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VW Golf MK2 losing water - bargos
Hi everyone,

Ive just purchased a MK2 which is losing a lot of water from the cooling system. I filled the plastic bottle up to the 'minimum' level and within a couple of days the water level is down to roughly one inch off the bottom of the bottle.

I have checked the oil filler cap for mayo or white residue but it looks fine, although the engine bay has a steamy sort of smell after a run which leads me to think that maybe one of the hoses is letting go?

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks, Barg.
VW Golf MK2 losing water - commerdriver
suggest pressure testing usually works for me I have had problems on one of these with hoses chafing on a 1.3 but given the age all these are now it may just be old age
VW Golf MK2 losing water - novicejon
I had the same problem in my mk2 golf but it was losing water a lot quicker and my heating would was never hot. I replaced the hose from the water container to the top of the radiator and everything was ok again. It cost me about two pound from a junkyard and saved me a fortune in anti-freeze!!
VW Golf MK2 losing water - cholin
Halfords head sealer cured ours, probably not permanently but so far so good 3,000 miles. But the exhaust showed that water was leaking into the cylinders at the time, the only mayo that showed was in the breather pipe between the rocker cover and the carb. I'm expecting possible trouble when I put antifreeze in coupled with winter temperatures which seem to exacerbate mayo.
VW Golf MK2 losing water - pmh
engine bay has a steamy sort of smell after a run which leads me to think that maybe one of the hoses is letting go

Are you sure it is inside engine bay? Does the smell permeate the car? It is well known problem for tthe heater matrix to corrode. Check carefully for leaks & dampness inside the car. If it is this, do a search on 'heater matrix Golf' and you will find a wealth of info.

If under the bonnet only, check (in addition to hoses) that the pressure cap is retaining pressure.

pmh (was peter)
VW Golf MK2 losing water - sean
May or may not help you, mate.

Are you aware that this car was subject to a recall to have either a bypass hose or a new heater matrix fitted?

They could overheat in traffic and burst the matrix, showering driver and passenger with scalding water.

All VWs from 1984 to 1997 free dealer check.
VW Golf MK2 losing water - bargos
Thanks guys,

I may have sussed the problem at the weekend - a hairline crack in the radiator where the tope tube joins. I wound a load of araldite into it and smeared some silicon sealant over it afterwards. If that doesnt fix it then Ill try some radweld although am not sure whether this will work on the plastic where the crack is. Anyway at least ive found the problem :-)

Thanks again,
VW Golf MK2 losing water - Drew20
just a radweld warning, this destroyed the heater matrix on my mk2. this is an absolute pink fluffy dice to replace. I\'ve heard of it happening to other mk2s too

fingers crossed you\'ve got it already
VW Golf MK2 losing water - bargos
Could be time to go the Organic route and use an egg!