Having had the car a week or so now, I'm starting to see bits that need sorting.

I've been reading up on the silica bag issue and wondered what you thought about the coolant in my car.

It's not pink which worries me a bit. Is mine one that has the bag in the expansion bottle? It doesn't say anything on there but I'd hoped someone on here might be able to help.

As you can see in the photos, the coolant in the bottle looks a bit iffy and when I dipped some kitchen roll in to soak a bit up, it doesn't look right to me.🫤

That's yuk. Generally coolant is every 5 years; the silicone bag was there to aide lubrication of the cooling system. If you can remove the silicone bag then great (there are three different designs out there). If not, it's a new bottle.

 

If there is no record, get it flushed and get new coolant G12evo into the vehicle.

Tanks with a silica bag in generally had 'mit Silikat' printed on the outside I thought.  This is the tank on my previous 2015 vRS:

 

 

Gaz

 

11 hours ago, varaderoguy said:

If there is no record, get it flushed and get new coolant G12evo into the vehicle.

 

In theory it's a full Skoda service history. Whether that's a good thing or not I'm yet to be convinced. 

I guess I can ask my local dealership if it's on the system & if it needs doing.

7 hours ago, Gaz said:

Tanks with a silica bag in generally had 'mit Silikat' printed on the outside I thought.  This is the tank on my previous 2015 vRS:

 

 

Gaz

 

 

After seeing yours and looking at a few pictures online I am wondering if mine's been changed at some point. 

Having said that, it's not been out of the Skoda network since new so I'll have to look into it a bit further.

I've also worried myself after looking online as it could be anything from a simple coolant change to total engine failure. 

Why did I have to Google it? 🤦‍♂️

Edited 29 May, 20242 yr by skinnyman

I’ve got an identical tank on my GTI - one with ‘mit Silikat’ on.  If there is a bag in yours, it’s very easy to find. You should be able to both see it with a good torch, and also feel it with your fingers.  I oiked mine out as soon as the car was out of warranty. It was very easy to do and took moments.

 

Having said that, I suspect you don’t have a bag in there. But it does look time for a coolant change IMO.

 

Gaz

 

Bit of an update.

 

I've been going through the paperwork for the car & found this.  The dealer said they'd done a fair bit of work before I picked it up and it would seem that they have already changed the matrix & flushed the system out. I called them up & they reckoned the car wasn't heating up the passenger side correctly so did all the work listed below.  

I Googled the last part number & it seems that it's the stuff they use when the silicone bag has split and contaminated the system.  So, the coolant is less than four weeks old and has done less than 350 miles.  I'm wondering if it's just a case of needing another coolant change or if there's something else going on?

Another bag rupture victim 🙄

 

Perhaps the colour of your coolant has been affected by flushing agents?  At least you haven't got the headache of having to deal with the disaster when it happened - something to be thankful for.  And if done by a main dealer, then it should be warranted for two years, I think.

 

I think if it were me, I'd leave it as is and maybe request a coolant change be included in the next service if the colouration bothers you.  

 

G12E050A3 is G12 Evo 👍 so it's got the good stuff in it.

 

Gaz

 

It still looks a bit sludgy to me. The flushing agents are a two pack, pink and clear. The invoice also includes a for new tank which I guess has no silica bag.

 

Typical scary main dealer pricing for the heater matrix, £283.86 vs £49.00 from Autodoc, ditto the flushing agents ( aka Clean Set ).

40 minutes ago, Gammyleg said:

It still looks a bit sludgy to me.

 

I thought that too, but then I'd imagine (i.e. don't know) it'll probably have residual muck, and surface scum, for some time.

 

Gaz

 

2 hours ago, Gaz said:

 

I thought that too, but then I'd imagine (i.e. don't know) it'll probably have residual muck, and surface scum, for some time.

 

Gaz

 

Indeed me neither, but I would have thought that a flush is not a flush if any residue still exists. Plus it's a brand new tank, matrix & coolant.

I'd expect my coolant to be crystal clear ( albeit with a pink tinge ) after a bill of £889.90

 

I'm basing my opinion on what my coolant looks like, both before & after a belt & pump change, and it doesn't look like the OP's. However I've never had a flush due to a burst-bag so could be mistaken.

