had a lot of stuff off the valley

I had a leak in the seal between the cooler and the valve (Flap?).
A leak test did not reveal and problem yet the coolant would go down and the valley fill with coolant. Any rapid stops would have the coolant run forward over the belts and spray everywhere.


I would hose the valley out to try to find the exact source of the leak. I never did.


I believe that one can buy the gasket between the cooler and the valve. But VW apparently do not know that!!. They replaced both the cooler and valve.


There is a mod you can do to the bracket for exhaust gas recirculation cooler so that the next time the cooler and valve can be removed from the bracket without having to remove the bracket and the connections in the block.

No need to speak Russian to get the gist of the mod.

 

because coolant went down some engine oil passages

I cannot believe that.



The first item on removing the EGR on ALL the engine variants is "Drain coolant"

 

I cannot believe that. The first item on removing the EGR on ALL the engine variants is "Drain coolant"

The service department (adviser) said it. It was the stated reason they also had to do an oil change (no charge). I wasn't due for another oil change for 6000 miles.

So either the tech started removing things before draining, or had a lot of stuff off the valley and got coolant in there somehow. I wasn't present during the repair process, it took (2 weeks) but it definitely stunk the first week after I got it back. All better now though, the smell is not in the garage after getting home in the garage. It must have burned off from engine heat.

 

So... looks like I've got the same issue on a fixed vehicle.... dun dun dun.....

 

If that's the case, you must be insistent. The coolant can only disappear in a few ways externally, and if you park in the same place each day, you would see it if it's fast enough.

• Active leak
• Radiator leak
• Water pump leak
• Hose Leak

So the only other way coolant can leave is through an internal leak, and out the tailpipe. They will do a pressure test first of course, as they did to mine (early 2018), but it came back OK, so they didn't look further. I think my leak had a lot to do with the cold winter weather causing the EGR seal surface to allow leaking when very cold, and seal up when hot. It went almost a year (2018) with no indication of leaking until the following winter. Maybe my water pump was just an unhappy coincidence and bad timing and threw them off the trail of the internal leak. By the time they replaced the water pump, it was spring 2018.

 

I also had the emissions modification performed in mid Dec 2017. That's when my issues started soon after. Coincidence? Maybe..

Concerning the coolant loss, I finally got my Touareg back after it was at the dealership for 10 service days (15 days total). The delay was for gaskets and seals necessary to complete the repair of the EGR cooler assembly. There is also an oil cooler jammed in there somewhere, that was replaced as well. It's on the parts list. They also performed an oil change because coolant went down some engine oil passages when the intake manifold was removed to replace the EGR assembly. I guess nearly everything in between the V must be removed to access the EGR. A lot of labor. I picked it up during my lunch break, drove it back to work, checked the coolant level in the parking lot, it was right to the bottom of the filler neck of the coolant reservoir. Not right, about an inch over the high coolant limit.

It also stunk like oil and coolant. I am hoping the smell eventually cooks off from engine heat. I fixed the level of coolant in the reservoir at home that night. When opening the reservoir tank, it gurgled a LOT. There seems to have been trapped air in the coolant system. The coolant level remained very high, and I removed some with a "garage only" turkey baster. I also removed the engine plastic cover, took a look underneath and the components seemed very neatly put back together. No loose dangling wires of hoses. Oil level was correct on the in dash indicator gauge.

Throttle response is MARKEDLY better. I was noticing since the emissions repair that the off idle response was sluggish when cold. It doesn't seem to be in the two days I've had it back. A noticeable difference. Maybe the EGR cooler was gunked up, I don't know. Maybe they cleaned the carbon soot in the pipes, I don't know that either. The entire repair was under the VW powertrain warranty. Still have about 15K miles left on it (one year perhaps).

Although I really don't want to pollute, but it's easy to see why a lot of guys justify getting an EGR delete, and removal of the AdBlue, DPF systems, to improve reliability, engine power, and fuel economy. I am starting to become concerned about long-term ownership (I was planning for a 10-year stretch) and the cost of repairs for failed systems outside warranty. When these systems fail, and they likely will, it would be outrageous out of pocket.

I can say I really do enjoy driving my Touareg. Best performing SUV/vehicle I have ever owned, and it tows great, except for my experiences with systemic failures:

• Random radio snapping noise
• AdBlue tank level sensor (warranty -flashed ECU)
• AdBlue tank heater (not covered by VW warranty, charged for repair under Platinum warranty, then reimbursed by VW)
• Emissions Cheating repair
• Water pump replacement
• Oil seal replacement
• and now, EGR cooler assembly, Oil cooler.

 

ToolmanJohn: I registerd after seraching the web and coming upon this thread. I have a 2013 Q7 TDI, and it is currently at the Audi dealership getting the EGR cooler replaced ***UNDER WARRANTY*** because it was fiddled with during the Diesel Modification.
I figure this would be of interest to you, I would assume the warrranties would be the same for the same engine... I could be wrong.

