Rapid coolant loss in cold weather extemely slow to no loss in warm/hot weather

cdc

Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Location
Evanston, Illinois
TDI
2000 new Beetle, 2001 Jetta
My 2001 Jetta Automatic TDI loses coolant rapidly (about every 20 miles of in town driving the light comes on) during the cold weather months.
Now that warm weather is here it seems to hold its level. Initially replaced the reservoir/cap, thermostat and plastic vacuum pump.

Over time coolant has collected in the front two waffle iron like cavities
on the top of the transaxle. I can't directly see a leak at the gasket line, but if the head gasket is leaking above this point why doesn't it leak at a consistent rate regardless of air temperature? Would installation of performance head bolts one at a time in sequence solve this kind of leak
or do I have to sell everything I own and replace the head gasket?

Thanks for any help or insight
 
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