Changing/topping up engine fluids
Discussion
Hi all,
I was wondering how much notice people take to using manufacturer recommended fluids e.g. coolant and engine oil. The car user manual specifies coolant and oil of a certain type and must adhere to certain standards, is this just the manufacturer trying to make money or should i use the recommended products? I don't have a problem with doing this but they don't seem to be available in my local halfords auto store which then begs the question where do i buy them from?
I also don't know that the recommended coolant/oil has been used in the vehicle so far so if i'm unsure whats in there presumably i shouldn't top up the existing with whatever i buy, i should drain the systems and start again? The manual says that emptying and refilling both the coolant and engine oil should be done by a qualified workshop, is it really that difficult? And is there a real chance of damaging the car if i do it myself? I am assuming that topping up/changing the screen wash is less of an issue both topping up with different fluid and in what fluid i use, the manual doesn't even describe how to do this so i assume its no big deal.
Thanks for the advice!
I was wondering how much notice people take to using manufacturer recommended fluids e.g. coolant and engine oil. The car user manual specifies coolant and oil of a certain type and must adhere to certain standards, is this just the manufacturer trying to make money or should i use the recommended products? I don't have a problem with doing this but they don't seem to be available in my local halfords auto store which then begs the question where do i buy them from?
I also don't know that the recommended coolant/oil has been used in the vehicle so far so if i'm unsure whats in there presumably i shouldn't top up the existing with whatever i buy, i should drain the systems and start again? The manual says that emptying and refilling both the coolant and engine oil should be done by a qualified workshop, is it really that difficult? And is there a real chance of damaging the car if i do it myself? I am assuming that topping up/changing the screen wash is less of an issue both topping up with different fluid and in what fluid i use, the manual doesn't even describe how to do this so i assume its no big deal.
Thanks for the advice!
first thing what car is it
chances are you can diy it , its worth spending a bit of time reading up on what it should have , i know some coolants dont mix , and you need to check what spec of oil it should have in it
brands wont matter as long as its decent quality and the right stuff
chances are you can diy it , its worth spending a bit of time reading up on what it should have , i know some coolants dont mix , and you need to check what spec of oil it should have in it
brands wont matter as long as its decent quality and the right stuff
Good on you for taking an interest, most people are completely indifferent to fluid level and quality and maintenance in general.
Your handbook will tell you what specifications of fluid are required, with a few exceptions you will find a suitable product in most decent motor factors.
Modern cars are increasingly sensitive to oils in particular, and to a lesser extent coolant. Therefore manufacturers tend to develop their own specs. If you cannot get a suitable fluid in a motor factors, remember online specialists such as Opie Oils. Also, consider going to the parts department of your marque's local dealer as I often find them surprisingly reasonable on oils for instance.
Changing other fluids is a different kettle of fish to topping up the screenwash, with a little research on your particular car though this shouldn't put you off. It isn't generally hard on most cars but there are other considerations to be made. Where are the drain plugs (if fitted)? If there are no drain plugs, what is the best way to extract the fluid? If there is a drain plug, will you need a new washer for re-fitting?
For oils (engine, gearbox, diff, hydraulic)- is there a filter to replace? Where can you buy it? How much oil does it take? How do I check the level? Is it necessary to 'prime' the system before using the car again?
Coolant- what is the best way to bleed the system on this model? Should I consider replacing the thermostat or water pump while the system is drained?
If you are just topping up it's key to know how to check the level and to remember never to open a pressurised system ( which precludes loosening the expansion tank cap on a hot coolant system).
Your handbook will tell you what specifications of fluid are required, with a few exceptions you will find a suitable product in most decent motor factors.
Modern cars are increasingly sensitive to oils in particular, and to a lesser extent coolant. Therefore manufacturers tend to develop their own specs. If you cannot get a suitable fluid in a motor factors, remember online specialists such as Opie Oils. Also, consider going to the parts department of your marque's local dealer as I often find them surprisingly reasonable on oils for instance.
