Folks,

Last week I gave my Octavia (1.6, Petrol, 2002 Ambiente) for service and for easter weekend I took it to Wales. There I noticed my car has a serious coolant leak and the coolant reservoir empties as soon as the engine starts running. Since I had to come back to home for emergency, I topped the coolant for every 50 miles and drove 180 odd miles yesterday. There were no garages open and I had to mix the coolants (halfords G12, Uniblue universal and carplan universal) to drive back home without over heating the engine.

Now, I have an appointment, tomorrow, with the garage which serviced my car. What should I be checking with the mechanic? details like, mixed coolant in the engine would damage anything seriously, a super flush needed etc.

And, a skoda dealer is advisable for this kind of work or any garage is fine?

Any info would be much appreciated. I like this car very much and I feel guilty for going against the advise of mixing coolant. ;o(

Cheers.

I'd imagine that if it were leaking, it would be from either the bottom hose on the radiator or the thermostat housing?, as these are probably the places where the system was broken into for the coolant change. How much coolant did you put in all together? The reason for this is because it may have been incorrectly filled, and had an air lock in the system. If this were the case then the coolant level would go down and not leak from anywhere as the coolant will be filling the air gaps in the system.

Have a look around the bottom right (facing the front of your car) of your radiator to see if it looks wet around the area of the bottom hose.

I would make sure that once the problem is sorted out, that the coolant system is flushed through thoroughly, and filled with the correct stuff (G12).

Thanks Skoda Norm. I could see the coolant is coming out on the left bottom of the car, facing the front. It's pouring down. I filled around 500 ml (till the upper xxx mark in the reservoir) everytime I topped up. Sometime up to a litre, hoping some would go in to the engine to keep it from over heating.

Ideally, you need to look under the bonnet down at the radiator as the coolant can run along the bottom of the car and 'look' like it's coming from a different side. Obviously there is a leak then, not just air trapped in the system. Get it back to whoever changed the coolant for them to fix/flush the system.

Sorry. I just re-read your post. I was assuming that your coolant had been changed during the service? Yes/No?

If not, then you need to get the system checked (by any decent garage). I had a coolant leak less than a month ago on my Octavia. The radiator on mine was corroded on both bottom corners and thus leaking. I got a new radiator from euro car parts for £26 + VAT and fitted it myself. It's a fairly easy job if you have the right tools. Good luck.

bottom left when viewed from the front...... epic water pump leak? Or have I got my directions backwards?

sorry guys if I confused you both.. if I view from the front, the leak is on my left. i.e, driver side on the car. is that water pump leak?

Assuming your car is a RHD then that is on the side of the water pump.

What was done at your last service? Cambelt?

Can you see how far back the leak is occurring from? front (i.e. rad), or a bit further back (i.e. engine)?

The coolant comes out in the front. Service was an interim one and no cambelt change. Mine clocked close to 85k now.