Antifreeze check question from a newbie.

Post by **Fweep** » 27 Jun 2006, 13:55

Hi - newbie question.

I have read all the excellent tech info on the tech forum and Wiki notes - great.

Now I'm having nightmares that my headbolts have been corroded to the width of matchsticks and want to make sure I have the right antifreeze sloshing around - and I have the specs for that - thanks.

Question is I have just bought an 85 waserboxer with very low milage - trouble is the last owner was not technical or VW minded - had it serviced in a small local garage that was not familiar with the waserboxers funny ways....did they use antifreeze out of the 50 gal drum in the corner rather than the right stuff??

Anyway to save the fuss and expense of draining and refilling - is there anyway I can tell if the antifreeze is the right stuff. It is a bluey colour but it MAY be purple - but it's not pink.

I know the perfect answer is drain and refill anyway - but can anyone help???? I have searched forum and haven't seen an answer to this.

Thanks in advance.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 27 Jun 2006, 15:07

It doesnt matter what antifreeze was used really, it seems that as long as its changed often is the key.. of course a good quality one can stay in longer, so lets hope thats what was done. in reality (and not to put a downer on it) most people do not change the antifreeze at all....
All you can do is put some nice fresh stuff in and wait and see what happens, might be a good idea to start a jam jar off and put your loose change in every week..

With the age of it, the rubber hoses are going to be a slight weak point too, so give everything a good inspection and keep an eye on levels etc..

Of course, you could be lucky and it had a "freshen up" some time ago..
What does the area arounf the black rubber seals on the underside of the heads look like? what does the coolant look like thats in there? and is the header tank all scummy brown? you should be able to see the colour of the coolant through it..

Oh and dont be tempoted to move any of the head bolts just in case!!

Post by **Fweep** » 27 Jun 2006, 15:56

toomanytoys wrote:
Of course, you could be lucky and it had a "freshen up" some time ago..
What does the area arounf the black rubber seals on the underside of the heads look like? what does the coolant look like thats in there? and is the header tank all scummy brown? you should be able to see the colour of the coolant through it..

Oh and dont be tempoted to move any of the head bolts just in case!!

Thanks toomanytoys! You've put my mind at ease ( and made sleeping at night easier anyway ) because it looks like the main hoses have been replaced in the last year or so and the header is (almost ) chrystal clear with no brown in evidence at all.

It all seems like I can safely leave it for a few thousand miles or so - I will check all other pipes as you say,

Post by **mark206000** » 27 Jun 2006, 18:58

Mine's a bit brown lookin and sometime scummy, whats this mean ?

Coolant was flushed and changed only recently just after i bought the van.

It wasn't driven for a long time before I got it tho

should it be done again ?

Cheers

Post by **toomanytoys** » 27 Jun 2006, 21:08

It can only be a general sign of how well the cooling system is.. the brown residue stuck to the plastic is debris from within the system, ie rust etc..
you can only keep an eye and wait/save for the inevitable...

when I bought my velle in 1999 (100k miles, no history and a little negleted for the last few years), I was unfamilier with them, I too had sleepless night thinking "how long will it last", well nearly 3 years of abuse (well serviced but loaded up for long fast trips and about 40k miles) soon sorted it (ie finished it off).. although it did have a stat, a new water pump, and a few hoses in that time too. and always dripped a little coolant.
The NON vw replacement engine had a top end redone after 18 months and now another 2.5 years on is sick again (well it was sick at Xmas).. Wish I had a Gen VW lump... (but at the time I was told by 3 vw dealers they were no longer available! Untrue.)

Post by **Fweep** » 30 Jun 2006, 19:48

Well I'm beginig to sleep better . I've got very few miles on mine ( 46k - for sure all checkable through service records and mots ... some sort of record for a 25 year old Wedge???)

BUT rust never sleeps does it? Despite the low miles the coolant has been slowly doing it's business against the cylyinder head bolts like the sea against Brighton Pier...ooooh

No choice in the matter - I'll have to stay philisophical and wait for the bang. 6 months? maybe 1 yesr ? could be 2 years? probally 5 years ? good chance 120 years? you nevr know...