Sounds bad, I truly hope you didn't get hosed by the dealer. I can't think of many reasons for oil in the coolant, cracked block maybe. Are the turbo's water cooled on tdi's?

 

One of the Aussie members with an R5 reported a coolant loss a while ago that included having coolant in the oil. If I remember correctly, it ended up being the water pump. Since it is gear-driven, there is a seal that was letting coolant get into the oil/lubrication system.

Replacing the water pump on this engine requires removal of the transmission, so it is a big deal. However, there may be a recall out on the water pump that may cover it. I know there was a campaign in Australia that (i believe) addressed this issue. Hopefully there is something similar that can take care of this for you.

Good luck,
Matt

 

yes sounds like the water pump seal has failed.. vw should cover this

 

Oil in the coolant is normally a sign of a blown head gasket. This is what I have learned over the years. This may not apply to VW since I am new to VW.

 

that is true but he is not boiling or expelling fluid due to high pressure etc.. hopefully!!! and more likely is the "common" issue of the oil pump seal...

 

According to the instruction manual the coolant fluid should be purple unless it has been contaminated with a coolant that is not compatible in which case it turns dark brown and will need changing. Its possible that you dont have any oil in your coolant.

 

Yes- I too would say it is a probelm with the water pump allowing oil into the cooling system (I had the same issue on my prevous Treg).

 

It will be your oil cooler at fault, causing the oil and coolant to mix. Our workshop has done 3 in the last 3 weeks. Also the VW T5 vans with the same engine have the same fault. Here is the technical bulletin.


Technical solution
Transaction No.: 2007699/4
Oil in coolant/coolant warning light on (5 cyl.)
Release date: 07-Sep-2007

Problem description

The coolant warning light is on, although sufficient coolant is available.
The coolant in the reservoir is contaminated with oil, this falsifies the display value of the coolant level sender.​

Cause

Internal leak on the oil cooler.​

Production solution

Optimised oil cooler from engine number:​

•

BPE 013308​

•

BPD 001737​

•

BAC no longer in production​

•

BLK no longer in production​

Service solution

If there is oil in the coolant, the oil cooler must be replaced.
Add G 052 188 A3 at a 1:1 ratio to remove the oil from the cooling system.
Clean the cooling system for about 10 minutes at operating temperature after the thermostat opens. Perform a test drive. Drain the coolant drain and flush the cooling system with water. If necessary, repeat the cleaning.
For a complete draining the cooling system must be opened on the heating transition point at the right front drive shaft/steering rack. For the draining of the engine take off the right screw on the water pump worm gear as this is the lowest point of the cooling system.
Perform a 40 km test drive and check whether the complaint is fixed.​

•

Do not replace any further parts (such as cylinder head gasket or cylinder head ), as this does not cure the problem.​

•

If it becomes necessary, only replace the coolant reservoir after the cleaning.​

Accounting instructions

Service number /damage code/ manufacturer: 1740/ 050/ ...​

Main operation
Associated operation
Repair operation
Designation
Time units
Main operation
17 40 19 70
Remove and install oil cooler
160 TU
01 50 00 00
Guided fault finding / guided function
2) TU according to diagnosis protocol
Associated operation
19 01 29 99
Clean cooling system
30 TU
19 38 17 99
Drain and fill up coolant
40 TU
19 40 55 99
Replace reservoir
20 TU
Total:


250 TU1)
1) Use the specified time only for this TPL.
2) The necessary time for using the VAS tester is not included above, these times are assessed separately.​

Argumentation

 

good info, an issue i don't think i have seen on CT before

 

Hate to tell you buddy but I had oil in my cooling water too and guess what - no, no new gasket but a new block was required. 20k€ = 30k$ and 3 months later I still dont have my car back. It is a V10TDI.
I hoped for a long time that it was the gasket but not so!!
I live in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands therefore 3 months. Dont even know there what a socket wrench is!!
So I will be switching from VW to someting else soon.
Hope yours will be better than mine.

 

There is now a VW campaign on R5 touaregs and T5 vans for the replacement of oil coolers. This is for 2007 vehicles on.

 

Sounds like they recognize the problem. Where do we go in Europe if we want to go straight to the head with technical complaints. E-mail address or something directly to main technical customer support?

 

I suffered with the same fault on my 2004 2.5R5 - there was a production fault with the oil cooler (mis-assembly of the seals by the supplier) which leads to oil entering the coolant system. My Treg ended up on the back of a low loader after a two week holiday in France - it was replaced under warranty.

Hope you get it resolved

Kaine

 

they don't want to recognize this problem for all cars. I have a R5 and I had to change the oil radiator (aprox 750 euro). I heard about this common problem and I told at service but they said that my car is not in the susceptible group, so no money back...
Is there an office for complainings at VW? an e-mail or fax number?

 

STOP Press. The 2nd engine sprung a leak also and now I am in the process of getting engine number 3 installed. This time it will be a guarantee case since I never installed my chips again on the 2nd engine - but I'll be missing my car for 3-4 months again!!
Not good

 

Hi,

I got the same problem here with my 2005 R5. First, when I told the dealer that I found oil in the coolant and I have to top up my coolant every 2 months, they told me that it was caused by the failed water pump. So, they replace the water pump with the new one.

9 months later, I found oil in the coolant again. Now, they told me that the problem was in engine cooler.

Can someone please advise what's the difference between engine cooler and water pump? I know that water pump is part of the engine cooling system. I just want to know what they mean by engine cooler.

