Step by step guide on how to remove the coolant tank from your vehicle and replace with one not containing a "Silicat" bag. This applies to Skoda, VW, Audi and Seat vehicles. Tools you will need pump pliers: amzn.to/3n97S6E aborbent towel: amzn.to/42EKTRg gloves: amzn.to/40mf1P7 Disclaimer: If buy from the links above I receive a small commission which helps fund the channel. If this helps you, please consider liking and subscribing. Any questions or feedback - please leave below! Summary of basic process: Syphon old coolant out Remove electrical connector Release mounting lugs Remove pipes Refitting is a reveral of removal.
My VW Golf is from 2018. However, I do not see any inscription “with Sillikat” on my reservoir. Can I then assume that I do not have a sillicat bag in my reservoir?
I just took the tank off and took the bag out them bags are tough didn’t break the bag even though I was grabbing it really hard with long nose pliers job done . I just rinsed it out for 5 minutes just in case .
@deanwelsh5702 Yep, fair play pal. If you can get the tank off, then there's no chance of the silicat leaking into the coolant. Usually only possible if you've got a single walled tank - glad you were able to avoid getting a new tank :-)
Just did the same! Super stressful while it was on the car full of coolant but once I drained it and removed it from the car I went ham and it didn’t rip lol
I guess if you wanted the cheapest solution, drain the tank out as you demonstrate and they play around with trying to get the silica bag out without the worry about it splitting and contaminating the system. I think on mine you can get to the bag so if thats the case then its worth it.
@funky_geek absolutely buddy - if you can get to the bag & are confident of removing it without contaminating your coolant then that is the cheapest solution for sure. 👌 👍
The coolant expansion tank is not forever...they leak, split, rot, whatever. Same with the Brake Fluid Reservoir. And hoses degrade. Thermostat is another YES to replace. VW don't build ease-of- maintenance systems. The water pump is another medium life item. To replace on a B-5 the entire bumper etc must be pulled forward. See instructions. A Chevy V-8 's water pump might require 20-30 minutes. This VW wants 3-4 hours minimum at shop rates. Learn and do it yourself. Maybe 2 days?
@rsgtc Sure buddy - here you go (remember this is for a Mk3 Octavia / Mk7 Golf - if you have a different car, suggest call your dealer or auto factor): geni.us/Xisa
Hiya - yep sorry, have had a nightmare with my cooling system and VCDS wouldn't let me complete the bleed process successfully. Finally tracked the problem down to a faulty electric coolant pump for the internal heater matrix. Replaced it and all good. Have now recorded the VCDS bleed procedure here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t854UeaUvNA.html Thank you for your patience :-)
Oh yeah I saw that sucker floating away while topping up coolant on my 2015 Audi A3 Quattro. Tank was double-walled obviously because they don't want you removing it but I reckoned leaving it there would only bring trouble. Got it out with my needle nose pliers, just had to position it right with my fingers beforehand. Sometimes it's hard having big hands :( Now I understand I can only use G12 Evo coolant as it already comes with the silicates
@@jahid_1 Before topping up coolant, I had a good look at the whole tank and glimpsed of something tucked away behind the double wall. I thought it was odd so I took to the internet to find answers and saw all the people who had those bags rupture on them, heater exchange matrix getting clogged and in for an expensive repair. So yeah it was tucked away and hidden out of sight not floating around
Hi Andrew, Skoda recommends every two years - I’m pretty sure you’d be okay if you left it double that but personally I prefer to follow the manufacturers recommendations. Easy choices, hard life, hard choices, easy life-a bit of preventative maintenance goes a long way.
@vincerees841 I topped up with G12 and yes they do mix safely. Although - note it is important to do a coolant change every 2 years. Hope that helps? Thanks for the comment :-)
@NinoSpinner Buon punto! In realtà l'ho scaricato e spurgato, ma non ho ancora pubblicato il video: si sta rivelando piuttosto problematico. Io uso G12 Evo. Spero che aiuti? (for other viewers) Translation: Have you replaced the G13 tank with the G12 but without bleeding it? Did you put the G12++ or G12 Evo? My reply: Good point! I did acutally flush & bleed it - but haven't yet published that video - it's proving rather troublesome. I used G12 Evo. Hope that helps?
