Million dollar question here..... I have noticed a familiar hot coolant smell under the bonnet when I've driven the car and also had to top the coolant up a bit. Been like this for a few thousand miles I would say so isn't loosing alot.... at the minute... but as I can smell it also it must be steaming off from somewhere although can't be alot. Anyone experiences a similar issue? I've read plenty about people topping up 250ml every couple hundred mile but I'm not there yet. I've had a look around under the bonnet and can't see any tell tale signs of leakage runs anywhere, without stripping alot off suppose I might not see or even then might not be enough of a leak?  Middle of the v is my worry as its a big job I beleive to change a cheap plastic part out..... as most have already said this should've been a recall as its so comon an issue....

The EGR cooler is a common location for invisible coolant losses. It's quite an expensive job I believe.

In for a service and gonna get it pressure tested. Not hopeful this is gonna be resolved easilly as it doesn't loose alot, so leak must be very small. Can smell it though, the obvious hot coolant steamy smell, from the engine cooling fan blowing when I stop..... problem I have is we driving to south of france in june..... I've been driving it up and down to aberdeen with just the odd 100-150mm top up now and then but breaking down in france with a car full and my dog..... bit risky

On 1/31/2025 at 4:51 PM, cliffcoggin said:

The EGR cooler is a common location for invisible coolant losses. It's quite an expensive job I believe.

I have been quoted £3.5k does that sound right?

Welcome Moises, 

 Exactly what does this quote cover, and who is it from? 
How many alternative quotes have you sought for the same job?

Regards,

Gareth. 

14 hours ago, Enfieldgooner14 said:

I have been quoted £3.5k does that sound right?

I haven't a clue. The ideal person to ask would be Pappa583, but he has not bothered to keep us updated. You could try a private message to him, or just phone around for quotations.

2 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

I haven't a clue. The ideal person to ask would be Pappa583, but he has not bothered to keep us updated. You could try a private message to him, or just phone around for quotations.

Didn't realise yous were waiting... sorry.... turned out the coolant leak was the valve right in the v, luckily my cousin had recently opened his own mot station and garage so he took the job on. It is alot to strip, inlet manifold, throttle bodies and egr removed, cleaned while they were off the car as only 70k miles and they were almost clogged with black carbon/gunk..... and i only use premium diesel and majority of my driving is motorway, both short journeys..... wouldn't have thought be a cheap job to a stranger but I paid quite alot for that job and that's family, good days work to strip and rebuild, without the extra time I spent at his garage cleaning the inlet manifold and egr valve, which I doubt would be a normal part of the valve change?

Edited December 5, 2025Dec 5 by Pappa583
Premium diesel

Thank you Paul. This is a forum where information is supposed to flow both ways so that everyone benefits from shared knowledge, not just the questioner.

23 hours ago, Magnet said:

Welcome Moises, 

 Exactly what does this quote cover, and who is it from? 
How many alternative quotes have you sought for the same job?

Regards,

Gareth. 

From a local Indy but I will be consulting a few. Seemed pricey considering I had a similar job on my old e350d which only cost £1200. Seems the issue is the over use of plastic parts in a hot part of the engine!

Thanks Moises, but you are still not answering the crucial question I asked yesterday. 

Replacement of the coolant shut off value I believe they call it.