new owner with 2 questions!

[Lff64]

Yes but if he is only topping up the expansion tank it is not going to do much harm to see if the system is leaking or not

[Butt0ns]

Just for info: the engine cooling system rad is the rearmost i.e. nearest the fans, the first is the aircon, then the inter-cooler. So stone damage not likely or near impossible. Unless, like some one I know, you dropped a bolt from the egr valve cooler whilst changing it, and couldnt find it for love nor money, and gave up looking, and thought nothing of it, until you had a coolant system leak. Then it may be the rad.
That was me BTW. The screw dropped down between the rad and the fan housing, rattling/vibrating away over a year it wore a hole in the rad. Result: Got a new rad.

[markinuckfield]

Just for info: the engine cooling system rad is the rearmost i.e. nearest the fans, the first is the aircon, then the inter-cooler. So stone damage not likely or near impossible. Unless, like some one I know, you dropped a bolt from the egr valve cooler whilst changing it, and couldnt find it for love nor money, and gave up looking, and thought nothing of it, until you had a coolant system leak. Then it may be the rad.
That was me BTW. The screw dropped down between the rad and the fan housing, rattling/vibrating away over a year it wore a hole in the rad. Result: Got a new rad.

Doesn’t sound like you could have found the bolt, expensive bolt to drop as well. Thanks for the detail as well

[Butt0ns]

No bother. Well I did see it after a few weeks but couldnt get it out, (I didnt try too hard) and thought, what harm will it do? About £200 a year later it turned out.

[marko301]

Yes but if he is only topping up the expansion tank it is not going to do much harm to see if the system is leaking or not

The thing is he's topping up something that could have been topped up many times already. He doesn't know if that has been with antifreeze or water. For the sake of 20 quid it's not worth the risk. Sure water for a couple of days while he keeps an eye on the level but it isn't something I'd leave until later in the year before doing a proper job for the reasons I mensioned in my previous post.

[franka]

The thing is he's topping up something that could have been topped up many times already. He doesn't know if that has been with antifreeze or water. For the sake of 20 quid it's not worth the risk. Sure water for a couple of days while he keeps an eye on the level but it isn't something I'd leave until later in the year before doing a proper job for the reasons I mensioned in my previous post.

Totally agree.

Best thing to do, is drain the system and flush it through with clean water. Then top the system up with the correct coolant.

Remeber the coolant also has properties to prevent corrosion within the block and it is vital to use it.

[exclusiv.]

Also read somewhere different coloured coolants can react against one another,and can cause premature corrosion in the whole coolant system.

[Jon199102]

Also read somewhere different coloured coolants can react against one another,and can cause premature corrosion in the whole coolant system.

Or turn into a gel within your coolant system which really messes up your system.

[mickyh7]

Why are you messing about?
Get it taken back, you've just parted with a shed full of money and the cars not right.
And while your there ask why it needs topping up.
Sounds like its got a load of bad news behind it ? These things are as common as muck, and you dont sound happy with it anyway, go and get a minter with a better sound system, phone , bluetooth etc.
Its your money mate, I waited months to find the right car, fully loaded, milage, history etc.
Good luck with it.

[blueislander]

Took it back, they agreed it wasn't right - topped it up for the next 4 days and it is now booked in for a full pressure test and flush to have the right coolant put in. Aside from that and a few audio niggles (easily resolved with a DAB radio unit), the car is excellent, and the engine temp is staying at 90 solid, so doesn't appear to be any issue there and I am barely driving it this week anyways. I'll report back asap.