New 205 gti, some help please!

New 205 gti, some help please!

Author
Discussion

ethos

Original Poster:

17 posts

206 months

Saturday 29th September 2007
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Just bought a 205 gti with 129k on the clock. Now I noticed some mayo in the coolant and it's also a tad low, no other signs of HGF though. No exhaust smoking and performance is all there so hoping it'll be fine.

Is this fairly normal for a car of this age? The guy only done about 3k in the last 8 months in it. Also the coolant is in a black tub so you can't actually see the level, first time i've ever seen that!

Was gonna top up the antifreeze tomorrow and then flush it sometime in the next week, this going to be ok?!

Also on the 1.6 the antifreeze is on the top right of the engine yea?

Thanks!

r5gttgaz

7,897 posts

227 months

Saturday 29th September 2007
quotequote all
Taking the car for a good run 50 miles + should burn all that crap off.

ethos

Original Poster:

17 posts

206 months

Saturday 29th September 2007
quotequote all
We drove 200 miles last night!

Have done 2-3 short trips today...

The oil was a little low so have also topped that up.

Just worried i've bought a dog. It drives superb!

sorrento205

2,875 posts

243 months

Saturday 29th September 2007
quotequote all
the mayo in the filler cap is typical of the xu5/9 engine, probably 95% of us will get some signs of it over the winter, some worse than others. If you have a gauze filter in the top of the filler cap you may want to remove it, it might help a little bit.

ethos

Original Poster:

17 posts

206 months

Saturday 29th September 2007
quotequote all
It's not in the filler cap, its in the coolant!

Was thinking and draining it tomorrow, but have never done it before.

Does the system need to be bled? Or can I just drain it, fill it up to a good level. Run the engine, check level. Top up. ETc...

sorrento205

2,875 posts

243 months

Saturday 29th September 2007
quotequote all
Oh bugger (sorry i was already mentally writing my reply after reading mayo, my bad!)

I would suggest a full fluids change. Oil is easy enough to do, it will run out of the sump quicker if the engine is warm when you do it...

Ive never really fully drained the coolant system before, i know there is a bleed screw on one of the pipes which goes to the heater matrix, you should see if you look over the top of the engine. Im not entirely sure how you use it though. In previous cars ive always just run the car upto temperature with the reservoir cap off.

Hope it all works out for you smile

groomi

9,323 posts

250 months

Saturday 29th September 2007
quotequote all
There are several bleed screws dotted around for the coolant system, but be prepared that most or all of them will be corroded and unuseable.

When refilling the system, I think it's easier if you 'create' an artificial header tank as the black tub you refer to is not quite the highest point of the cooling system. Alternatively, park the car on a slight downwards slope when refilling.

If you're going to the extent of draining the coolant, you may want to think about replacing hoses...

Simes205

4,661 posts

235 months

Sunday 30th September 2007
quotequote all
Make sure you buy an oil filter from Peugeot (Purflex? one) It's got a one way valve in it which is good!

To drain pull out the lower rad hose. (you will scrape your knuckles regardless!)
Flush the rad through separate to the rest.

You don't need a header tank on either the clear expansion tank or black one, it is high enough. As mentioned there is a bleed screw on the hose going into the bulk head and one near to the distributor.
Doesn't take long to do.


Edited by Simes205 on Sunday 30th September 14:02


Edited by Simes205 on Sunday 30th September 14:03

ethos

Original Poster:

17 posts

206 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
Ok, replaced the coolant!

The pipe was a PAIN to get off and I flushed the system through with a hose. Then got some new coolant and mixed 50/50 and refilled.

Bled from the top and was squeezing the pipe to help get the air out. Ran the engine with the top off the expansion tank for a couple of minutes too.

Drove 60 miles yesterday and seemed all good!

The old coolant wasn't looking too good, bit of oil / mayo in there! Scarey stuff, hopefully it'll be ok now!

Oil next...

Edited by ethos on Monday 1st October 08:53

Simes205

4,661 posts

235 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
Nice, don't worry about the mayo unless you start to find it in the expansion tank.

ethos

Original Poster:

17 posts

206 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
Thats where is was! All cleaned out now! wink

sorrento205

2,875 posts

243 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
just keep an eye on it. I think the xu engines are pretty tough, and the 8valvers are pretty affordable now so if it did ruin its head gasket, you could probably get a replacement in there for not too much money providing you or someone you know can do the work

Simes205

4,661 posts

235 months

Monday 1st October 2007
quotequote all
Make sure your fan works, that is normally the reason the head gasket starts to fail.