Evening all, the garage I purchased my 11 plate fabia 1.6 tdi from had told me it was lastly serviced at a skoda dealer, and had blue coolant put into it. when taking it to my local skoda dealer they informed this coolant wasn't the correct one for skoda as theres is pink/red  (g13)and I should change it as itll destroy the radiator. spoke to my mechanic friend and he said it wont make an ounce of difference just skoda trying to get me to change it for a big expense.

 

my question to you is I need to top it up a little (less than 500ml) and ive been told by a mate just to add a little water and when I get it serviced change it for genuine skoda stuff. but will topping it up with this small amount of water knacker anything up or am I just being a worrier?

 

thanks

Water will be fine. But the coolant definitely should not be blue. You will need to get the system flushed before adding the proper stuff (G12+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++, or G13)

I agree and there is a difference in additives between the two! I'd get it flushed and changed mate but in the mean time a small amount of water or what is already in there will suffice till it's changed

Given that it's summer even if you added a litre of water you wouldn't have a problem.

 

I think that if you just added to the right stuff to the blue stuff, gunge would precipitate out and cause problems.

the g12+ / G13 is specifically designed to prevent corrosion in aluminium systems,( low silicate or something if memory is correct) if it is blue then it is likely to be the old ethylene glycol based and not particulally friendly in ali engine based on the amount of sludge and rust you used to have to flush out engines years ago by reverse flushing them

Would also suggest you use demin water rather than tap water; hard water can lead to lime scale and soft water is slightly acidic.

 

Get mine from Wlco's; about 70 or 80 pence a litre.

 

 

TP

bugger. were of on Thursday on a 3000mile 2 week trip do you guys reckon I should get this changed before then?

Is the Coolant level at minimum or just above?

 

Use some water that has been boiled in the kettle but is cool and just top up to MINIMUM.-or Just above when the car is cold.

  ** do not fill to MAXIMUM.**

 

Or is the System losing Coolant & needs attention before the trip .?

 

If everything is OK & has been OK,  no issues up to now,  just do the top up.

 

If your 3000 mile trip is to Arctic Regions or where you expect temperatures below Freezing,

maybe get the fluid changed.

 

The Coolant is not only an Antifreeze, it is Summer Coolant & a Rust Inhibitor.

 

Have fun on your trip.

george

Boiling the water in a kettle won't make any difference.

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No but if you are not going to buy Distilled Water it is better than straight from the tap, In My Opinion and Experience.

(& it is as we were Trained while Serving our time as Mechanics.)

 

The thing is, if there is no advantage,

there is also nothing going to be worse than using Tap Water as it leaves the tap.

Actually if you're in a hard water area boiling it will make it harder. A kettle doesn't really boil for long enough though but all your doing is boiling off some of the water whilst not changing the mineral content.

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cheers for the well wishes for the trip, its to Poland and its between 20c and 30c the coolant is just below the minimum by less than 10mm I have deionised water at work we use for forklift batteries dya suggest that or boiled water?

im phoning my mechanic tomorrow and seeing if he can get us in before Thursday to get it changed, just to be super safe.

What you were doing when you actually boiled the kettle, and then topped up with the Boiled Water still hot, was to save time.

 

That was saving time getting the cars coolant to 90 *oC and the thermostat open, and get the system hot and bleed.

& we were boiling the kettle anyway to check the thermostat, and have a Tea Break.

The Invoice usually had a 50 pence on it for a Bottle of Distilled Water anyway.

Or Antifreeze and Distilled Water.

 

 

But that was then and this is now.  Those things never happen now!!

And don't forget the G12/G13 acts as a proper water pump seal lubricant too as does most antifreeze these days. But the G12/13 is very good at that.

greeny43,  

 How many miles on your car, had it maybe been in for a belt & water pump change when the garage put in Blue Antifreeeze ?

 

Maybe Estate Man or someone else can comment on the Service Interval on them, & your cars mileage.

ah yes the garage had replaced the cambelt water pump etc. this was done approximately 4-5 months ago and ive done about 5k since then 40k then 45k now.

the blue stuff is a lot cheaper to fill the system with, might be a clue

Why has it had a cam belt and water pump at 40k and 3 yrs old ??, service book for mine (diff engine i know) states 150,000KM!! , anyway I agree with above, top it up and get it changed when your back.