EGR cooler, head gasket or something else?

[Aliceincamperland]

Tired teacher breaking up for Easter on Thursday..but....17 PLATE T6 with 105k on clock had MOT last week. Noticed low coolant, I said that I was often filling it up over the last 18 months or so..always ' a bit low'. When I open the cap ( when cold) it releases alot of pressure, bubbles and dumps coolant on the floor below. Oil had vasiline type gunk in cap too and some specks on the dip stick...has been in garage all day. They think its the egr cooler or head gasket but can't do a sniff test as its diesel. Had a new egr done by the same garage last year. I have to let them know what I want them to do first thing in the morning. Also hot an oil leak, cant remember whete they said it was but falling into the tray underneath. They said the egr coolant is a vw part so not cheap. Im gutted, but even more skint...any/all thoughts appreciated...

 

[Aliceincamperland]

Bump...

 

[PhillH]

Ask them to do a pressure test then blank the coolant hoses to the egr cooler and pressure test again. That should give them a idea of where the oil and water are mixing

 

[Aliceincamperland]

Ask them to do a pressure test then blank the coolant hoses to the egr cooler and pressure test again. That should give them a idea of where the oil and water are mixing

I don't know if they blanked the coolant hoses but they did a pressure test yesterday.

 

[PhillH]

What was the results? Did it show a pressure drop? Only way to work out if it is the egr cooler or head gasket is to blank one off. Don’t forget you have a water cooled charge cooler too.

 

[T32Rich]

Tired teacher breaking up for Easter on Thursday..but....17 PLATE T6 with 105k on clock had MOT last week. Noticed low coolant, I said that I was often filling it up over the last 18 months or so..always ' a bit low'. When I open the cap ( when cold) it releases alot of pressure, bubbles and dumps coolant on the floor below. Oil had vasiline type gunk in cap too and some specks on the dip stick...has been in garage all day. They think its the egr cooler or head gasket but can't do a sniff test as its diesel. Had a new egr done by the same garage last year. I have to let them know what I want them to do first thing in the morning. Also hot an oil leak, cant remember whete they said it was but falling into the tray underneath. They said the egr coolant is a vw part so not cheap. Im gutted, but even more skint...any/all thoughts appreciated...

Why can't you do "sniff test" on a diesel? Seen it done before by RAC with definate (positive failure) results

 

[DXX]

17 PLATE T6 with 105k on clock

If it is the original or even the second EGR unit during the vans life it’s fairly safe to assume that it will be heavily fouled with carbon.
It maybe more cost effective to just renew the EGR than more diagnostic sessions, get a comparison parts cost from Autodoc or similar, Pierburg make some of the VW EGR units.

 

[DXX]

Why can't you do "sniff test" on a diesel? Seen it done before by RAC with definate (positive failure) results

Exactly, maybe it’s not in the best workshop for the job?
If it does turn out to be positive for hydrocarbons make sure that the coolant system is flushed as if tested again at a later date it will test positive when it may no longer be a linked symptom

 

[PhillH]

There is mention of a new EGR in the first post but chances are it may not be a genuine unit.

 

[DXX]

There is mention of a new EGR in the first post but chances are it may not be a genuine unit.

Missed that. Sadly also a possibility that it was never replaced but just flushed.

 

[Jarvie.I]

I had similar issue, just updated my post saying Radiator leak fluid sorted it for me.