Have asked this in a few groups on Facebook but checking in here for opinions.

 

Had the car serviced a week ago, changed from 5w30 to 5w40. Since then I have smelt a burning or hot rubber smell after any sort of drive. Even a minor one. Huge amount of heat coming out the front grill. Opened the bonnet today  again and I heard hissing around the actual engine block. Opened the oil cap and it seems to be from in there. The car oil temp is usually around 90c, it gets to 102c on a long run. Also the other day the radiator fan kicked in very loudly after switching the car off twice on the same day, have never heard it do that before.

 

Never really noticed anything like this before the service. Anything to worry about or could this be something about nothing?

 

Thanks

I hope the correct 5 w 40 was used.     5w 40 Full Synthetic to VW 502 00.   

If so that should cause no issue.

 

102*oC is fine on a run depending on the ambient temp, and with 5w 40FS the temp so drop quick enough as you slow down and the fans are on.

That is what oil does.

 

?

Did you check the oil level when you collected the car, both stone cold and then at 'Operating Temperature', ie once at about 90*oC?

Was and is the level correct?

5 hours ago, HarleQuinn said:

Have asked this in a few groups on Facebook but checking in here for opinions.

 

Had the car serviced a week ago, changed from 5w30 to 5w40. Since then I have smelt a burning or hot rubber smell after any sort of drive. Even a minor one. Huge amount of heat coming out the front grill. Opened the bonnet today  again and I heard hissing around the actual engine block. Opened the oil cap and it seems to be from in there. The car oil temp is usually around 90c, it gets to 102c on a long run. Also the other day the radiator fan kicked in very loudly after switching the car off twice on the same day, have never heard it do that before.

 

Never really noticed anything like this before the service. Anything to worry about or could this be something about nothing?

 

Thanks

 

The water cooling system is the maIn way the engine dumps unwanted heat so I would think it would have to be the thermostat that is suspect.  

 

A couple of ways to read water temp, rather than oil temp, I gather...

 

 

 

 

As "the Client" has said 5w40 oil of the correct vw 502 spec should not cause any issue at all (been using that spec oil for over a year in mine)

 

A little smoke or haze from the oil cap (when u take it off) is normal on any engine that is at operating temp.

 

As suggested check the oil level when stone cold and working temp just to make sure they have put the right amount in (oil expands that why you check cold and hot)

 

If these prove fine then have the cooling system checked,the thermostats can fail, and water pumps can leak which can be hard to spot, i found mine was leaking by seeing coolant on the under tray.

 

One check to do when collecting a car after it is serviced is where the technician put the coolant to, if they do anything with it,

& if they topped it to MAX, because it will and does set it's own level.

ie between MIN & MAX,  as there is no 'FILL TO THIS LEVEL' mark,   and MAX is not the 'Fill to this level mark.

 

As to 'not being aware of the fans kicking in before',   something was wrong then if the water pump and fans never came when 5w 30 FS Long Life oil was used if the oil had got to over 100*oC and you parked.  

So maybe not being aware is the issue and all is well with the car as serviced.

 

?

Who serviced it, a Main Dealership or An-other?

Hi all I can confirm Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 502.00 was used. There was about 0.6 litre left in the oil container which to me means 4.4 litres were added, I had read this is correct as 0.2 litres can remain in the engine when doing a change?

 

I'll check the levels today, I did check it the other day and it looked fine but can't remember how cold the engine was.

 

What I mean by the radiator kicking in / noise, it's been working fine no problem. I'd never heard it on after switching the engine off until last week though. It had never done this. Only stayed on for about 30 seconds.

 

My uncles serviced the car, they have been mechanics for over 40 years and have their own reputable business. I am hoping this is all normal behaviour to be honest.

I am hoping this burning smell is as simple as a degreaser I have applied on the plastic covers when cleaning the engine bay and when the engine covers gets hot any residue smells.

 

The oil or engine hissing when opening the bonnet prompted this question mainly. Although my VRS does seem to run very hot, usual for a 2.0 TSI petrol VRS?

 

Sorry for multiple posts,

 

So checked oil when cold and it's hard to get an exact reading but maybe 1-2mm over maximum line. Coolant is 3-5mm over maximum line when cold too. This was on uneven ground also.

 

I've left it 20mins since a drive. Not a  big drive either. The oil is hard to read at the minute to be honest, it always gives me trouble when warm. The coolant looks to have expanded and is halfway up the bottle. I am attaching images of both.

 

Hear hissing again, I think it is the coolant over the oil. The coolant bottle and engine cover are so hot to the touch you can't keep your hands on them for longer than 1 second.

 

 

All sounds OK.

So check the engine oil when stone cold, so if you park up at night, check in the morning. 

It should be above the 'correct level' when checked 'stone cold',  as it should be because all the oil is in the sump.

& @ normal operating temperature as per the Owners Manual tells you,  'area A' & not above. .

 

PS

Coolant cold after everything cools down should not be above the Maximum line,

but then it should drop when up to temperature via the overflow.

