Really cannot believe this is happening....

[gtgeorge]

I bought a MK5 GT Sport TDi the other week. BKD 140 engine, 97,000 miles. Its a 2006 model.

Ive done about 500 mile in it so far. When i got it the water in the header tank was just above the minimum so i topped it up. Not checked it for a couple of weeks just got it in this morning to nip to tesco and BEEEEP STOP check coolant. Popped the hood, empty header tank, took two kettles of water to fill it back up. It was fine last night i was out til the early hours messing about with friends and that.

No overheating, no obvious leaks,  nothing untoward, only issue it has is a whiny turbo which i guess is common.

The reason why i say i can't believe it is because I had a MK4 Golf before, GT TDi with the PD115 which I didnt know until I bought it was notorious for the head gasket going. I owned that MK4 for 9 months, and from about the 3rd week after I bought it, id get in in the mornings and BEEP STOP CHECK COOLANT, again that car didnt overheat or anything, only 9 months later it started pressurising the coolant system and blowing sensors and pipes off so i got rid.

Really not hoping its a head gasket issue again. Cant be dealing with the expense at the minute. Why are new cars so poorly built? Its a beautiful looking motor but it doesnt handle, feel or drive the same as my MK4 did, it feels very fragile compared.

Any ideas? :/

[Matto]

I think the early heads on the BKD's were prone to going porous meaning you could be loosing water through the cylinder head and into the cylinders.

[paulw123]

Yeah iv'e read about early mk5s having porous heads.
Would you get white smoke out the exhaust, or creamy sludge under the oil cap?

[Andy]

The early mk5 gttddi were bad for porious heads and turbos going--Check you haven't got a water leak onthe egr cooler or rad first

[gtgeorge]

Trouble is its got this huge plastic undertray which goes from under the engine to the back of the car so cant see if anything is dripping down. It was registered on 20th November 2006, how do i know what head type is on mine?

[Matto]

The early mk5 gttddi were bad for porious heads and turbos going--Check you haven't got a water leak onthe egr cooler or rad first

Good call Andy. Forget about those pesky EGR coolers. My brother's girlfriends Golf is having exactly the same issue.

[Andy]

Trouble is its got this huge plastic undertray which goes from under the engine to the back of the car so cant see if anything is dripping down. It was registered on 20th November 2006, how do i know what head type is on mine?

bout 45 sec on shows you where the numbers are

[gtgeorge]

Thanks, its just odd how it was fine yesterday, i did about 20 miles in it, no issues. then this morning, dry as a bone header tank. Come to think of it i did smell burning water/coolant the other day but assumed it was the car in front of me as it was some clapped out old Focus puffing out smoke. Ill see what numbers I have and report back. sodding thing was going to buy an r32 bumper for it aswell put me off !

[gtgeorge]

I think I have good news? is the A cylinder head the problem pourous head?

The part number on my head is 03G 103 308 C , so i have the ' C ' head ? So I should be okay ?

Anyone tell me where the EGR cooler is and how to check for leaks, and what leaks on it?

I might take the undertray off and put some paper under it.

[Andy]

looks like you have the latest revision head--to check the location follow this guide
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,72241.0.html

[gtgeorge]

Thats odd. Ive noticed it randomnly puffs smoke when reversing ?! It mentions that in that link youve sent me. Sodding crappy things EGR are. cheers mate

[gtgeorge]

Cant find a leak on this. All I know is when I give it death as earlier was playing with a Nissan GTR i can smell coolant coming from somewhere, like being burnt or on something hot, or maybe just the smell of it evaporating?

[marko]

Heater matrix inside the car???

[gtgeorge]

Windscreens steaming up again under heavy acceleration aswell. Could be, but where to look i dont know, i just see plastic trim everywhere on this car and everything thats held in with clips comes off and then doesnt go back on the way it did before.

[paulw123]

if the heater matrix is inside the car & leaking the carpets will be wet.