So I'm leaking coolant from the housing, unsure at this point whether it's gasket or a crack in the housing but at this age and 126K on it it's probably worth replacing the housing, gaskets and thermostat, does anyone have any parts catalogue links or part numbers for them? Because I'm struggling to find them on OEMPC catalogue, and Ebay's useless as it shows multiple versions fit the VRS despite clearly saying its for a different chassis platform (the MK2)

 

Thanks

Aaaaaaanyone at all?

You may need to improve your searching skills:

 

2 hours ago, Wino said:

You may need to improve your searching skills:

 

I saw that, but the diagram you've referred to doesn't list the BLT engine code.  They the same on either engine? 

 

Is there part numbers anywhere for the thermostat and housing if not? 

 

 

Just a matter of going up a couple of levels, choosing a later year, and then going back down: https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/fabia/fab/2005-453/1/121-121010/

BTW, if you're on a phone or something you may not be able to see the part numbers column on those pages, try a proper computer.

Parts ordered from RPS, with 5L of quantum oil came out at just under £60 so not too bad for the pipe, gasket and thermostat plus i needed some oil anyway.

Right so I've replaced this, and I assumed I'd get a bit of loss through air locks in the system, so I ran it yesterday at fast idle then whacked the heaters on hot and it wen't down a bit - topped it up, seemed to hold it's level fine with no obvious leaks underneath. This was running for about 20 minutes at working temperature. 

 

Came to drive it again this morning and I got a mile down the road and BEEEEEEEP - coolant alarm, checked the expansion - was under minimum - is this just because of something settling when the engines cooled down? i.e. it sits at max at 90 deg but lower when cool - admittedly that's a little low even for me. 

 

I've topped it up again and it's gotten me to work (about 12 miles away), I'll check the levels later on when i finish work and see if it's dropped again - if it has then the thermostat housing replacement may not have been the leak point 

 

It shouldn't be the rad, as that's not original to the car, was replaced not long after having the car in 2014, they do last longer than that right LOL

 

Lets hope it's just a final bit of air lock ...

Could just have been an air pocket, yes. Going for a drive seems more effective than running the engine on the driveway, for getting air out of the system; in my experience.

36 minutes ago, Wino said:

Could just have been an air pocket, yes. Going for a drive seems more effective than running the engine on the driveway, for getting air out of the system; in my experience.

 

Here's hoping, if it goes down again I'm at a bit of a loss. 

 

Usual suspect would be the rad wouldn't it, or the heater matrix. 

 

I'll update later on to see if it needs topping up on the way home or not. 

Give it a couple more journeys before worrying. 

 

My experience of heater matrix leaks (not on Fabias) is they are pretty obvious. The cabin tends to fill with nasty smelling steam.

Just now, Wino said:

Give it a couple more journeys before worrying. 

 

My experience of heater matrix leaks (not on Fabias) is they are pretty obvious. The cabin tends to fill with nasty smelling steam.

 

Well that's good to know, as I haven't experienced that yet haha.

 

I've got a 2L bottle in the car, as I've used 5L to fill the system (I'm sure the workshop manual said it was a 6.2L system, but i can't seem to open the PDF fully on this computer) so hopefully it's just that.

 

May get another 5L bottle tonight just to be on the safe side! 

12 hours ago, AaronMountford1990 said:

 

Well that's good to know, as I haven't experienced that yet haha.

 

I've got a 2L bottle in the car, as I've used 5L to fill the system (I'm sure the workshop manual said it was a 6.2L system, but i can't seem to open the PDF fully on this computer) so hopefully it's just that.

 

May get another 5L bottle tonight just to be on the safe side! 

Got another 5L just to be on the safe side, it had dropped a bit earlier but not much, interestingly i took it to the town centre down an a road for 15 mile or so, didn't lose pretty much anything but I noticed some trickle down the inner wing so I'm thinking expansion tank is to blame here! 

1 hour ago, AaronMountford1990 said:

Got another 5L just to be on the safe side, it had dropped a bit earlier but not much, interestingly i took it to the town centre down an a road for 15 mile or so, didn't lose pretty much anything but I noticed some trickle down the inner wing so I'm thinking expansion tank is to blame here! 

 

No, the expansion tank is the symptom not the cause. Start worrying.

9 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

 

No, the expansion tank is the symptom not the cause. Start worrying.

You just had to ruin my morning didn't you LOL

 

It felt wet on the left hand side when i put my hand around where the two halves clip together, so i was thinking a faulty clip or seal where the tanks sealed together?

 

Touch wood this morning it's not lost any more, well the light didn't come on anyway - ill try it again this afternoon, if it's still OK and the levels not moving then presumably I'm looking at just a new expansion tank, there's no leaking from the block that I can see. 

 

I'd get it pressure tested, but the other threads I've read on here said in some cases you can pass pressure test and it still leak.

 

Just weird that the wiring loom going into the vacuum box that runs around the expansion tank was also wet, and a small amount looked like it was damp on the wing, not a lot but then again it'd be running down the wing and onto the engine undertray anyway! 

The tank cap is blowing while you're driving, it's designed to do that when the system is over pressurised.

5 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

The tank cap is blowing while you're driving, it's designed to do that when the system is over pressurised.

is that through too much volume in the system or some kind of blockage? 

 

I topped it up yesterday and it was slightly over max, but as yesterday morning I'd lost most of the expansion bottle in about a mile (unclear on whether it leaked out or was just another air lock) I thought i'd go slightly over and expect it to drop on the way back. 

1 hour ago, AaronMountford1990 said:

is that through too much volume in the system or some kind of blockage? 

 

 

 

I think he's suggesting that your head gasket might have gone. 

15 minutes ago, TMB said:

 

I think he's suggesting that your head gasket might have gone. 

 

FML

 

There a way of confirming? 

 

My luck isn't it that I get the car with the HG going, other people get em mapped and nothing - i drive like miss daisy and I'm looking at a new HG LOL 

I don't want to throw the PD150 bolts at it, if it is that, because it's just a temporary fix 

Quite, check for pressure in the expansion tank when the engine is cold to confirm.

2 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

Quite, check for pressure in the expansion tank when the engine is cold to confirm.

 

Will check this afternoon and report back 

3 hours ago, AaronMountford1990 said:

My luck isn't it that I get the car with the HG going, other people get em mapped and nothing - i drive like miss daisy and I'm looking at a new HG LOL 

 

There's always something with bloody cars. lol

On 25/02/2019 at 08:13, AaronMountford1990 said:

No pressure when cold, that's good right? 

Is there meant to be an o ring on the coolant cap by the way? If there is, its gone walk about. 

 

No pressure when cold is good. 

Edited 26 February, 20197 yr by TMB
Mistake removed.