Club 80-90 Forums

Hi. Know it's a really daft question. Just checking fluids for trip tomorrow.Water reservoir bone dry Would there be a reason for this ie leak I need to look out for. Take it it's normal coolant and water I use. Believe it or not I'm quite mechanically minded and can do most things but just get a bit paranoid with these older vehicles. 1.9dg thsnks

Which water tank, one behind flap or one in engine bay. One in engine should be brimming full. One behind flap should have a level between min and max marks. Use 50/50 antifreeze/water mix. Make sure you match antifreeze (dont mix blue with red etc).. If you are loosing coolant, do the obvious checks, hoses, rad etc Could be just a leak, could be worse (head gasket).

Hi cheers for that. See its a good question I asked as I was ready to put the anti freeze I had (red). Also didn't realise there were two. Yes it's the one behind the flap and it's bone dry. Hopefully not head gasket. How would I know, whitening in the oil? ? Thanks again

That's the top up tank checked. How often do you check it? Now check the main tank in the engine bay that it connects to. Is that full up?

stokeseys1974 wrote:Hi. Know it's a really daft question. Just checking fluids for trip tomorrow.Water reservoir bone dry Would there be a reason for this ie leak I need to look out for.

It would be a good idea to find out where it's leaking from, how fast it loses coolant and if it's an easy fix (most are)
fill it up with G12+ or equivilant, and see how fast it drops
Your coolant relies on the 50 50 mix being right, it relies on it being changed every two years.
your anti freeze is first and foremost a rust inhibitor and an anti freeze last.

I'm also needed to top up coolant. I have no idea what coolant is in there at the moment. Is there a coolant that is compatable with being mixed with any other coolant?

iamtheactor wrote:I'm also needed to top up coolant. I have no idea what coolant is in there at the moment. Is there a coolant that is compatable with being mixed with any other coolant?

No, you must use the same or drop the coolant, flush with water and refill, it should be changed every two years anyway, use G12+ or equivilant

Ah curses. That's anoying, guess I'll have to do that. Is flushing/dropping the coolant a big job?

iamtheactor wrote:Ah curses. That's anoying, guess I'll have to do that. Is flushing/dropping the coolant a big job?

is removing a pipe from the radiator a big job for you?

Ha ha! I got no idea, I've only owned the van 6 weeks and it's my first ever 4 wheeled vehicle! Sounds like I'll cope!

Thanks for the advice kevtherev

I guess for tomorrow I'll just put water in it then sort out changing the coolant when I get back?

kevtherev wrote:

iamtheactor wrote:Ah curses. That's anoying, guess I'll have to do that. Is flushing/dropping the coolant a big job?

is removing a pipe from the radiator a big job for you?

haha! sarky git!