Hi guys,

This is my first post here so I may be posting it in the wrong forum so go easy;). I have a 2001 1.4 comfort and I have the car a few months now. I have noticed that the coolant colour is green and after looking in the manual it says it should be red or G12. Now the radiator has been changed so maybe thats why the coolant is green. When I open the coolant reservoir there is a kind of off white scum sitting on top of the coolant. Not sure is this a problem?

I think a flushing of the system may be in order what do you guys think?? If you think this is necessary have you any idea how to go about this in the correct manner. Have a small bit of engine knowledge but not sure about this one.

Cheers

Welcome to Briskoda,

A bit tricky this one. Green coolant will either be G10 or simply a motor factors general anti freeze. G12 will react to any old green coolant in the system, and turn to a gel like substance that can clog the system.

So you would have to flush the entire system, including the heater matrix. Your car may have a coolant drain tap on or close to the radiator. Remove expansion tank cap, and open drain tap, make sure heater controls are set to hot position. Flush system through with water from a hose for at least ten minutes.

Close drain tap and fill with G12 mixed 50/50 with water. Or you can buy G12 premixed.

Welcome to Briskoda,

A bit tricky this one. Green coolant will either be G10 or simply a motor factors general anti freeze. G12 will react to any old green coolant in the system, and turn to a gel like substance that can clog the system.

So you would have to flush the entire system, including the heater matrix. Your car may have a coolant drain tap on or close to the radiator. Remove expansion tank cap, and open drain tap, make sure heater controls are set to hot position. Flush system through with water from a hose for at least ten minutes.

Close drain tap and fill with G12 mixed 50/50 with water. Or you can buy G12 premixed.

Cheers I will check if there is a drain tap on the radiator. Think I will get a new coolant reservoir as well as it is difficult to read the coolant level. Not sure how to change this but it doesnt look too difficult.

Would there be a chance that the system will get airlocked doing this moggytech?

The drain tap's on the bottom-nearside corner IIRC. Changing the reservoir when the system's empty is pretty easy, and the logical thing to do. As you're filling the system from empty, you may save a bit of money by looking for TL-774D spec coolant, which is what third-party suppliers call G12. To avoid airlocks, fill the system to 'max', start the engine with the expansion tank lid off and the heater control in the cabin set to 'hot' (red) Run it at a fast idle (say 1500rpm) until the radiator fans kick in and go off again. Then check the level in the expansion tank and top up as required. You may need one last top-up after the engine's cooled down,

As for the 'mayonnaise', it's probably short-run syndrome, but it's worth going through this:

eBay.co.uk Guides - HOW TO TEST FOR A FAILED HEAD GASKET

...to be on the safe side!

(If you can cope with it all being in caps!!! )

The drain tap's on the bottom-nearside corner IIRC. Changing the reservoir when the system's empty is pretty easy, and the logical thing to do. As you're filling the system from empty, you may save a bit of money by looking for TL-774D spec coolant, which is what third-party suppliers call G12. To avoid airlocks, fill the system to 'max', start the engine with the expansion tank lid off and the heater control in the cabin set to 'hot' (red) Run it at a fast idle (say 1500rpm) until the radiator fans kick in and go off again. Then check the level in the expansion tank and top up as required. You may need one last top-up after the engine's cooled down,

As for the 'mayonnaise', it's probably short-run syndrome, but it's worth going through this:

eBay.co.uk Guides - HOW TO TEST FOR A FAILED HEAD GASKET

...to be on the safe side!

(If you can cope with it all being in caps!!! )

Cheers apogee this is very helpful. I will run through this guide to check if I have a head gasket failure also. Thank you.