Additionally; The original reason for their replacment is because they beleive that the EGR Cooler is leaking oil, but I also informed them of the same issue you have, the smell of antifreeze, loss of antifreeze, yet no drips. I'm hoping that 2 birds get killed with obne stone.

My Diesel Modification took place in December of 2017.

 

Keep in mind the "Service Technicians" are often paid on commissions. If they can sell you a $400 cleaning they will put money in their pockets, not just the dealers pocket.

 

People are butchers and they will so as little as possible if they can get away with it.

 

Unfortunately they did not order gaskets, so they are waiting for those

These "service persons" never seem to read the repair manuals. I had the same.


The Service Manager made a big song and dance about how they had to remove the new EGR because the "O" rings for the coolant lines that come out of the block were hard and would not seal on re-use. That cost another day. The VW Repair Manual specifically states that the "O" rings are to be replaced.


I would expect that a decent service person would clean any part taken off an engine before re-installing. There is a definite lack of pride in doing a job properly.

 

Do what Nooby says. Putting those pipes back in with all that crap is silly.,,penny wise, pound foolish? Given the back and forth you've already experienced with these guys, I think you should get some consideration and, yes, a good shop would clean them out as part of the repair

 

I have almost the same issue in my 2014 Q7, it will go in Monday for inspection of the EGR cooler. I have coolant loss, that I can't find a trace of, but I can see a hair of something liquid between the engine block under the intake manifold. I've watched it for a few months, and tried to find anywhere it could be leaking. Sure sign is the sweet smell with it idling. I don't get the white clouds, so I believe the EGR cooler connections are probably leaking. Who knows.



While their there I'll end up having them do the water pump and thermostat, just to be preventative with the cooling system (102k miles); while its mostly dissembled (less labor).

 

DELETE THE EGR AT 100000 MI and never deal with soot buildup and chasing coolant loss problems ever again.

 

Those pipes need cleaning. Your engine is being strangled by the carbon build up.

Personally I would visit the workshop to have a look and see if could negotiate a better price whilst there.

 

The Touareg TDI has been in the shop since last Wednesday morning. Diagnostics CONFIRM (FINALLY) I have a leaking EGR cooler assembly. The service department ordered a new assembly. Unfortunately they did not order gaskets, so they are waiting for those. They did arrive yesterday - Friday (8 days after drop off). Work will complete Monday or Tuesday.

Aside from all that, I get a text message last Tuesday with 3 pictures and no description, then a phone call, from the service department service "adviser", these are the nice counter folks who take your car, write up service, and mis-communicate information to the customer (aka "victim" ) for a living. Well trained at it too.

Pictures show the soot buildup in something. I was told (yes, informed) this is not part of the warranty work, would I like the technicians to clean this while it is out of the vehicle? Only $400+ for labor. I believe they want to "soak" me for a $400+ soaking in a cleaning tank. I expertly reply "NO".

They have it apart for an EGR Cooler assembly, they ordered gaskets for the EGR assembly, and then again gaskets for the oil cooler assembly (yes there was a third message, sigh...is the oil cooler near the EGR assembly? I just don't care right now). Shouldn't the cleaning of these soot carbon filled passageways be PART of the repair process before reassembly?

At the very LEAST it is under the powertrain 10yr/100K mile warranty, 84,293 miles. Hoping for the best, expecting something else.

 

if your egr cooler lets go you will hydro lock and break this engine....mine did this and snapped 1 rod and bent 1

 

And...Here I go again.

Low Coolant warning! WTF...Checked the coolant reservoir and yes indeed, it's low. I hadn't really checked it since this past summer, and the Touareg had been into service last September for an oil change (80,000 miles), so the dealership should have also checked it while it was there for 3 whole days.

Looked into the engine compartment but I don't have any water on top of the plastic under engine shield. Also no leak detectable on the floor (I have a large plastic vinyl catch pan on the floor). The weather has been colder, I now wonder if there is a seal somewhere that shrinks in cold weather and the engine is inhaling coolant from that leak until it warms up.

I'll have to arrange a service visit, again, where I am told they can't find the leak.

 

Water pump replaced under warranty. It was weeping out the bottom and slowly accumulating on the plastic under engine guard and evaporating.

I'll have to get in there with an engine foam and clean the mess.

I'll just have to drive it to see if it continues to lose coolant and go from there.

 

There IS a coolant leak at the Water Pump

So I have seen the leak the service department has found. In fact it may have been there a long time as there is a bit of rust and a reddish residue at the pump behind the main belt pulley at the bottom of the engine. There was also wetness on the pulley and around the weep hole area.

All of the hoses that pass under the engine just above the bottom plastic engine guard are covered in black dirty spooge. Probably coolant has been getting flung around down there for quite a while.

Still, the white clouds bother me. So the water pump will get replaced under warranty (they figured out I had a 10y/100k). If I keep losing coolant, then they'll have to dig further into diagnostics.

