Vauxhall Astra

scorpiolady

Hi, we just noticed the water in our car engine has gone quite dirty does this mean there may be a problem somewhere

Thanks for any advice received

Apples2

Are you sure it isn't simply the anti-freeze?

We have just come out of a pretty cold winter. I would imagine if there was no anti-freeze (which contains an anti-corrosive), you would have had problems with your car during the winter.

If it were mine, I would drain, flush and refill the coolant.

Keep an eye on the oil filler plug to see if there is any milky mucus looking stuff on it (could be a sign of bad karma)

Quinny_2

Year of car and engine size may help.

naijapower

Quinny wrote: »

Year of car and engine size may help.

Was just about to ask same question. pls provide

scorpiolady

1998 and 1.6
i always put antifreeze in the car

kitchpoo

8v or 16v?

Mk 3 (F) or 4 (G) (1998 was change year) -

Apples2

Could one of you guys above explain why the particular engine model is relevant here??

This is coolant in an engine.

It would be nice if all coolant mixtures were a bright green colour but unfortunately not all are. Some are rusty coloured by default but doesn't mean there is a problem.

I can't see why it would matter if it was a 15yr old 1.0ltr banger or a 6 month old 3.0ltr twin turbo sports car.

What exactly did they do in 1998 to make the cooling system operate differently??

Quinny_2

Well,when I went to the local Autovaux parts supplier and amongst other things asked for anti freeze,I was asked what engine size it was and what year of the car was,and was given the pink anti freeze.

Now just supposing it was a diesel that I had,it may well have been a different type that was supplied.

You even say yourself that it would be nice if all coolant mixtures were bright green colour,but unfortunately not all are.

It's like going into a tv shop and asking for a remote control.The first thing they are going to ask is what tv is it.

kitchpoo

Apples2 wrote: »

Could one of you guys above explain why the particular engine model is relevant here??

This is coolant in an engine.

It would be nice if all coolant mixtures were a bright green colour but unfortunately not all are. Some are rusty coloured by default but doesn't mean there is a problem.

I can't see why it would matter if it was a 15yr old 1.0ltr banger or a 6 month old 3.0ltr twin turbo sports car.

What exactly did they do in 1998 to make the cooling system operate differently??

Some Astra traits are well documented, and specific versions are prone to, for example, head gasket failure, the older 8v is less likely to have this than the 16v. The 1.6 engine is carried over fron F to G versions - with only ancilliaries different - including the radiator, and If I reacll correctly the coolant capacity in the 16v is lower than in the 8v. An early G may have some issues regarding initial reliability compared to an F with 8 year's previous build. The more details at hand when diagnosing the better

Apples2

I get all of that, but how does the advice differ between the F or G version, 8v or 16v or petrol/diesel?

We know the coolant is a funny colour, I still can't see the relevance of an engine prone to head gasket faults (this could scare the OP to death), a new build design, a different capacity, 8v 16v etc.

I agree more info would be required if there were more to the problem, but as it is, I can't see what else there is to say.


This is a bit like going into a TV shop saying you can't see BBC1, and the guy asking "What colour is the remote?"

goldspanners

Apples2 wrote: »

I get all of that, but how does the advice differ between the F or G version, 8v or 16v or petrol/diesel?

We know the coolant is a funny colour, I still can't see the relevance of an engine prone to head gasket faults (this could scare the OP to death), a new build design, a different capacity, 8v 16v etc.

I agree more info would be required if there were more to the problem, but as it is, I can't see what else there is to say.


This is a bit like going into a TV shop saying you can't see BBC1, and the guy asking "What colour is the remote?"

i think its a good idea to offer all information, i think the op would be more frightened if he found out his head gasket was knackered at the side of the motorway.
i remember a few years ago when at an auction i was having a look at astras and found the 3 i looked at all had white gunk under the oil filler cap,it does seem to be a common problem, so why shy away from it and not offer this advise?

coolant shouldnt be rusty brown, if it is then it needs changed,its rusty brown because its been ran with to little anti freeze in it, flush and change it and use the right amount of anti freeze.