We'll have to see on this one. 🤞

“Engine Coolant Flush Cleaner 2 Part for Cooling System Pipes VW Audi Seat Skoda - Requires coolant to be drained and flushed, then run with the cleaning solution, neutralised and drained flushed again.”

Were the bits in bold both done, by a Dealer and Dealer’s mechanic/technician(?), regardless it looks like it needs another proper drain, flush and refill with (VW’s ever number changing) coolant to see if things improve.

 

41 minutes ago, Gammyleg said:

I'm basing my opinion on what my coolant looks like, both before & after a belt & pump change, and it doesn't look like the OP's. However I've never had a flush due to a burst-bag so could be mistaken.

My neighbour's diesel VW Golf had something changed on the coolant system (I forget what) and coolant at least topped up if not changed, and had lost some coolant from the tank so I had a look and from what he told I suggested it might just be an air lock (I've no idea if they were supposed to pressure/vacuum fill that engine) but the coolant in the tank looked dirty and smelt of I don't know what but not nice but apparently it was fine that way, diesels do tend to be ****ty both inside and from the engine, especially those not fully properly serviced and maintained as many aren't, like I suspect my neighbour's based on when I saw his diesel Aldi out and about, largest, densest black cloud I've ever seen come from a car.

 

They changed the matrix. 

 

They changed the expansion tank to the revised version (denoted by an M on the end of the part number) no silica bag/insert.  I had one installed when my silica ticking time bomb turned the coolant rusty coloured after my cambelt got changed...☹️. (My heater matrix is still partially blocked though,  I just wear more clothes in winter and turn the driver vents off else my right hand turns to ice....lol) 

 

As mentioned the coolant should a nice tinge of pink, I can see to the very bottom of my expansion tank with the cap off. 

Looks like you can't. Take it back in and complain its not right! 

 

Do you have an even heat with the dash vents open on BOTH sides of the car? 

 

21 hours ago, nta16 said:

Were the bits in bold both done, by a Dealer and Dealer’s mechanic/technician(?), regardless it looks like it needs another proper drain, flush and refill with (VW’s ever number changing) coolant to see if things improve.

 

I've spoken to the dealer I bought it from and  they said it was done correctly.  I have to take their word for it but I would have thought the coolant should look more pink than it does. I'm hoping that my local dealer in Scarborough can sort it out as they seem to be a decent bunch of people.

 

18 hours ago, paulski said:

As mentioned the coolant should a nice tinge of pink, I can see to the very bottom of my expansion tank with the cap off. 

Looks like you can't. Take it back in and complain its not right! 

 

Do you have an even heat with the dash vents open on BOTH sides of the car? 

 

If I lived nearer to the dealer I purchased the car from I'd be camping out on their doorstep.  Unfortunately it's a three hour drive away so any warranty work will be done by my local dealer.  They've already sorted me out in terms of warranty work over the last couple of weeks and I can't fault them at all.  The car is booked in next month for them to have a look at things so I'll update the thread when it's been in.

 

I went for a longer drive yesterday and the car seemed to heat up correctly but I need to use it for a few more extended drives and then I'll be able to tell.

5 hours ago, skinnyman said:

I've spoken to the dealer I bought it from and  they said it was done correctly.  I have to take their word for it but I would have thought the coolant should look more pink than it does. I'm hoping that my local dealer in Scarborough can sort it out as they seem to be a decent bunch of people.

Yeah perhaps done correctly to their Dealer level but perhaps not thoroughly as an owner might do it, being the owner and user, professional levels of doing work aren't necessarily the highest levels (or anywhere near sometimes).

 

Sounds like you are lucky to have a good local Dealer, next time if they are still there and you still consider VWSkoda products you might be better buying the car from the local Dealer, just being local can be very handy but if they're also decent why risk elsewhere, there's a lot of low quality in the English car trade.

 

 

5 hours ago, skinnyman said:

I went for a longer drive yesterday and the car seemed to heat up correctly but I need to use it for a few more extended drives and then I'll be able to tell.