Changing other fluids is a different kettle of fish to topping up the screenwash, with a little research on your particular car though this shouldn't put you off. It isn't generally hard on most cars but there are other considerations to be made. Where are the drain plugs (if fitted)? If there are no drain plugs, what is the best way to extract the fluid? If there is a drain plug, will you need a new washer for re-fitting?
For oils (engine, gearbox, diff, hydraulic)- is there a filter to replace? Where can you buy it? How much oil does it take? How do I check the level? Is it necessary to 'prime' the system before using the car again?
Coolant- what is the best way to bleed the system on this model? Should I consider replacing the thermostat or water pump while the system is drained?
If you are just topping up it's key to know how to check the level and to remember never to open a pressurised system ( which precludes loosening the expansion tank cap on a hot coolant system).
Its a Volkswagen, the manual doesn't give you a name for the oil or coolant just a vw code which i don't have with me right now. If you search for this code online you find a few links but nothing specific saying what it is and where it can be bought from, so i assume its not one of the big brand oil products or it is re-branded..I could probably get them from the local VW dealer? At a cost. And i will look into local motor factors, didn't even know they existed. But if i don't know what has been put in it in the first place then i don't think i can risk topping it up with anything right now? It has been serviced twice by Volkswagen so assume they would have used the approved oil/coolant but then it was serviced by an independent dealer so don't know if they'd have changed either and what they put in.
I can't actually fit under the car and i don't have have a jack or supports for it so right now i'm not in a good position to do any of this myself. To top it all i live in the city and the car is just parked on the street so not a great place for lifting the car which i assume you have to do to drain fluids, i can't physically fit under the car without raising it. I generally like to tackle these things myself out of interest rather than the cost of having it done by a garage but there's a point where it becomes impractical to do so.
Thanks for the help
I can't actually fit under the car and i don't have have a jack or supports for it so right now i'm not in a good position to do any of this myself. To top it all i live in the city and the car is just parked on the street so not a great place for lifting the car which i assume you have to do to drain fluids, i can't physically fit under the car without raising it. I generally like to tackle these things myself out of interest rather than the cost of having it done by a garage but there's a point where it becomes impractical to do so.
Thanks for the help
Ok so the oil for my car seems to be VW 504 00 although the manual writes it like this:
44kW-55kW engines VW 504 00, VW 502 00 so i assume the 44kW engine is VW 504 00 and on opies this brings up various compatible oils. Apparently VW have a partnership with Castrol and this comes up on the opies list of 504 00 oils so maybe i should be using this..
The manual says the coolant is G13 TL-VW 774J and on opies this brings up only two results, one is Motul inugel -37C VW cooling liquid.
So assuming i can use the above oils/coolant i still don't know if whats in the car now is in fact the products stated above. The coolant is at least the same colour as the Motul product.. Do i assume i can mix what is in the car with the above?
Its more in case i need to top up rather than do a full oil or coolant change.
Thanks
44kW-55kW engines VW 504 00, VW 502 00 so i assume the 44kW engine is VW 504 00 and on opies this brings up various compatible oils. Apparently VW have a partnership with Castrol and this comes up on the opies list of 504 00 oils so maybe i should be using this..
The manual says the coolant is G13 TL-VW 774J and on opies this brings up only two results, one is Motul inugel -37C VW cooling liquid.
So assuming i can use the above oils/coolant i still don't know if whats in the car now is in fact the products stated above. The coolant is at least the same colour as the Motul product.. Do i assume i can mix what is in the car with the above?
Its more in case i need to top up rather than do a full oil or coolant change.
Thanks
Ok thanks that's good to know. Yes I'm aware of brake fluid and power steering but that is at least electro-mechanical so no fluid-just a load of electrical problems to worry about instead! I will see if I can order the bits, surprised you can put things like engine oil in the post!
Thanks again
Thanks again
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