MoonlightBlueVR6 0 Posted September 23, 2006 Hi Really sorry to ask such a silly question but I have no manual with my VR6 and am not that clued up about such things...quite new to all this only having owned the car a month... The coolant warning light has started flashing on the dash of my 92k VR6 and on checking under the bonnet I noticed the pink stuff was well under minimum. What should I be topping it up with - tap water? something from Halfords or something from VW only. I have also noticed a small leak on the driveway - I'm assuming a possible relationship here - what's the best way to try to isolate a leak? I do have a slight low rev misfire too (circa 2000 revs), but everything sounds fine on tickover and there is plenty of smooth power as you climb the rev range. Anything to worry about do you think? Thanks and apologies again!! Any help much appreciated!! Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted September 24, 2006 ISTR that all VR6s have a slight misfire if you hold the engine revs to ~2000.. So don't worry too much about that. (Even Vince at Stealth commented on that one once.) Coolant leaks are most likely to be caused by (in order, pretty much!) - heater matrix supply pipe on rear of cylinder head (hard to see - and usually caused by sloppy engine mounts) - auxiliary coolant pump (right rear of the engine as you look under the bonnet) - radiator - main water pump (lower left of the engine, driven by the alternator belt) But general loss of water can in ultimately mean anything from head gasket to just the expansion tank pressure cap being faulty ..! As for topping up, think you're supposed to use distilled water or proper coolant. GSF sell the pink G12+ VW coolant (made by Febi) for cheap money, so get some of that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted September 24, 2006 I normally use boiled kettle water for top ups and obviously as the good doctor says, only ever use VW G12+ - you'll know its the right stuff as its a lovely flourescent pink colour :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lottysvdub 0 Posted September 24, 2006 this may sound like a stupid question but why do you have to use VW G12+ , ive havent used it could this be possible a reason why my car seems to run hotter than i like ? and possible causing poor idle problems if the sensors arnt working correctly? :confused4: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craigowl 0 Posted September 24, 2006 I think G12+ may cause problems if it is mixed with other coolants. G12 + forms a gel even when mixed with some older type of VW coolant - it has to be used unadulterated, I believe. Possibly the best thing to do is to have your cooling system flushed and refilled with 50% G12+ and 50% pure water. At least by coming on to this forum you will find answers to most common problems without having to root around too much. Good Luck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lottysvdub 0 Posted September 24, 2006 nice one mate i will try that next weekend when ive got time , its got to be worth giving a go ive tryed new sensors and alsorts of other things but ive not heard of this before , again cheers buddy :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoonlightBlueVR6 0 Posted September 24, 2006 Thank you particularly Dr Mat and Jim for your helpful replies. I'll get her topped up tonight with kettle water and order some of the special coolant tomorrow first thing - then when I next have some daylight and a spare 10 mins I'll go around the engine bay with a microsope focussing on the areas you suggest Dr Mat. One more question.... am I best to have the engine running / have just come back from a decent run if I'm to have the best chance of isolating a leak? Thanks again Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted September 24, 2006 Yeah - just leave the engine on, open the bonnet and start poking around with a torch! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoonlightBlueVR6 0 Posted September 24, 2006 Cheers Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted September 25, 2006 Lets clear this up, The FEBI stuff is the older G12 not G12+ which is a superceded part with better anti-corrosion properties, G12+ can be mixed with G11 or G12 fine without any 'gel' effects... (do not mix G12 and G11 tho and G11 is what all Corrado's came with AFAIK so it's very important you get the G12+ and not the older stuff, even if the coolant is currently pink it may not have been flushed totally when last changed) The other classic place for a leak on a VR is the thermostat houding underneath the aux pump, look for white deposits... For now i'd just top up with mineral water until you find the source of the leak, get your self 2 botles of G12+ and a new (blue) expansion tank cap and change the coolant before winter. 2 bottles = 3 litres = 33% (30% in an auto) which gives the best compromise between cooling and antifreeze for the UK climate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MoonlightBlueVR6 0 Posted September 25, 2006 Thanks Supercharged - but why would I need a new cap? Apologies if I'm being dumb. Cheers Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catch_twotwo 0 Posted September 25, 2006 The seal on the older caps can go... this causes a pressure inbalance which can cause problems. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted September 25, 2006 MoonlightBlueVR6, they have also superceded the cap with a new sort and made them blue rather than black for easy identification, if yours is black the the pressure relief valve maybe playing up (or will do at some point) so best to get a new one - less than a fiver from VW Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catch_twotwo 0 Posted September 25, 2006 Do you have a part number fo easy ordering.... I need to get some parts in so might as well replace mine as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted September 25, 2006 It's a bin part mate (ie they keep them on the shelf) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catch_twotwo 0 Posted September 25, 2006 It's a bin part mate (ie they keep them on the shelf) Try explaining that in German :lol: Ich möchte ein thingy cap.... im blau bitte :oops: I'll reinstall my ETKA if I can find it..... must be somewhere Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted September 25, 2006 Hehe - I'll look on ETKA when I get home... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted September 25, 2006 1H0 121 321 C Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
latestarter2 0 Posted September 26, 2006 is this stuff (g12+) available from VW ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craigowl 0 Posted September 26, 2006 latestarter2 wrote is this stuff (g12+) available from VW ? Yes - it is VAG's own stuff. Reasonable price, too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trig 0 Posted September 26, 2006 Yup, you'll need 2 bottles to fill a VR from empty. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Bowen 1 Posted September 26, 2006 reading my manual is says never to use water, always use the proper coolant at no less than 40% mix. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
craigowl 0 Posted September 26, 2006 Supercharged wrote 1H0 121 321 C Thanks for good info about coolant and new blue reservoir cap, Supercharged. 8) Nowt wrong with my 11-year old black original but have just ordered new one from local VAG dealer. £5.73 with CCGB discount. (1st purchase at Advantage VW, Stirling - well done to them for granting 10% discount on asking.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trig 0 Posted September 26, 2006 reading my manual is says never to use water, always use the proper coolant at no less than 40% mix. So that means 60% water then... :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Supercharged 2 Posted September 26, 2006 reading my manual is says never to use water, always use the proper coolant at no less than 40% mix. So that means 60% water then... :) No ice please... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites