Steve,

I had a similar experience and set of symptoms.  The final determination
was that the rear heater valve was leaking at the shaft at an almost
imperceptible rate, enough to cause the level to drop, but not enough to
be self-evident.  The problem baffled the VW gurus for about three
months, until my wife discovered the "damp" carpet, but without the
usual sweet smell of leakage of coolant which accompanies the leaking
valve syndrome.

Kyle supplied a French-made valve at a competitive price.

Just a thought for you to consider.

Regards,

Tom Hanlon

Steve Manning wrote:

> I have been monitoring my coolant resevoir for the past few months and
>
> have
> noticed that it hasn't been going to the max line after driving for a
> while. It used to be it would fluctuate
> between the min and max level (usually at max when hot) then back down
>
> more towards the middle. Now, recently it has been sitting at the min
> level whether it is hot or not. It may go up a hair when hot but
> nowhere
> near the max level where I feel it shold be when hot. I have been
> checking
> the ground, but there are no leaks, nor am I blowing any white smoke.
> With
> the long coolant lines in our vehicles, is it possible that it could
> evaporate in a sealed system?  I also do not smell coolant outside the
>
> vehicle when it is hot. The manual states to add coolant when it gets
> below the min level, but not to check for leaks or take it in. So, by
> the
> manual saying to just add coolant seems to me VW expects loss of
> coolant
> somehow.
> Any suggestions???
>
> -steve-