A3 TDI using water

[red tasmin]

Hi, my A3 TDI uses about 1 litre of water every 200 miles or so. temp guage stay rock steady at mid point even when water level has ran down. Any ideas? Thanks Roger.

[Gren]

Happened to my wife's 2.0T (petrol one). Apparently there was a design/parts issue with an O ring on the coolant reservoire. Changed hers but it still was happening - ended up being sorted out by fitting a new radiator.

Maybe yours is the O-ring?

[red tasmin]

Thanks for that i will look into it!

[00161wj]

The 0-ring problem is on the 2.0 turbo petrol engine so not a problem with your vehicle. If its using that much you should be able to see it surely, unles ofcourse its an internal fault.

[JeffC]

red tasmin said:

Hi, my A3 TDI uses about 1 litre of water every 200 miles or so. temp guage stay rock steady at mid point even when water level has ran down. Any ideas? Thanks Roger.

if its a 2.0 tdi they have head problems and its not a cheap fix Ive also known quite a few radiators leak on them too.

[philip walker]

As above I have changes loads of A3 rads in the last few months.
Rads are cheap genuine iro £80 oem Valio around £50. Two hour work to change.

[phumy]

philip walker said:

As above,
I have changed loads of A3 rads in the last few months.
Genuine rads are iro £80 OEM around £50, plus two hours to change.

I was always under the impression that Genuine was OEM!!!! How can they be different prices?

[AdrianR]

phumy said:

I was always under the impression that Genuine was OEM!!!! How can they be different prices?

Cost of sales. Motor factors operate out of grubby warehouse units and sell stuff by the truckload direct to people who just want stuff that works and don't care whose logo is on the box. Dealers operate out of shiny chrome/glass/marble showrooms and spend a fortune on advertising, brand management, "customer experience" etc.

You pays your money....

AdrianR

[phumy]

AdrianR said:

phumy said:

I was always under the impression that Genuine was OEM!!!! How can they be different prices?

Cost of sales. Motor factors operate out of grubby warehouse units and sell stuff by the truckload direct to people who just want stuff that works and don't care whose logo is on the box. Dealers operate out of shiny chrome/glass/marble showrooms and spend a fortune on advertising, brand management, "customer experience" etc.

You pays your money....

AdrianR

So you are saying "cost of sales" determines if its OEM or Genuine, sorry you lost me on that one

[philip walker]

Bit off topic, but since you asked.

The Genuine VW rad is supplied by the VW dealer and is boxed acordingly.
The OEM quality is often the same make, Valio in this instance, but supplied by an independant parts supplier.

Edited by philip walker on Monday 17th March 19:25