VW/Audi diesel vehicles with EGR valve/coolers tend to have coolant leaks
Many of the modern Vw and Audi diesel cars suffer with EGR (exhaust gas recycling) valve issues.
The issue doesn’t always bring on your (EML) engine management light, so it is difficult to find before your coolant light comes on. At this stage it is important not to drive your car without topping it up with the relevant coolant. That coolant needs to be the right colour, red or blue normally. Drive your car without the correct levels of coolant is likely to have a negative impact on the engine performance, and at the worse the engine can seize and the repair bills are likely to be in the thousands.
So, what are the causes of this issue to so many of the VW and Audi models I hear you ask. The answers can we found here, so please read on. The first notable signs maybe a slight smell of burnt coolant coming from the exhaust pipe, mixed with diesel fumes it can be difficult to diagnose with your nose alone. Keep checking your coolant level every week, every month depending on your usage, even if the coolant low level warning light isn’t showing.
Make sure the car is parked up safe, If you take the engine cover off, it’s simple normally by taking off 4 prominent bolts, this will unearth the engine itself. If you look central you will see the valley of the engine it’s self, the deepest external part. It’s here where all the fun starts.
These engines suffer from oil cooler seals degrading quicker than they should, VW and Audi do not have a warranty recall for this, this is where MotorAid can help. Get a long screwdriver, wrap a piece of kitchen towel on the end of it, sellotaped ideally, run it along the bottom of the engine valley to see if you pick up any coolant. If you’re not familiar with coolant smell, then open your coolant reservoir up where you’ve topped it up, you’ll soon become familiar with the smell. Smell the paper towel to see if the smell is the same. If it is, then you will have a leak of the seals that will need replacing.
As you see, this is a laborious job resulting in many hours of stripping to get the the engine valley floor in order to change the seals. The cost is not in the seals, they’re rubber but in the labour to do it. We have repaired literally hundreds of these VW and Audi diesel models with coolant seal issues over the last 7-8 years.
We always say that every car model has its own inherent problems, just familiarise yourself with the model you want to buy and call us so that we can give you guidance on what to look out for. MotorAid also offers pre purchase inspections, and if any dealer pushes back on offering you this opportunity, then walk away.
So, what makes us different from your back street garage. At MotorAid we are an independent German car brand specialist, we see every model of German car day in day out, it’s our business. We work on the same brands every day, not every brand some of the days. So, our knowledge is second to none when it comes to understanding the issues, high-quality, low-cost repairs is what it’s about, and we’re award winning for it!
You can call us on Basildon 01268-591558 or Hainault 0208-172-0192 to book or go online at www.motoraid.com to chat online to one of our trained team.