Use the coolant gauge as just a gauge, obviously if it shows very high then it's very warm to hot, but the needle is biased to show a rock steady 90c even though the actual temperature could be a bit below and above this and fluctuate between, this is so ordinary drivers don't worry about the variances.  Better to have the oil temperature showing in your dash to confirm against the coolant gauge.  Have a look in your Owner's Manual for oil temperature range (80-110c IIRC), engine oil is fully warmed at about 90c so you want to be at or above that to have the oil working well, my wife's 1.2 TSI SE runs at about 95c only going much higher when pushed.

 

What you have in your new formerly clean expansion tank might just be release residue dirt or wotever residue from the previous work done but the selling Dealership but it'd have been better to have got rid of that before fitting the new clean expansion tank and have it full of fresh clean (VW number) coolant,  An old diesel might look rough but a newer and petrol with new tank and coolant should look factory fresh (almost perhaps?).

 

Try one long drive with the heater on full cold, no fans going, and then the next same long drive with the heater on full hot and fan going at say '2', check everything reamains cold then hot and engine temps readings and that should satisfy you if all is well.

 

I changed the "lifetime" VW coolant on my wife's 2015 Fabia and it was clean before I started and after I'd finished (no silica tea bag) and it was only a drain and refill (because VW make what should be an easy job with their PITA ways).

 

Good luck.

 

Good advice thank you. We're off out tomorrow so I'll be sure to check everything you've mentioned. 

Wish me luck! 

On 30/05/2024 at 11:44, Gaz said:

I’ve got an identical tank on my GTI - one with ‘mit Silikat’ on.  If there is a bag in yours, it’s very easy to find. You should be able to both see it with a good torch, and also feel it with your fingers.  I oiked mine out as soon as the car was out of warranty. It was very easy to do and took moments.

 

Having said that, I suspect you don’t have a bag in there. But it does look time for a coolant change IMO.

 

Gaz

 

 

There were 2 versions of tanks with bags.
For older it's possible to get bag out with long pliers = you can see bag through coolant fill bore.
For newer (my '2016 Octy had this version) it's not possible because bag is behind additional wall and you can't even see it.

Edited 7 June, 20241 yr by indars
Typing error

I don't suppose you have a part number for the reservoir without the bag?

2 hours ago, Blue8793841 said:

I don't suppose you have a part number for the reservoir without the bag?

 

2q0121321a    new type cover (but can use old cover on new tank)

5q0121407m   new type tank/without bag/without cover

That's what I installed in my '2016 2.0TDI.

Of course, when looking at some aftermarket tanks (costs virtually nothing), cross-references from OE No. can lead to tank with bag. Or photos are wrong.

Given OE No. are safe No. because I purchased them (OE stuff) time ago and they were as described.

Edited 7 June, 20241 yr by indars
Additional text

Thans id rather buy the original tank and cap too, must be some reason why they have realised the part.

On 29/05/2024 at 09:24, skinnyman said:

Having had the car a week or so now, I'm starting to see bits that need sorting.

I've been reading up on the silica bag issue and wondered what you thought about the coolant in my car.

It's not pink which worries me a bit. Is mine one that has the bag in the expansion bottle? It doesn't say anything on there but I'd hoped someone on here might be able to help.

As you can see in the photos, the coolant in the bottle looks a bit iffy and when I dipped some kitchen roll in to soak a bit up, it doesn't look right to me.🫤

My coolant was changed in June 2022 and looks like this today. Your coolant doesn't look particularly clean.

Is your car a heavy smoker? 🚬

 

Edited 7 June, 20241 yr by EnterName

If coolant has mixed with other type it can turn a brown colour. Is it said to not cause a problem.

Just now, Blue8793841 said:

If coolant has mixed with other type it can turn a brown colour. Is it said to not cause a problem.

Perhaps.

But the system has supposedly been flushed.

Beyond that, it has some sort of scum/fish-food stuff floating on it.

I'd be wanting the system flushed again and G12evo put in.

Definitely. I assume the system has not been flushed properly, to do it properly you would need to do it multiple times. With main dealer garages being on bonus schemes stuff like this usually happens cutting corners to achieve bonus.