Radiator water...epmty!!??

eh? got back from gaydon and noticed that my water bottle was completly dry?i just topped up before the drive down? Filled it up again now and seems ok? no leaking or anything? i had the heater on all the way there and back(not by choice) will this have anything to do with it? please dont tell me my head gasket is going or summet...

You could be loosing water from virtually anywhere.  With a hot engine it is very hard to spot.  I'd check the expansion bottle cap and all hse and pipe coneection for weeping - including the heater radiator.

If you are worried about the head gasket - do a compression check first.

Cheers

Rich

Hi low - sorry didn't get to say hello properly on Sunday - was hoping too but busy! :cry:

Anyway, what colour is your expansion tank cap? I had this problem before when I had a black cap on. At Gaydon last year got general opinion that the cap should be a blue one. Got one - fitted it - problem solved! :wink:

I have this problem too, admittedly not on a Golf though. I've been topping up for over a year now, with no ill effects (why would I want to change a water pump on a Merc when I can be under the bonnet of a Golf instead???…..) I guess its also worth bearing in mind how much topping up is required, as to how serious your problem is.

Its definitely worth having a good look around the engine, when its running and warm. Look underneath and if its dripping, then you can logically follow upwards, to see where its coming from. No harm in giving the engine bay a good clean too, this would also help in locating it.

If you can't find or don't have a leak, then it could be a head gasket issue. Rather than relying on a relatively primative compression check, I'd suggest a proper leakdown test. Since the equipment for this is quite expensive, its more probably cost-effective to have this done at a garage. This would be able to pinpoint if its indeed the dreaded head gasket or not.

ayup simon, heaters got nowt to do with it mate, if anything heater being on means less pressure on your cooling system. get your engine upto temperature mate and have a good look round for leaks, expansion tank, hoses etc get yourself under car if you can.  is the car running hot? (heating up quick, fan coming in) whats the oil looking like? is it running a bit rough? sounds like head gasket mate but easier to find leaks when engines hot, it aint the end of the world anyhow even if it is head-gasket they aint dear and good excuse to change cambelt but better nip-it-in-bud quick so as you dont do any damage to head. giz a buzz if you get stuck,
paul

a small crack running along the join on the expansion tank is a very common problem. can be difficult to spot so check carefully. other notable places are the water pump and hoses esp. where the jubilee cilp is - small spilts here are also difficult to see.

I had a core plug rot so it was weeping water from there. worth checking if none of the above are faulty