My 2015 GSW TDI needs YOUR help.

JSWThinker

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Location
SE Florida, USA
TDI
2015 Golf SportWagen TDI 6M (S)
Hi All,

I have a 2015 GSW TDI S (Manual Trans) and she needs your help.
She has a coolant leak, that I have been able to determine is NOT coming from the firewall heater core.
It appears to be coming from behind the pulleys (water pump?) and then rolls down onto the top of the oil pan lip and then down through a small hole in the oil pan cover. You can make out the wetness (pink) from behind the plastic "cover"

Here is a picture of a "wet" spot behind the pulley area:


And here is where it drips down from after making the trip from up there (?)


Now... I can't be certain that the wet spot is where it is starting, but I have checked ALL the hoses VERY carefully and it doesn't look to be pouring from any of the hoses. And that area behind the plastic shroud/cover is most certainly wet. It gets wet WITHOUT the motor running (seeps out).

So... my questions:

1) Is there a way to cover this under Diesel-Gate?
2) I assume do the timing belt at same time based on miles?

Anything else I should know? I NEVER EVER NEVER bring my car to the dealer and I do ALL my own work, but I'm hammered schedule-wise and am thinking I'm bringing it the dealer.

Also... I have NOT done the latest "recall" (diesel-gate) and wife is VERY worried that it will destroy her mpg. This car is her baby and she refuses to let it go, but doesn't want to lose mpg. It's her "thing" and she loves the car.

Lastly, the car is also burning/leaking some oil... I can't tell you from where, but - same question - how, if at all, can it be on the diesel-gate warranty?

Thank you for reading such a long post, I (and my wife) really appreciate your help!

Pete
 

pedroYUL

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 8, 2011
Location
MI, USA
TDI
2015 Passat CVCA; 2015 GSW CRUA; 2004 wagon BEW(brother)
That's indeed the water pump, kinda common on these. I went with a non shrouded one and noticed no difference in warm up time.

Warranty? It really depends on your dealer, but IMO it will be a fight. If I was you, I would keep topping it up with water (you are in FL) until you can do the timing belt yourself.

I got nothing on the oil consumption/leak.
 

JSWThinker

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Location
SE Florida, USA
TDI
2015 Golf SportWagen TDI 6M (S)
You're sort of reading my mind. Bringing it to the dealership makes my stomach hurt. I never trust they will do it right, or worse, break 10 things along the way.

I had it in for a clock-spring replacement. For some UNKNOWN reason, they pulled the belly pan to do the clock-spring. And left out most of the screws and the bolts. LOL. Horrible.


I'm still interested in hearing others. Thank you.
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, MA. USA
TDI
2015 GSW 6M in S trim the other oil burners: 1967 two stroke Sonett 1988 Bolens DGT1700
1) Is there a way to cover this under Diesel-Gate?
2) I assume do the timing belt at same time based on miles?
Also... I have NOT done the latest "recall" (diesel-gate) and wife is VERY worried that it will destroy her mpg. This car is her baby and she refuses to let it go, but doesn't want to lose mpg. It's her "thing" and she loves the car.
Lastly, the car is also burning/leaking some oil... I can't tell you from where, but - same question - how, if at all, can it be on the diesel-gate warranty?
1: No. Coolant leaking is not emissions control system related.
2: The car is 9 years old, regardless of miles, I'd replace the timing belt.
implied '3': My '15 GSW manual with stage 2 (partial, the DPF replacement was deferred due to low miles at that time) is returning 55+ indicated mpg. I suspect that's about 3~5% optimistic based on the very few fillings so far, but still... 50+ mpg? Having the 'stage 2' work performed adds to the emissions warranty coverage duration.
implied '4': Burning oil rate might be considered, leaking oil would definitely not be considered, covered under the exhaust emissions warranty. Your owners manual does state that some oil consumption is considered to be 'normal'. YOU'd have to demonstrate the consumption rate is more than that VW 'normal' and that the cause is due to a failure of a covered emissions control system component.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Water pumps have been covered under the warranty, but it will depend on the dealer as to how much of a fight it is. Same for oil leaks. I just has a customer successfully get a leaking valve cover replaced under the warranty. It took some effort. Another just got his whole engine replaced due to coolant in the cylinders (another seemingly common thing for the EA888s now).

It is common for the EA288 engines to use some oil.

Water pumps failing on these WELL before the timing belt interval is VERY common. I've probably seen 15+ of them.
 

JSWThinker

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Location
SE Florida, USA
TDI
2015 Golf SportWagen TDI 6M (S)
1: No. Coolant leaking is not emissions control system related.
2: The car is 9 years old, regardless of miles, I'd replace the timing belt.
implied '3': My '15 GSW manual with stage 2 (partial, the DPF replacement was deferred due to low miles at that time) is returning 55+ indicated mpg. I suspect that's about 3~5% optimistic based on the very few fillings so far, but still... 50+ mpg? Having the 'stage 2' work performed adds to the emissions warranty coverage duration.
implied '4': Burning oil rate might be considered, leaking oil would definitely not be considered, covered under the exhaust emissions warranty. Your owners manual does state that some oil consumption is considered to be 'normal'. YOU'd have to demonstrate the consumption rate is more than that VW 'normal' and that the cause is due to a failure of a covered emissions control system component.
Regarding is diesel-gate covers the coolant issue (and perhaps oil):

When I read the Diesel warranty documents, they appear to conflict with what you are saying (including, but not limited to, the part covering the block, etc.)

Additionally, actual experiences indicated by other owners also appear to conflict with what you are saying.

Can you explain?
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Engine coolant and oil leaks have been covered under the warranty quite frequently, I'm not sure what he's about there either. But it is also common for there to be a fight, not just for those items but other items.

