On 19/05/2021 at 10:17, varaderoguy said:

Its effects all MK3's from 2013 to 2020.  Its completely random which type of header tank you get, although VAG have issued new revised capsules in the bottom of the latest gen of cars, ALL owners should be checking to see if the Silica bag is in existance.

 

As a straw poll:

 

Octavia TSI1.0 - no silica bag

Octavia TDI2.0 VRS - Silica bag - single skinned

Octavia TSI2.0 VRS - Silica Bag - double skinned (tank replaced)

Octavia TDI 2.0 Scout - Silica Bag - single skinned

Fabia 1.0TSI - no silica bag

 

Its a bit random to say the least.

 

Add to that list - MY16 Octavia 1.4TSI - no silica bag from factory.

2 hours ago, jaygemson said:

 

Has anyone bought and tried this part yet?  Looks like it would just sit in the expansion tank and float around without a harness/holder.

I did a random search on that part number without success so far.

13 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

I did a random search on that part number without success so far.

 

Erm - as in to buy or someone using it?

 

They are super easy to buy, first hit on eBay for instance: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233866295090

On 17/05/2021 at 16:30, Warrior193 said:

A little difficult to see how casting sand has been left in cooling channels, as some posters have posited, but seemingly no evidence of it in oil ways. I have not seen actual engine-block production, but I'd guess the bare block goes through thorough cleansing process involving all passages.

On another note, the appearance of the residue that has been the cause of heating matrix's may possibly be a little misleading - I once had a diesel contamination (diesel bug) issue in my boats fuel system - the stuff clogging the primary and secondary filters was black and gritty, and looked (and felt) for all the world like sand! It was actually dead and dying bacteria.  

Yes strange as it may seem that anything could develop in something like diesel ( or other fossil fuel derivatives ) but for a time I was responsible for refuelling aircraft, and storing fuel in tanks, and  ocassionally in 200Ltr drums.  They were time critical, and the expiry date was  exactly that, due to bacterial growth. Was a nightmarish job at times.

On 17/05/2021 at 09:31, lway said:

 

I ordered a replacement bottle from my local Skoda dealer and asked the Parts Guy to check that it didn't have the Bag in it, he asked me if I was worried about it splitting and blocking the system, he knew all about it but he said that the Skoda Mechanics had 3 different theories about how it happens and none of them could agree.

Theory 1 is the Silica Bag Splitting, Theory 2 is that it is sand left over in the system from the casting process and Theory 3 is that if the engine overheats  the coolant boils and it goes gloopy and blocks up the system.

 

He also said that Skoda would never admit to any of these.

 

But for under 40euro for a replacement tank I'll be replacing mine soon (once shops reopen and I can get a turkey baster  ) to eliminate Theory 1 from the equation.

 I've already replaced mine...better safe than sorry, When I went to the local dealership, I was expecting to have to wait a few days for the tank, but was pleasantly surprised to finedthat they had them in stock,,,plenty of them as it happens, Which goes to show that there is a big demand for them, and  proves to my mind at least that there is a problem with the silicate bag.

Anyone near NN29 needing a new coolant tank - I have a new one I bought for my Golf but did not need as I managed to removed the dreaded bag intact - advert now in Free section - collection only from NN29.

 

Golf and Octavia fitment is the same.

For info just checked this on our 1.4 TSI Kodiaq - no 'Mit Silikat' on the tank and no sign of a bag inside, even when shining a torch through the tank (tricky as it does seem to be double walled to avoid 'swirl' within the tank).  Coolant nice and clear though...   

Hi guys,

 

So I got my bottle and coolant flush done, luckily the heater matrix was not clogged, but something caught my eye on the invoice.

 

The dealer had stated that G12 was used as replacement coolant and when I queried this with the service agent he confirmed this is correct.

 

Didn't VW change to G13 in 2008?

9 hours ago, MassiveTurboLag said:

Hi guys,

 

So I got my bottle and coolant flush done, luckily the heater matrix was not clogged, but something caught my eye on the invoice.

 

The dealer had stated that G12 was used as replacement coolant and when I queried this with the service agent he confirmed this is correct.

 

Didn't VW change to G13 in 2008?

Yes they did but then recently changed to G12Evo, which is what they used looking up that part number.

1 hour ago, durhamfisher said:

Yes they did but then recently changed to G12Evo, which is what they used looking up that part number.

 

Thanks @durhamfisher!

 

Bizarre marketing decision, looking forward to G12 Ultron now

On 17/05/2021 at 16:30, Warrior193 said:

A little difficult to see how casting sand has been left in cooling channels, as some posters have posited, but seemingly no evidence of it in oil ways. I have not seen actual engine-block production, but I'd guess the bare block goes through thorough cleansing process involving all passages.

On another note, the appearance of the residue that has been the cause of heating matrix's may possibly be a little misleading - I once had a diesel contamination (diesel bug) issue in my boats fuel system - the stuff clogging the primary and secondary filters was black and gritty, and looked (and felt) for all the world like sand! It was actually dead and dying bacteria.  

Well after Skoda had one go  i got this out and then they had it back again     oh and i removed an unbroken bag 

Hello Everyone!

New in forum.. I just changed my expansion bottle which had "mit silikat " on it. Mine was the version with two walls . It feels much safer now with the tea bag away from the car 😀 You can see the old one and the new one in the pictures below 

@BerkCo That's a really bright shade, is it G12 Evo or G13? Mine looks washed out.

