Water pump and thermostat housing leaks (EA211)

Engine / equipment

EA211 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 TSI/TFSI petrol (Golf VII, Polo, Octavia III, Leon 5F, A3 8V, Ibiza, Fabia III and other MQB cars)

Period mentioned

2012–2020

Symptoms

Coolant level drops slowly with no visible puddle, dried white or pink residue behind the engine, a sweet smell and a low-level warning. If loss continues, it can overheat.

Possible cause described

The water pump is built into a plastic housing with the thermostats, which warps and cracks with heat cycles, and its seals degrade. A trade magazine also notes that oil from a nearby leak (for example the crankcase ventilation) speeds up failure of the housing and the pump belt.

Check for the garage

With the engine cold, monitor the level for several days and look for dried residue around the housing and the coolant pipe under the air box. At a garage: pressure test and check for nearby oil leaks. Replacing pump and housing as one assembly is recommended; do not use stop-leak products. Never open the system hot.

Cost cited in the source

A reliability guide quotes €500–1,000 for the 1.4 TSI and €300–600 for the 1.2 TSI.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Sources from the original database