MKV R32 - Volkswagen Scheduled Services change Coolant/Water Pump/Thermostat?

[noisuf]

Hi Everyone,

I have a MKV R32 that has been serviced at Volkswagen all it's life.

It's done 73,000kms.

It's now just finished it's additional 3 year extended warranty so I'll be doing even more maintenance myself.

I had a look at the service manual and tried to find what Volkswagen has done to date for coolant, water pump and/or thermostat changes.

To my dismay, I couldn't find anything apart from Volkswagen "checking" the coolant.

A few questions:

1) I would have thought the big 60,000km service would have required changing of the coolant?

2) I've checked the coolant quality via my Castrol sticks and it's 'ok' for the time being.....maybe close to needing a change.

3) How often should I change the coolant and thermostat? My Suby Forester recommends every 2 years or 50,000kms for both?

4) When should I change the water pump?

Thanks heaps in advance.

[Umai Naa!!]

There's no actual service interval for the water pump and thermostat.

[h100vw]

There's no actual service interval for the water pump and thermostat.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. If the coolant has the correct SG, there's no need to replace it. If the stat is working, who is to say that the one you fit isn't broken? Unlikely but.......

VWVortex.com - 24V Waterpump DIY

The first DIY I came across. I personally wouldn't pull a pump out before it's time unless it was part of another operation, like it is on the 1.8T.

Doesn't look a bad job but could also be inviting trouble, like the fella above had.

Gavin

[Diesel_vert]

Volkswagen do not specify a coolant change interval, nor a replacement interval for the thermostat or water pump.

The coolant level and frost protection (concentration rate) is checked every 60 000 km, and topped up or adjusted as necessary.

Modern vehicles often specify the use of coolants with additives based on organic acid technology (OAT), which deplete at a much slower rate than traditional additives, hence the very long drain intervals - or even none at all, apart from a level/concentration check.



As for the thermostat and water pump (or indeed, any other cooling related components), if there are no obvious faults, I would consider getting them replaced if:

- there are changes in how the vehicle warms up and/or its operating temperature (e.g. a slow warm up may indicate a faulty 'stat), or
- it is convenient to do so while the vehicle is in for major surgery (e.g. during a timing belt change), simply to minimise labour costs, or
- you simply feel like it, haha

As I understand it, the engine in the R32 is chain-driven, so you don't have a timing belt change to look forward to, though I suppose you might consider getting the thermostat and water pump replaced at 105 000 km anyway - but only if you felt so inclined.

(105 000 km is the current distance interval for a timing belt replacement).

At your current rate, 73 000 km / 6 years = 12 200 km annually, meaning you won't reach 105 000 km until late 2016, so I think you could probably defer it until then.

[Transporter]

3) How often should I change the coolant and thermostat? My Suby Forester recommends every 2 years or 50,000kms for both?

4) When should I change the water pump?

Thanks heaps in advance.

3) I doubt that the Subaru recommends changing thermostat every 50,000km or 2 years. The coolant yes, but in VW cars the coolant has much longer life, at least when the car is new. Some other car manufacturers say change coolant after 8years and then every 2 years.

4) I would change it after 150,000km if it's easy to get to. Usually the w/pumps start to leak close or after 200,000km, but some makes leak much sooner.

I change the coolant in my ageing T5 R5 engine every 3 years now, while still using the VAG coolant. Replacing thermostat at 150,000 or after that makes sense, since they don't have infinitive life.