Thanks for your help

 

Engine coolant

Hi Samosof

I believe that the oil cooler on my enigne (#2) was the source of the leak. Hence communication between the water and engine oil. Somewhere.
As I understand it the water pump drives the water through the whole water side while a separate oil pump drives oil through the oil side of the cooler.
I have not had more problems since - with that. But countless other nagging issues.

Keep your powder dry.

Hi,

I got the same problem here with my 2005 R5. First, when I told the dealer that I found oil in the coolant and I have to top up my coolant every 2 months, they told me that it was caused by the failed water pump. So, they replace the water pump with the new one.

9 months later, I found oil in the coolant again. Now, they told me that the problem was in engine cooler.

Can someone please advise what's the difference between engine cooler and water pump? I know that water pump is part of the engine cooling system. I just want to know what they mean by engine cooler.

Thanks for your help

 

The part you are refering to is actually an OIL COOLER. It's a little heat exchanger that sits underneath the oil filter. It uses engine coolant to cool the engine oil.

There was a TSB out years ago on the replacement of the oil cooler. Small cracks would appear between the oil and water channels, causing oil to leak into the coolant system.

I had the same symptoms. Mine was replaced at around 75,000km.

 

Need help ..

2008 Touareg V6
72000 KM
Out of warranty .. Oil in Coolant
I need some contacts for VW ..

The Warranty expired 6 months ago :'(

Any leads pls message me ..

 

Help. Oil in Coolant.

Hi, I have just read all of the posts to this thread and wondered if somebody could re-assure me.
I have a 56 plate (2006) uk 2.5l Touareg. I have had it for exactly 1 year. 2 days ago the warning came on for the coolant level being low. I took it to the garage and they topped it up. Went back today as the light had come back on and they have found oil in the water. We dont think it was there 3 weeks ago when it was mot'd as they checked it over for me as we have a big journey ahead of us at christmas.
They are very confused as they have checked everything and cant find a leak. Its dry. They are talking head gaskets but cant find water in the oil so cant be sure. Someone also said it could be a crack in the cylinder head. What do I do when nobody knows for sure? I cant do the journey to France like it is.
Obviously want it to be the cheapest solution as dual mass fly wheel had to be done in June so already £1500 out of pocket from that.
They are speaking a different language and not sure what to do now.
Any suggestions or advice would be great.
Thanks

 

it could be something as simple at the oil cooler leaking into the coolant. just because you have oil in the coolant does not mean that the headgasket is leaking. also if it was the headgasket you would have overheating problems and coolant would be overflowing out of the reservoir.

 

Im hoping its something more like the oil cooler. I have to say the car feels fine and there have been no signs (touch wood) of anything wrong other than this warning light. I am going to phone a specialist in the morning to get some more advice particually after ready the above and your advice. I feel that if it was the head gasket it would be obivous and would be diagnosed straight away. I have been told to drive it and keep checking the water level. They are expecting to see water in the oil at some point?? Thank you.

 

My 2005 V8 with 93K miles just went into the shop with the same symptoms:
- "Insufficient Coolant" warning, but coolant level and water/oil temps normal
- Oily dark froth on top of the oil reservoir
- No water in the engine oil

My mechanic (not a dealer) believes it's the oil cooler, but is hesitant to dig into it without knowing because it's listed as an 18.1 hour job (at $125/hour). Last year I purchased what I thought was a pretty complete extended warranty, but it looks like the oil cooler isn't covered...huge bummer.

From those who have seen this problem, was the water pump ever isolated as the root cause, or is the oil cooler the primary offender in most cases?

If I pay to fix this, can I expect related follow-on problems resulting from oil in my coolant, such as a gummed up heater core?

I'm tempted to flush the system, drive it to a dealer and trade it in at this point!

 

From my experience with this problem, it turned out the oil on the coolant was the cause of the false reading of the level sensor.

My suggestion is, if you can maybe first try to remove the oil on top of the coolant first and see if the problem still exist. If it still exists and you found oil on the coolant again, probably there is a leak, either on the water pump or the oil cooler. But the false reading still happening while no oil in the coolant, it means you have to flush the sensor because probably there is still oil left there.

 

Thanks for the response, but I'm really not too concerned with the sensor at this point as much as I am in determining the source of the contamination. I don't want to spend over $2.5K in maintenance replacing the oil cooler if the water pump ends up being the problem. That's my main concern. So I'm curious whether anyone has actually had the same problem and narrowed it down to the water pump.

Thanks.

 

Flush and trade seems quite a neat [if naughty] option!

 

I have my 2008 V6 Tourareg in the shop as we speak for faulty oil cooler seals leaking oil into coolant. After the temp warning came on, I looked at coolant and it came out a tan colored foam. Manual says if coolant is brown it may be contaminated by wrong grade of coolant. No such luck. At least the car is under warranty as a certified pre-owned. Dealer said this was more common on early 2000 Passats but I guess it can happen to the Tourareg as well. This is a 3-4 day fix with ordering a new oil cooler, all new hoses, and possibly replacing radiator if they can't flush the oil out. What a mess. Scary as Ive only owned the car for 3 mo. now. Any word of continuing problems after this repair?

 

Hopefully they will have the sense to change the engine oil and carry out an engine flush.

 

I Have a 2004 2.5 TDI Had the coolant level warning. I have had the oil cooler changed and the seals attaching the housing to the block. Mechanic flushed system re filled with coolant and oil and tested blew the oil out of the coolant bottle and sucked all the oil out of the sump in about 3 minutes of running the car has covered about 80,000 miles Any Ideas??