Ask your Uncles if they filled it up.

Edited 9 June, 20188 yr by Offski

The hissing sound could be a knackered cap in the coolant expansion bottle, try buying a new cap and see if it disappears, the fans kicking in after switching the engine off is normal, normally more frequent in the summer months, my old diesel used to do it as well. 

Edited 9 June, 20188 yr by Ju1ian1001

I do not think it likely, your perceived heat, or burning rubber smell is as a consequence of changing the type of oil used.

 

I use vw502.00 5w40. I did run quantum 5w30 ll3 for the first 12 months. No such changes noticed.

 

As possibly mentioned before. Ea888 2.0tsi engines do run hot

 Mine settles at about 93 or 94 constant 70. Under load hills on motorway or higher speed moves to 100C or over.

 

It is possible there is something else amiss os disturbed on service but it could also just be the focus you are putting on looking for things after the change, not to mention higher ambient temperatures at play now....

The ground where those pictures are taken is hideously uneven so probably not the best to go off. I had not noticed how out until a few minutes ago!  Irust my uncles garage, I've a feeling the coolant wasn't changed as it wasn't needed but I'll chase that up as soon as I can.

 

As you'll know from previous threads I am obey cautious and a worrier as it's a family car and we have a disabled child. Long story on motability but it's our first 2nd hand car.

 

I'm hoping it's as simple as it's a turbo charged 200bhp VRS. It's gonna get very hot, even on a casual 10 minute drive, the ambient temperatures are also constantly up now too and that's not been this consistent until now, summertime.

 

Having never had a turbocharged petrol, especially one 8 years old I don't have experience with these slight unusualities or they are a learning curve for me, I love this car and it 100% was the correct choice. The questions are for peace of mind but when something seems different to other cars we have had I have to research it, hope that's acceptable

 

Huge thanks the the responses, it is very, very appreciated. I do tend to listen out for any irregularity. A little obsessive I guess haha. I'll update accordingly! 

Edited 9 June, 20188 yr by HarleQuinn

It's good to obsessive about your car, as it means it will be looked after and maintained. i'm the same with mine. If you look after you car it will look after you. 

G12 coolant or G12+ whatever it is called now, is in theory good for the life of the car. The heat from the engine sounds normal- especially in this weather but what is the water temperature?? If it's stuck solid on 90° then it's ok. A failed water pump wouldn't be circulating the water but you'd soon know about it

@Black vRS Oct - The latest spec is G12++ I think. In any event @HarleQuinn has a correct colour for OAT in the expansion bottle.

Never ever assume a Antfreeze / Summer Coolant is correct by the colour of the Antifreeze / Coolant.

So many bAlls ups happen due to that error.

 

In this instance though maybe we can assume it is the correct coolant.........

You can only buy G12++ now anyway can't you, well if a garage had to get some to service your car  it would be latest spec and not old G12? My uncles garage get their service parts on from Eurocarparts, TPS, and Nyanza.

 

Yes the water temp on the dash stays stuck on 90c and the engine oil never exceeds 103c. Drove back 3 hours Thursday night, temps were much lower and did not smell the burning really, maybe faintly perhaps. 

 

I am guessing it is relatively normal, I am just not used to such heat from a cars engine bay but until this car it was either diesel engine at 178bhp or a petrol engine at 180bhp but both were newer than this car by at least 3 years.

G13 now, I believe. Maybe even another since the recent water pump problems.

I have not managed to ask yet but I am sure the coolant wasn't changed during the service. That was last changed in February when my turbo got repaired, the place that did it assured me they would only use what is specced for the car. 

On 13/06/2018 at 09:23, Black vRS Oct said:

G12 coolant or G12+ whatever it is called now, is in theory good for the life of the car. The heat from the engine sounds normal- especially in this weather but what is the water temperature?? If it's stuck solid on 90° then it's ok. A failed water pump wouldn't be circulating the water but you'd soon know about it

My water pump failed but the engine never over heated, had two trips to worthing from south east london whilst waiting to get fixed.

22 minutes ago, Wino said:

G13 now, I believe. Maybe even another since the recent water pump problems.

Yep G13 spec antifeeze now, had a memo from head office telling us to now use it in VAG cars about 6 weeks ago. It's probably been that for far far longer but our head office guys and achingly slow at getting info to the depots

OT from this vehicle & thread,

But if you look at the Pinned Thread at the top of the Fabia Mk3 section you will see the Skoda Service Campaign / Some call it a Recall, 

1.4 TDI 3 Cylinder Euro 6 engines, Coolant Change.  Some how VW Group blame 'Coolant' for them sourcing crap Water Pumps and never getting the hang of seals.

Over a Century of Engine building, decades since they went Air Cooled to Water Cooled and still they can not source good reliable and long lived parts, 

and if they build a Lemon blame something like 'Wrong Coolant',  not Wrong Engineering.  Vorsprung Durch Technik.