I could write a book about the failures of the Dieselgate warranty application as it relates to dealers. It's quite ridiculous.
 

JSWThinker

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Location
SE Florida, USA
TDI
2015 Golf SportWagen TDI 6M (S)
Water pumps have been covered under the warranty, but it will depend on the dealer as to how much of a fight it is. Same for oil leaks. I just has a customer successfully get a leaking valve cover replaced under the warranty. It took some effort. Another just got his whole engine replaced due to coolant in the cylinders (another seemingly common thing for the EA888s now).

It is common for the EA288 engines to use some oil.

Water pumps failing on these WELL before the timing belt interval is VERY common. I've probably seen 15+ of them.

Thank you. This is what I am hearing more often than not.

Do you have any guidance on how to go about making sure it is covered?

Do you bring it to the dealer and *then* fight it out... or should you open a case with
Engine coolant and oil leaks have been covered under the warranty quite frequently, I'm not sure what he's about there either. But it is also common for there to be a fight, not just for those items but other items.

I could write a book about the failures of the Dieselgate warranty application as it relates to dealers. It's quite ridiculous.
Thanks! If it was you, could you walk me through how you would pursue this to get the dealer to work with VWoA and make it happen? It sounds like you have a lot of experience. Should I contact VWoA *BEFORE* I go to the dealer and get them in the loop?
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
If it was ME, I'd fix it myself, or pay a trusted professional who cares to fix it. I wouldn't waste the effort to fight to have a half-assed job done to my car.

How many miles away from 130k is it right now?
 
Last edited:

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Yeah, so honestly I'd just bite the bullet and do the timing belt job now yourself, it isn't all that early. A lot of the EA288 engines have the water pumps fail at 60-80k miles. Yours almost made it the whole way!
 

JSWThinker

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Location
SE Florida, USA
TDI
2015 Golf SportWagen TDI 6M (S)
Found an independent shop that comes highly recommended. Will do timing belt and water pump for $1k.
Sound right/fair?
 

pedroYUL

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Sep 8, 2011
Location
MI, USA
TDI
2015 Passat CVCA; 2015 GSW CRUA; 2004 wagon BEW(brother)
Parts will ring about $400, so $1k is pretty reasonable indeed.
 

JSWThinker

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Location
SE Florida, USA
TDI
2015 Golf SportWagen TDI 6M (S)
Parts will ring about $400, so $1k is pretty reasonable indeed.
That's what I was thinking. It seemed fair to me. The REAL value is this:
I do 99.9% of all my own work. I'm not getting any younger and my kids are busy. I'd LOVE to find a guy that I can bring my stuff to work on and know I'm going to get quality work at a fair price.

I'll be the dude's biggest cheerleader. LOL.
 

bmwM5power

Veteran Member
Joined
May 3, 2007
Location
Rochester NY
TDI
15 GSW TDI S 6MT 02 JETTA TDI GLS 5MT 15 GOLF TDI SE 6MT 15 GOLF TDI SEL DSG
Honestly Id do it myself like Oilhammer said, about $300 for a kit and a half a day of time or a little more, its not that difficult, watch some DIYs on youtube or buy the kit from dieselgeek that comes with their own video. I had a similar situation and VW paid for the TB job, but his was back in 2020 and the car had only 36K mi
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, MA. USA
TDI
2015 GSW 6M in S trim the other oil burners: 1967 two stroke Sonett 1988 Bolens DGT1700
This was directed to me:
Regarding is diesel-gate covers the coolant issue (and perhaps oil):
When I read the Diesel warranty documents, they appear to conflict with what you are saying (including, but not limited to, the part covering the block, etc.)
Additionally, actual experiences indicated by other owners also appear to conflict with what you are saying.
Can you explain?
Sure. Go back and read your initial post.
I'll save you the trouble and quote the pertinent excerpts here.
...I have a 2015 GSW TDI S (Manual Trans).... She has a coolant leak,...
1) Is there a way to cover this under Diesel-Gate?
Again, the answer is NO, It is not covered under the 'diesel-gate' warranty.
It might have been covered under the 36 mo. 36k mi bumper to bumper new vehicle limited warranty. (page 3 of your warranty book)
It might have been covered under the 60 mo. 60k mi powertrain limited warranty. (page 6 of your warranty book)
But it is not covered under the extended emissions warranty.
From page 10 of the extended emissions warranty supplement book:
"Additionally, the engine long block warranty shall cover the engine sub-assembly that consists of the assembled block, crankshaft, cylinder head, camshaft, and valve train."
The water pump is not listed.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
And again, people have had coolant leaks (including the water pump) covered quite frequently. I know this for fact, because I've sent countless people to a dealership for this.

...and I've had to clean up the mess they've made in the process. The butchery I've had to deal with on the V6s after a coolant leak in the valley is repaired is awful.
 

TomB

Veteran Member
Joined
May 1, 2003
Location
Cle Elum, Washington/Las Vegas, Nevada
TDI
2015 Audi TDI Prestige Sport
Water pumps have been covered under the warranty, but it will depend on the dealer as to how much of a fight it is. Same for oil leaks. I just has a customer successfully get a leaking valve cover replaced under the warranty. It took some effort. Another just got his whole engine replaced due to coolant in the cylinders (another seemingly common thing for the EA888s now).

It is common for the EA288 engines to use some oil.

Water pumps failing on these WELL before the timing belt interval is VERY common. I've probably seen 15+ of them.
Still spending time here, huh? Lol...
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, MA. USA
TDI
2015 GSW 6M in S trim the other oil burners: 1967 two stroke Sonett 1988 Bolens DGT1700
Check the time stamps of a majority of his posts. I suspect he gets to the worksite early (traffic avoidance?) and kills time before clocking in for the day.
 
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