@@FixItWithJon tranquillo puoi rispondere in inglese a me fa la traduzione automatica Ma comunque chiedevo il G12++ e il G12 Evo sono gli stessi ma chiamati in modo diverso? Non c'è bisogno di fare lo spurgo perché il G12++ o Evo e il G13 sono miscelabili ho trovato diverse info a riguardo
@@NinoSpinner (translation of question for other viewers): Fix It With Jon, don't worry, you can answer in English, it'll do the automatic translation for me. But anyway, I was asking, are the G12++ and the G12 Evo the same but called differently? There is no need to purge because the G12++ or Evo and the G13 can be mixed. I found various information about it Hiya - some really good questions! G12 Evo is the more modern coolant - the chemicals are more environmentally friendly than G12++. It can be safely mixed with G12++. Personally I like to flush coolant every 2 years or so to maintain system internals - many manufacturers also have a similar schedule but strangely I've never been offered a "coolant flush" on a main dealer service.. Hope that helps?
@@FixItWithJon ok grazie, io ho tolto ieri il sacchetto con quelle sferette, e farò un aggiunta di G12Evo togliendo un po' di G13, successivamente toglierò un altro po' di liquido così da tenerlo sempre nuovo
I don't know if i got lucky but in my Golf mk7 i got the bag out in like 5 seconds, just came right out. Luckily wasn't split but was showing signs of degrading
@@FixItWithJon Yes luckily singled walled coolant tank. I assume I can top up my G13 coolant with the replaced G12 Evo coolant when needed as I don't want to do a full coolant replacement just yet
@@eyybabyj1397 No buddy - mixing coolant types is baaad news. If you don't have time to do a flush now, then recommend topping up with G13 for now and then diarise to do a full flush with G12 asap. I didn't realise before starting this process: coolant should be changed every 2 years as a matter of course. It's an odd one - I don't ever remember booking my car in for a routine service and be told that the coolant had to be changed, but it does make sense when you think about it.. The coolant will degrade over time etc. Hope that helps? 🙂
@justz9435 great question! I am told that they do not fit bags anymore, but I am sceptical - especially if they have large stocks of the 'bagged' coolant tanks to get through. Hope that helps?
Going to attempt this on my Passat. I’m assuming you can replenish the coolant taken out to change the vessel with G12 and it will blend with whatever coolant is in the rest of the system?
@@FixItWithJon That seems to be in contradiction to the video where you state that you don't need to flush the system since you haven't introduced any air?
@@James_08_07 Yes, that's a good point. What I'm trying to say (not very well admittedly) is that you can replace the tank without bleeding the cooling system (and you can top up with either G12 or G13, but that it's good practice to flush every 2 years. When doing the next flush, use G12. Hope that makes more sense?
I need clarification for why the bag is actually there. I assume it works in conjunction specifically with G13 coolant. As VW eventually saw the bags as a bad idea (who wound'nt really) they changed to G12 Evo coolant. Does this mean all present VW cars have no bags and use G12 evo coolant and you would recommend removing any bags and changing to G12 evo as replacing with G13 coolant without a bag would not be effective. I am uncertain which route to take as the older G12+ was never intended with a car with a G13 marked expansion tank and i cant see if it is advised to use G12 evo either. VW have kept very quiet on this.
just take bottle with silica g13 alot ppl crazy not realizing Vw dont give sh*t about ppl who already own and not the mention they gonna blame u if u under warranty* i live in france but my family live in german they always told me take as a manuel manuf in old one never take new cuz u gonna be a guinea pig...
As long as you're comfortable doing that bud then full power to you.. Mine was double walled, and therefore impossible to get to the bag. Even if it was single walled I wouldn't have risiked it (personally) though - the risk / reward ratio isn't good in my view. Only 20 pounds or so for a new tank..
@Gaspa2597 The dealer will sell you a tank without a bag. I'm not aware of a specific brand per se, but any motor factor will be able to supply - you just need to specify at the time of ordering. When I contacted Skoda - they knew exactly what I meant - straight away. Hope that helps?
@graycleary Yep, sorry buddy - had some real problems with my low temp cooling circuit which meant that I was unable to complete the process. Have now replaced the low temp coolant pump and all is good now. Have recorded the promised video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t854UeaUvNA.html
You're correct but it is a German manufactured part and therefore they write "Silicat" on the side which is the German for Silica. Since people are going to be searching for "Silicat" that is the most appropriate title for the video. But you're right - it is Silica :-)
My VW Golf is from 2018. However, I do not see any inscription “with Sillikat” on my reservoir. Can I then assume that I do not have a sillicat bag in my reservoir?
