OK, 

I have been a Taxi Fleet owner since 2002,  I was one of the first fleet owners to Go All Out SKODA, Skoda's as a Taxis take a lot of hard wok but Skoda back then cut through it. Easy to work on diesel engines

, parts reasonable and available.  

     from 2013 something went wrong, OK they maybe chasing O2 emission levels, but from 2013 i had noticed the cars were not up for the Job at hand, breakdowns are regular, costs are higher, reliability has dropped to an all time low.

    Faulty Auto Gearboxes ! Faulty Water Pumps etc etc.

  I wanna talk about the water pump issues Cooling System. 

From 2015/6  these water pumps with the electrical thermostat have killed the engines, they corrode and contaminate the radiator and valve systems which causes pressure, we can change 3 water pumps before the Timing Belt needs changing. Not only that it blocks the system up to a point it sucks water in through the head and can terminally destroy that Engine . I am forever working on cars with mystery water losses. Thanks Skoda.

 

Good Luck. after 20 years we are now moving to Toyota Hybrids.  PS SKODA wont even replace the faulty pumps under warranty ! they even tried to blame my tap water and coolant fluid. 

 

Regards

 

Welcome.

 

Water Pumps are a long running fail issue with the VW Group, like timing chain tensioners and door seals. 

They really seam to to be able to procure or manufacture good ones all the time for all vehicles.

 

The use of tap water can be an issue regardless of who the cars manufacturer is & the correct coolant is important but then when the issues is not related to these then it is more than annoying.

 

The DSG gearbox pre 2013 with DQ200's only was addressed from 2014 in the UK with Service Campaigns, there is still denials from VW Group ever since over issues and even about pre 2013 ones.

You joined just for that? 

 

You seem to be implying you have some mechanical knowledge but your using tap water in your fleet. Kind of killed any credibility there.

 

 

I mean hard tap water will reduce the life of the coolant and may well increase deposits, but I doubt it would kill 3 belts in 5 years (Assuming belt is done at 4-5 years).

 

I do agree VW group (any many other car manufacturers) seem to have some quality issues, where it apears to have been design, then cost reduced and then problem....

 

I would like to point out that VW have some issues in some areas, but every other car manufacturer I know of has similar issues, albeit usually in other areas.

Edited 30 March, 20224 yr by cheezemonkhai

I suspect that there will be less Mk4 Octavia being used globally as taxis / private hire cars and less Mk3 Superb if iV's as taxis or airport transport than cars pre 2020.

 

That is based on no actual data or facts just really on how Skoda have become with vehicles in the UK but that might not be as they are in the rest of Europe or the world.

Skoda UK and Main Dealerships are very much an issue with issues many owners have, but then many more are happy during their ownership.

7 hours ago, ScoDog said:

these water pumps with the electrical thermostat have killed the engines, they corrode and contaminate the radiator and valve systems which causes pressure, we can change 3 water pumps before the Timing Belt needs changing. Not only that it blocks the system up to a point it sucks water in through the head and can terminally destroy that Engine

 

I am very much interested in this part... so lets try and break it down.

 

The water pump with electric thermostat - assuming you mean the shroud as they dont have a thermostat

They corrode - well not so much no, to corrode the coolant must be incorrect for corrosion to occur, but mainly they seize in the closed position causing overheating - what coolant are you using?

Contaminate the radiator - what is contaminating the radiator, if they corrode and become soluble in water are they blocking the galleries or just sending rusty water through the cooling system

Valve systems - again its a valveless system, you have a water pump and a lot of pipe work, you also have auxilary water pumps

Cause pressure - the water pump has ample space around it even if the area was completely blocked around it, it will not build up enough pressure to do any damage, that comes from the expansion of coolant creating the pressure

Youre changing 3 water pumps in a lets say 100k period, lets say it was the pump, what brand, genuine? 3 pumps in youd have to wonder is it really the pump causing issues...

Blocks the system - what is blocking the system? the silicat bag has a tendancy to block the system with large particles - if youre saying similar, where are they coming from

 

Sucks water through the head - Well this is an interesting one, if the system is building up enough pressure after the water pump it will be backing up and choking the pump out, meaning there is no way to create a vacuum before the pump, but lets say a vacuum is being produced behind the pump, in the cooling jackets (a diesel combustion cylinder creates pressures of up to 500psi and temperatures up to 2000C) between cooling jackets and cylinders is 99% the same head gasket material, youre telling me the flimsy 4/5 vein water pump with no directional sealing made out of plastic is producing over 500 psi of vacuum! almost 35 bar below atmosphere.

 

Well no wonder youre having issues then, youre lucky to still be alive and your murderous water pump hasnt sucked your eyes out of your head!!!!!

 

 

I would very much love to know who told you all this and what books they write

 

 

 

 

Also last thing: I am not doubting that TDI water pump shrouds seize and TSI thermostat housings crack - It is a known issue and a fairly common one on the newer gen of VAG engines.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Legion said:

You joined just for that? 

 

You seem to be implying you have some mechanical knowledge but your using tap water in your fleet. Kind of killed any credibility there.

 

 

Not a very nice welcome for a new member.

 

Your question is unneccesary, the OP said that they wanted to talk about the water pump and cooling system issues which is exactly what this forum is for.

 

He was very shrewd and showed great foresight by choosing Skoda for his taxi fleet in 2002, they really have let down fleet customers like him since 2015.

 

I have always used tap water mixed with the recommended concentrated coolant as it is intended, people with their own vehicles can indulge themselves with whatever fuel, oils, distilled water, snake oil they choose but someone running a fleet of taxis works too hard for their money to throw it away for zero benefit.

The maximum vacuum that can ever be pulled is one bar, the water pump generates a negative pressure many many magnitudes beneath that.

 

The OP has no doubt been misinformed probably by the mechanics repairing the vehicle, he has come on here like most of us to become informed and often that involves being disabused of certain notions, I would suggest as a new member he be spared the ridicule.

 

I get where you are coming from ApertureS and agree that Silkat contamination may well be causing all sorts of problems and that the sliding sleeve on the waterpumps great though it is when it works is a liability, when mine goes if its through a sticking sleeve it will be replaced with a non sleeve one and that is all that I would put on a taxi that usually only gets warmed up once per shift.

20 hours ago, J.R. said:

Your question is unneccesary, the OP said that they wanted to talk about the water pump and cooling system issues which is exactly what this forum is for.

 

No he didn't.  He just wanted to bitch. If you bother to read his "statement" although he says he wants to talk about water pumps its clear he doesn't and ends it with a hasta la vista.

 

Why would he care about fixing a problem when he's already stated he's selling his "fleet" and buying Toyotas. Its basically a FU Skoda. Come-on, John your smart enough to comprehend that.

 

As for using tap water. People can do what they want. Everyone knows its a no no. So is buying **** coolant. He's running a fleet and running a business. If he's such a tightarse on the water he's probably bought the nastiest cheapest coolant concentrate sitting on the shelf at cheapo auto parts. If he's got corrosion (if it is corrosion and not crap from the nasty concentrate) in a system that's a few years old, it tells you he's doing something wrong. And more than likely has led to a series of consequences.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, something must have really rattled your cage to make you so judgemental of a first time (probably the last time) poster.

 

Why do you think my name is John?

Edited 31 March, 20224 yr by J.R.