Second hand 7.5 R - Coolant or just dirty engine bay?

[jonathan_phang]

Hey all,

recently went to see a second hand 2018 7.5 R at a VW dealer - everything was good but on looking back on some pictures I took, I noticed that in some by the turbo, and in and around/under the coolant bottle, the engine bay seemed to have what looked like dried splashes.

Pics I took in album here

Now I don't know how well protected the bay on an R is when driving in rain/muddy conditions etc, and I hadn't given it much thought - at the time I just presumed that this was just general dirt. However looking back my paranoia has kicked in. Is this something that might be coolant etc from that common coolant problem? I test drove the car for over half and hour and there was no fresh fluid there, but thought I'd ask.

Would this worry you or is this ok? Let me know.

Thanks all
JP

 

[krs]

Looks like dirty water to me.

Dried coolant looks kind of similar, but has that light orange tint to it.

But from the pics lit looks like my engine bay after a bunch of rain. There’s really no splash shields around the front axle, so any water on that flings up and all over.

 

[jonathan_phang]

Cheers mate - nice to hear that. I know there's a pretty decent undertray but wasn't sure how much it was exposed underneath. If it all works out I'll be getting 2 years warranty as its used from VW direct in the UK, but if there was anything would be good to get it sorted up front. I have to go back after they have rubber stamped it all as ok for warranty. Will give it another look then.

 

[krs]

Cheers mate - nice to hear that. I know there's a pretty decent undertray but wasn't sure how much it was exposed underneath. If it all works out I'll be getting 2 years warranty as its used from VW direct in the UK, but if there was anything would be good to get it sorted up front. I have to go back after they have rubber stamped it all as ok for warranty. Will give it another look then.

Yeah, the OEM belly pan really isn't much. Here's a good video that shows how much it's exposed, and how to replace it with another OEM piece that's a little more stout.

 

[scrllock]

+1 dirty water. using a jetta GLI tray that goes back to the subframe and my bay stays much cleaner.

 

[jonathan_phang]

Deffo feeling a bit better - its almost like the more you research and do your due dilligence on buying Rs the more stressed you get just incase its problem x!

 

[2018gti]

+1 dirty water. using a jetta GLI tray that goes back to the subframe and my bay stays much cleaner.

Dang, you wouldn’t happen to have a part number for this would you?? I didn’t know you could put the Jetta tray on.

edit: is it this one? 3Q0825236C

 

[scrllock]

Dang, you wouldn’t happen to have a part number for this would you?? I didn’t know you could put the Jetta tray on.

edit: is it this one? 3Q0825236C

yes that's the one I like.

 

[tmw2442]

+1 to it being...
9. mk7 (97) percent chance, dirty water if you don't have an extended belly pan....

A cool engine bay, a hand pump sprayer, some All purpose cleaner, 5 minutes of dwell time, and 30 minutes a little elbow grease, on that engine bay should clean up nicely. Maybe even a very soft brush, to reach the deeper areas....

 

[FROSTYmk7.5]

Hey all,

recently went to see a second hand 2018 7.5 R at a VW dealer - everything was good but on looking back on some pictures I took, I noticed that in some by the turbo, and in and around/under the coolant bottle, the engine bay seemed to have what looked like dried splashes.

Pics I took in album here

Now I don't know how well protected the bay on an R is when driving in rain/muddy conditions etc, and I hadn't given it much thought - at the time I just presumed that this was just general dirt. However looking back my paranoia has kicked in. Is this something that might be coolant etc from that common coolant problem? I test drove the car for over half and hour and there was no fresh fluid there, but thought I'd ask.

Would this worry you or is this ok? Let me know.

Thanks all
JP

Definitely dirty water, My gti has dirt in the same spot...

 

[jonathan_phang]

+1 to it being...
9. mk7 (97) percent chance, dirty water if you don't have an extended belly pan....

A cool engine bay, a hand pump sprayer, some All purpose cleaner, 5 minutes of dwell time, and 30 minutes a little elbow grease, on that engine bay should clean up nicely. Maybe even a very soft brush, to reach the deeper areas....

Well, its not mine yet, but if all other things go well then in a week and bit I will the (hopefully proud) owner of it and then Im sure I will get started on the little things!

 

[The Fed]

See if the warranty covers coolant hoses, then you won't need to worry. The other parts should all be covered, if it is or the equivalent of a CPO warranty.

 

[jonathan_phang]

Are the hoses particularly a problem? I'd heard mostly about the pump and themostat housing when it comes to coolant leaks but interested to hear if theres anything else to consider in this area.

 

[SRGTD]

See if the warranty covers coolant hoses, then you won't need to worry. The other parts should all be covered, if it is or the equivalent of a CPO warranty.

Are the hoses particularly a problem? I'd heard mostly about the pump and themostat housing when it comes to coolant leaks but interested to hear if theres anything else to consider in this area.

Hoses aren’t covered under VW’s Approved Used warranty in the UK - see screenshot below. Link to full Approved Used warranty handbook; https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/idhub/...d-used-benefits/Used_Car_Warranty_Booklet.pdf

@jonathan_phang - One other potential coolant-related issue I’m aware of is the heater matrix becoming blocked. Seems to be an issue with cars that have a small bag (similar to a tea bag) of silicate in the cooling system expansion tank - the purpose of the bag contents being to inhibit corrosion of the metal components of the cooling system and prolong the life / effectiveness of the coolant. However, it seems that as the silicate bag ages it can be prone to splitting, the result being the silicate beads in the bag enter the cooling system and heater matrix, blocking the matrix and inhibiting warm airflow through some of the car’s heater vents. Cars with the silicate bag should have ‘Mit Silikat’ printed on the outside of the cooling system expansion tank - not all cars have this; I think the spec of VW approved antifreeze changed in later cars that rendered the use of the silicate bag unnecessary.

Have a read of the discussion threads at the link below (you should find other discussion threads if you do an internet search on ’MIT Silikat VW’ or similar search;

https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/34794-coolant-tank-potential-issue/

https://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=288480.0

 

[jonathan_phang]

Funnily enough I'd just been reading the warranty information and found the same thing. I haven't heard much about coolant hose related issues but will have another look - good to know though.

Just had a look at some pics and yeah I do have Mit Silikat there so I'll have a look in those threads to see if theres anything I can check etc. Im hoping should that happen the work would be covered under warranty too - but will have a read.

Thanks for taking the time to reply mate - much appreciated