hello all
I have a major problem with my 1998 T5. Earlier this season the low coolant light came on, I filled the reservoir and figured the problem was solved. But the light came back on. I topped it off again and it soon came on again. since it recently got cold up here in mn, i figured the reservoir bottled cracked as it never overheated. Until yesterday, I got hot so I immediately stopped and added fluid vowing to find the problem today. This morning when I started the car, it started fine but would not rev past about 2000 rpm. I got out and checked under the hood only to discover that when it revved up to about 2000, it wasn't getting air, so much so that it would collapse the intake hose between the throttle body and the intercooler. The car wouldn't run if that hose was taken off, and when I took the lower IC hose off, I still had the same problem, so I figured there was some blockage in the intercooler. After much frustration, I got the IC off and (of course) discovered some milky fluid in the hoses and IC, no doubt some of my missing coolant. Right now the IC is thawing, I wondered if it got water in it and froze up? Can't think of anything else. Does anyone think the low coolant and no power problems are connected? It appears there is a coolant leak on one of the radiator crimps, so hopefully that is the coolant problem.
Sorry about the long post.
Any Ideas???

 

Dipstick look like that as well?

 

I have not had this problem, however it seems unlikely to me that the intercooler has been plugged with frozen coolant.

If it were coolant, it would not freeze.

I know icing is not uncommon in inter coolers in other cars, might it just be condensation?

Good luck

 

No, at the last oil change it was black. We thought condensation might be a problem, but haven't really heard of it before.

 

Condensation is pretty common in colder climates. If the oil is still clear/normal looking then it is nothing major.

I would clean the best you can and go from there.

 

Thanks for the advice. I had the IC in a warm spot last night so all condensate should be thawed and I will try to clean it out with carb cleaner. Do you think there could be so much frozen concentrate in there to block the intake?

 

I doubt it.
Also the hoses get really weak over time and collapse by them selves it might be time for new hoses.

 

I know hoses can deteriorate over time, but wouldn't those be under pressure most of the time as they are downstream from the turbo? Is it possible the turbo froze up and is restricting air flow?

 

The ones on the side of the intake are under more suction than pressure. Then one that attaches to the throttle body is usually under suction and so is the upper intercooler one.