Cooling

[el_foolio]

hey all. had a few problems with cooling. what cooling method do you guys recomend? Straight water? Coolant? If so what colour/type coolant?

[syncro]

Genuine VW. G12+ or G13 or whatever it is called.

Distilled water from Franklins.

[gtimk5]

On an older Golf I use coolant, just normal from Repco or wherever. 2,1/5 litres snould do it. The rest just crystal clear Tasmanian tap water! I only use G11 or G12 on the 90s onward VWs according to what the model specified.

[syncro]

On an older Golf I use coolant, just normal from Repco or wherever. 2,1/5 litres snould do it. The rest just crystal clear Tasmanian tap water! I only use G11 or G12 on the 90s onward VWs according to what the model specified.

Why

[gtimk5]

Hi Syncro. I would say 99% of Mk1 golfs down here have never had G11 ect. in them. I have nothing against using the later coolants but do they mix with a car that has "normal" type coolant in it? Cost is also an issue for some of the earlier vehicle customers.
Hey, thats just what I have always done :D :D :D

[syncro]

Better question is why not use it? The cost is difference minimal.

G10 was the original coolant and was superceeded in the '80s by G11 then G11 V8, then G11 V8B etc. It's an evolution thing......

[imported_brackie]

Rather than me posting advice directly you may want to read this article I wrote a few years back. It refers mostly to the Rover alloy V8 but some of it applies to VWs.
http://www.discoveryauto.com.au/page4.htm

Tear it to bits! It's a free country :wink:

A couple of years back (or so) there was a current affairs "Lets Expose It!" type programme...can't remember which one... that did tests on coolants. The results were very surprising with some of the cheaper coolants coming out the best. I don't think "Techalloy" (sp?) did too well. Also "Choice" magazine tested them. My advice would be to go genuine. As syncro says coolants have changed over the years so get the right one for your model.

[el_foolio]

im currently running green coolant. not sure of anything more than that. its repco stuff. but every car mk1 ive run that in has had overheating probs. so i just thought that may have something to do with it

[syncro]

Except when I first bought my Golfs, I have never had overheating problems. Australian Golfs have very large radiators.

[Golf Loon]

Nice article Peter

We`ll have to get more informative articles like that on here when we update to the new server.

[syncro]

Good article.
I have a Volkswagen so I use Volkswagen coolant.
If I had a Holden I would use Holden coolant.
If I had a Toyota I would use Toyota coolant.
If I had a Ford........ no I wouldn't have a Ford.

[el_foolio]

alright, ill give it a crack.... I just find it odd that all 3 golfs ive owned have has the same problem. A problem that no one else seems to have. What am i doing wrong?!?!?! :cry:

[syncro]

alright, ill give it a crack.... I just find it odd that all 3 golfs ive owned have has the same problem. A problem that no one else seems to have. What am i doing wrong?!?!?! :cry:

OK What Golf/engine is it?

First, remove radiator hoses and the two heater hoses at the engine.
Get your garden hose and flush out at every oriface until the water comes out clean (make sure heater is on). Then flush back the other way. Then fill with VW coolant and distilled water.

Let me know what you find.

[el_foolio]

Mk1 1600. Yeah done that many a time with all 3. sat there for hours flushing it. mk. where can i get vw coolant?

[syncro]

Mk1 1600. Yeah done that many a time with all 3. sat there for hours flushing it. mk. where can i get vw coolant?

VW dealer.

When do they overheat?
Are you loosing water?

[gtimk5]

You can get G11 coolant from most VW workshops :D :D

[el_foolio]

overheats when im driving it. No, not losing any water. Inclduing your Vw Workshop gtimk5?? :wink:

[syncro]

overheats when im driving it. No, not losing any water. :wink:

What speed/stop start traffic/hills/highway......?

[gtimk5]

Yes, I hve G11 coolant. Have you checked the thermostat? If there isn't one fitted than it will overheat. A faulty radiator cap will cause it to o'heat when sitting idling. You have had this problem for a while now, haven't you? :)

[Bug_racer]

Where do you get g11 from , VW stopped selling it 3 years ago , superceded to g12+

[mikinoz]

G whatever...

use something...

http://www.picturesbyarthursteel.com/l%20images/Overheating.jpg

[imported_brackie]

"Aim the extinquisher at the BASE of the fire......."

[syncro]

Where do you get g11 from , VW stopped selling it 3 years ago , superceded to g12+

Tasmania

[gtimk5]

the coolant I have is made by Febi/Bilstein, GO11 ABC A1, tis blue
the other is made by Hepu G012 A8D, pink

[Rednut]

i think that man may have had more than one extinguisher! i dont think i cant spell.. or use proper engrish.. :oops:

i must have mechanic blood in me!

[Golfwise]

Was nice 39 Ford ,did you get that fire out Mik ?

[jaffa]

I have run the green coolant from Castrol or Valvoline for nearly 25 years in a Mk 1, no corrosion problems. Just buy a 2l container and top up with water. Replace every couple of years. The temp gauge will often hit the red though. I used to worry about that a lot early on, until I hooked up a pressure gauge to the cooling system and saw that it was only sitting around 60kpa when it did this. It would peak at 70kpa occasionally in summer stopped at the lights. It has never been near the 100kpa pressure where the cap will let go, so I haven't worried about it for over 20 years. Its never boiled.

[el_foolio]

well, ill be into your workshop in the not too distant future!

[syncro]

The temp gauge should never get into the red. If it does then there is something wrong.

I had one problem that was hard to find.
Driving along at any speed over 40k was OK.
When stopped was OK.
Driving slowly it overheated.

Have a guess.

[Golf Loon]

The temp gauge should never get into the red. If it does then there is something wrong.

I had one problem that was hard to find.
Driving along at any speed over 40k was OK.
When stopped was OK.
Driving slowly it overheated.

Have a guess.

Fan was running in reverse?

[syncro]

Fan was running in reverse?

Matt, you're a pr**k!
You weren't supposed to get it on the first guess :lol:

[Golf Loon]

I know my golfs mate. Give us a harder one!

[syncro]

No, I'm taking my bat & ball and going home :(