It is actually G13 . I had ordered undiluted G13 , the brand is SWAG. I have diluted it with unionized water . 60% G13 and 40% water because I live in Sweden. 😀

On 21/05/2021 at 11:38, langers2k said:

 

Erm - as in to buy or someone using it?

 

They are super easy to buy, first hit on eBay for instance: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233866295090

That cartridge looks like a pretty sturdy alternative to the flawed bag design.

Have you used one yourself, @langers2k

@EnterName - I'm still on the original double walled tank with silica in place at the moment

 

Once I know my coolant leak is solved, I'll probably be switching to a single walled tank without the bag so I may consider it then.

22 minutes ago, langers2k said:

@EnterName - I'm still on the original double walled tank with silica in place at the moment

 

Once I know my coolant leak is solved, I'll probably be switching to a single walled tank without the bag so I may consider it then.

Ah! Academic just now, then.

 

I'm doing a little research trying to work out the best way forward for servicing without a silica bag.

Just found this document. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10138342-9999.pdf

This slide in particular caught my eye.

Looks like G12evo is the future, but may only be suitable for more recent cars.

Edit: Trying to get my head around this chart.

If your car came with G13, then mixing with G12evo at any ratio is fine.

But if your car came with G12evo, then mixing in G13 reduces corrosion protection.

 

So...if I read that correctly, G12evo has superior corrosion protection to G13, hence adding G12evo to a G13 car does not reduce corrosion protection, but adding G13 to a G12evo car does, as G13 has inferior corrosion protection to G12evo.

 

 

Edited 4 August, 20214 yr by EnterName

8 minutes ago, EnterName said:

Edit: Trying to get my head around this chart.

If your car came with G13, then mixing with G12evo at any ratio is fine.

But if your car came with G12evo, then mixing in G13 reduces corrosion protection.

 

So...if I read that correctly, G12evo has superior corrosion protection to G13, hence adding G12evo to a G13 car does not reduce corrosion protection, but adding G13 to a G12evo car does, as G13 has inferior corrosion protection to G12evo.

 

That's my understanding

9 hours ago, langers2k said:

 

That's my understanding

Okay then, so I shall top-up with G12evo, and replace with G12evo at the next service. 

(Unless Skoda have a reason why I shouldn't do that.)

I think that solves the problem and gives me a way forward.

 

So I've got a 2017 petrol Octavia vRS with the dreaded 'Mit Silikat'.

 

The car is under an extended warranty with Skoda as part of the 'all in' package.

 

What's the thoughts? Replace the header tank anyway as a precaution? Or leave it and argue the toss on a warranty claim? Erring towards the first...

15 minutes ago, Ynox said:

So I've got a 2017 petrol Octavia vRS with the dreaded 'Mit Silikat'.

 

The car is under an extended warranty with Skoda as part of the 'all in' package.

 

What's the thoughts? Replace the header tank anyway as a precaution? Or leave it and argue the toss on a warranty claim? Erring towards the first...

Ultimately, this depends on how you feel about the silica bag issue.

As always, the question to address is "What is the problem I am trying to solve."

If the problem is a leaking silica bag, then get rid of the silica bag.

If the problem is having to pay for the damage caused by a leaking silica bag, then presumably you are good to go right now, but as that warranty won't last forever, and the likelihood of a bag failure increases with time, then IMO all you're doing is hoping you silica bag fails during your warranty, which seems like an unsatisfactory solution to me. However, if you plan to ditch the car just before the warranty ends, then you should be protected against the cost (if not the inconvenience) of the repair.

 

So I'd get rid of the bag. In fact I did get rid of the bag. (Revealed preference beats stated preference every time. )

2 hours ago, EnterName said:

Ultimately, this depends on how you feel about the silica bag issue.

As always, the question to address is "What is the problem I am trying to solve."

If the problem is a leaking silica bag, then get rid of the silica bag.

If the problem is having to pay for the damage caused by a leaking silica bag, then presumably you are good to go right now, but as that warranty won't last forever, and the likelihood of a bag failure increases with time, then IMO all you're doing is hoping you silica bag fails during your warranty, which seems like an unsatisfactory solution to me. However, if you plan to ditch the car just before the warranty ends, then you should be protected against the cost (if not the inconvenience) of the repair.

 

So I'd get rid of the bag. In fact I did get rid of the bag. (Revealed preference beats stated preference every time. )

 

£40 for the header tank and a couple of litres of coolant to top it up. Looks an easy swap over too. 

 

I'd guess I'd need to bleed the system after changing the header tank, is this the usual way (run the engine to temp with the cap off)?

IMHO I would get skoda to do it so it doesn't affect your warranty. Nothing warranty companies like more than a bit of DIY wiggle room when it comes to a claim.

30 minutes ago, Ynox said:

 

£40 for the header tank and a couple of litres of coolant to top it up. Looks an easy swap over too. 

 

I'd guess I'd need to bleed the system after changing the header tank, is this the usual way (run the engine to temp with the cap off)?

AFAIK, if you clamp the hoses when you swap out the header tank, I don't believe you need to bleed they system, but I don't know for sure. One Brisky member turkey-basted his coolant out prior to removing his expansion tank, and then returned it after the new tank was fitted, with a small top-up, if I remember correctly.

Anyway, faffing around with clamping hoses and swapping header tanks was something I didn't fancy doing, hence I went fishing and taught myself the ancient art of silica bag tickling. As a result, am not a reliable source of info for header tank replacement. But there are those about who have done the job.