One of the methods that was mentioned would be to use a vacuum on the coolant system instead of pressure for a leak test. It is supposed to be better at detecting small leaks..

 

Dealership just called me. Service "adviser" now says they found the leak. Water pump..Only $550 plus labor... She apparently ignored that I have an extended platinum warranty.

Water pump.....???????

I asked where is the white cloud smoke screen coming from? Confused the service adviser..

I asked if there is coolant trapped in the plastic engine guard under the vehicle. Silence...

I stated that I will go there and they can SHOW ME the coolant leaking from the water pump and I will believe it.

Service adviser then tells me she will call me back after asking the techs about the white cloud indications....

Obviously they believe I am ignorant and will spend money on whatever they say it is.

Wow.. This "service" department. Can't they look at the EGR internally and just look for gummy residue? After all of my diagnostics and explanations describing the exact indications of coolant loss, no stains found on floor, the white cloud of smoke intermittently during driving but only when accelerating or letting of the throttle, and it is the water pump?

Is there a path from the pump to the exhaust???

 

Well here it is, almost 8 weeks later since the second time I topped off the coolant reservoir. And, yes, I have noticed I am getting the very sporadic intermittent white cloud of exhaust, and it's almost always while under heavy throttle (3000 RPM) and let of the accelerator the RPM drops and I get a momentary white cloud. I can almost make it appear on demand, regardless of engine temperature.

I am down about one quarter inch in the coolant reservoir. Not a single indication of coolant on the garage floor, or where I park at work, same spot each day for 4 years. So I really am convinced it's getting out the exhaust through the EGR. No oil contamination whatsoever in the reservoir, so it's not a head gasket leak.

I really don't know how to talk to the VW service manager and force a repair on this. I don't want to wait until a catastrophic failure, which might leave me stranded far from home during towing this upcoming year.

I've been to the dealership once about it, and since the Touareg passed a pressure test, they determine it's OK. I can't reason through this. If it's got a coolant teak, it ain't magic, it's going somewhere, which means there's a defect/leak, which means something is wrong. Seriously bothered by their response last time i was there. I'm heading there again this morning to arrange another service visit for the same reason. I am going to pay another $50 for diagnostic. And they may again refute any problem but at least if it does fail in the near future, I can demand they use the diagnostic fees as the $100 deductible for the warranty.

 

Look into used oil analysis. I know it is extremely sensitive for finding things like blown head gaskets due to the elements only found in coolant making their way into the oil. Not sure whether coolant making it into EGR flow then the combustion chamber for burning would be enough.. that'd be a question for bobistheoilguy forums or blackstone/polaris themselves.

It'd just cost you a fill of oil and the ~$40 for UOA testing.

 

Visited the dealer yesterday. They performed a pressure test on the coolant system. I paid for the diagnostic.

No leaks found visually, or in the engine dirt shield. And the pressure test was pronounce OK. No leak found. At best, the only other thing they could do it to leave the pressure testing rig on the Touareg overnight to see if it leaks over a longer period. But because it would require a loaner, they can't do that unless VW were to approve. (I have no other means of transportation, and I work and live too far from the dealership for their shuttle).

Well....Ok then...I made a magic marker scribe line on the reservoir when the coolant is HOT, full operating temperature reached. I'll keep an eye on it over the next few weeks.

With my tow season coming up, I am very wary of having a catastrophic failure of the EGR or anything downstream of the EGR because of a leak.

 

Coolant = anti-freeze for me!

 

I had a coolant issue a couple months ago on my '14, and ended up noticing it collecting at the bottom of the engine bay after a thorough look. I'd figured you'd see a leak underneath, but the coolant is pumping while the engine is running, so unless you're running while parked for a bit it's all going to be dropping out on the road (or vaporizing). If you're seeing white cloud that is probably an indicator of coolant leak in the EGR. Coolant system pressure test should reveal the problem. Water pump could be a leak source too. My dealership replaced the water pump first, then pressure test afterwards revealed incorrectly seated / reused seals all the way down to the EGRs thanks to incompetent replacement of the HPFP by a different VW dealership that predated my ownership. Good luck.

 

I'd figured you'd see a leak underneath, but the coolant is pumping while the engine is running, so unless you're running while parked for a bit it's all going to be dropping out on the road (or vaporizing).

Kinda. The system is pressurized as long as the engine is hot, so even after it is shut down there is some incentive for a leaking system to still leak, at least until the engine is cool. The question is only whether the leak is external or internal.. ie easy(ier) to spot, or not.

 

Touaregs don't use coolant.

The symptoms you describe do point to the EGR and quite a few owners have reported that their EGRs have failed.

 

I'm fairly sure the EGR is the culprit, as it does bear similarities to other threads on coolant leaks.

Coolant is also synonymous with anti-freeze. I guess it depends on the climate, do you need anti-freeze, or coolant? Fortunately for Touareg owners, it's both.



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