsm]

no problem hopefully it will be somthing like that ( a simple fix )