Technical Regarding Grande Punto - Coolant/Reservoir.

[Pyabbi]

Halo,

I observed this strange debris in my coolant reservoir.


I actually topped up the coolant reservoir using Gabriel coolant I probably added 700 ml of it, I couldn’t buy the PARAFLU from anywhere around me.

Can someone share why the reservoir looks like this, it was not a very noticeable until recently past one month as it looks, should I change it ?

Or it’s okay ? The car works great never over heats, added this summer it’s been almost more than 6 months now.

How can I clean this greasy debris ?

Also, squirrels around have borrowed my cars sound absorbing fabric that is pasted behind the engine, you can see, it probably helps to absorb some sound.

Can someone suggest a simple fix for that ?

 

[cmosfxx]

Some brands don't mix well with others. You need to flush the system with clean water and then add new coolant.


This greasy film could be oil.

 

[Pyabbi]

Some brands don't mix well with others. You need to flush the system with clean water and then add new coolant.


This greasy film could be oil.

Hmmm.

Mines a 7 year old, 1.2 8v Emotion.
Went off just 58000+ kms, the engine works great.

Anyways, could you suggest how I can determine if it’s oil or something else ?

 

[cmosfxx]

Just flush the system and put fresh coolant again.

If it's oil then you have a head gasket leak. It will get like that soon.

 

[Pyabbi]

Just flush the system and put fresh coolant again.

If it's oil then you have a head gasket leak. It will get like that soon.

I have read, that we can mix paraflu with water.

Do you know how many liters of coolant and water to be added ? or what is the total capacity of 1.2 8v ?

 

[Pyabbi]

I just found some stuff, there are 2 types one is paraflu Nd another one is paraflu concentrate,
One appears to be a mix of water and coolant while concentrate is pure coolant.

My manual suggest a 40:60 ratio, 40 coolant :60 water.

7.6 lt total in the cooling system.

 

[cmosfxx]

I just found some stuff, there are 2 types one is paraflu Nd another one is paraflu concentrate,
One appears to be a mix of water and coolant while concentrate is pure coolant.

My manual suggest a 40:60 ratio, 40 coolant :60 water.

7.6 lt total in the cooling system.

Yeah I'm not sure about your version. May be different from EU versions.

For example when I flush and replace coolant on my car I only need 4.5 Liters.
There is always some coolant in the engine block and the heater.

tip: you can find out how much you need by measuring the old coolant when you remove it.

Make sure you flush the old coolant with some clean water first. Let it work for some time then replace it with coolant

 

[Pyabbi]

Yeah I'm not sure about your version. May be different from EU versions.

For example when I flush and replace coolant on my car I only need 4.5 Liters.
There is always some coolant in the engine block and the heater.

tip: you can find out how much you need by measuring the old coolant when you remove it.

Make sure you flush the old coolant with some clean water first. Let it work for some time then replace it with coolant

Do you add water or just the coolant ?

 

[cmosfxx]

I have to mix 50% water 50% coolant (that's what the manual and the paraflu box says)
Depends on the temperature etc

If you get a ready mix you don't have to put extra water.

 

[Pyabbi]

Yeah I'm not sure about your version. May be different from EU versions.

For example when I flush and replace coolant on my car I only need 4.5 Liters.
There is always some coolant in the engine block and the heater.

tip: you can find out how much you need by measuring the old coolant when you remove it.

Make sure you flush the old coolant with some clean water first. Let it work for some time then replace it with coolant

I think it varies from models, mine is a 2011 model

And this post has a different story- 5.7 liters

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/269960-1-2-1-4-8v-coolant-antifreeze-change.html

 

[cmosfxx]

7.6 liters are...a lot. I believe your version has bigger radiator.

 

[Bernievarian]

If you want a fully clean system, you'll have to remove the thermostat, disconnect the lower pipe @ radiator and flush with circulating fresh water until what outputs is clear. You should do the same with the heat exchanger (heater). Then refill with mixture.

OR, drain the radiator as much as you can, refill with water, bring the engine at temp (to open the thermostat and let the fresh and old water to mix). Do that a few times until what ouptuts is clear, then refill with PURE Paraflu (since residual water is still in the circuit…) Run the car to mix both liquids, specially if done in winter !!

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[Pyabbi]

If you want a fully clean system, you'll have to remove the thermostat, disconnect the lower pipe @ radiator and flush with circulating fresh water until what outputs is clear. You should do the same with the heat exchanger (heater). Then refill with mixture.

OR, drain the radiator as much as you can, refill with water, bring the engine at temp (to open the thermostat and let the fresh and old water to mix). Do that a few times until what ouptuts is clear, then refill with PURE Paraflu (since residual water is still in the circuit…) Run the car to mix both liquids, specially if done in winter !!

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

Hey Bernie,
It is really important to remove the thermostat ?
I don't know where it is, won't it work ?

If I just simply flushed a few times with just water until it's clear?

I will definitely just add paraflu concentrate.

 

[Pyabbi]

7.6 liters are...a lot. I believe your version has bigger radiator.

I guess so, it gets pretty hot here in India, but they literally doubled the size in India. I wonder if it gets that hot [emoji91] lol

 

[Bernievarian]

Hey Bernie,
It is really important to remove the thermostat ?
I don't know where it is, won't it work ?

If I just simply flushed a few times with just water until it's clear?

I will definitely just add paraflu concentrate.

The thermostat removal has two purposes:

- when thermostat is closed it will "lock" the water in the engine so it won't drain correctly. And it provides a convenient hole for garden hose when flushing.

- once removed you can test the thermostat… in warming water it should start opening when bubbles appear in the water container Walls / Bottom, that's about 80°c

The thermostat should be located in an housing on top of engine near the battery, there are pipe coming from the radiator and expansion reservoir to this housing, probably also the temp sensor … Remove the airbox and you'll see.

There is no need of using concentrate if you flushed the entire system and there is no (much) residual water in the system; plus it's Always better to do the mix externally before filling the system ...

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[cmosfxx]

If you want a fully clean system, you'll have to remove the thermostat, disconnect the lower pipe @ radiator and flush with circulating fresh water until what outputs is clear. You should do the same with the heat exchanger (heater). Then refill with mixture.

OR, drain the radiator as much as you can, refill with water, bring the engine at temp (to open the thermostat and let the fresh and old water to mix). Do that a few times until what ouptuts is clear, then refill with PURE Paraflu (since residual water is still in the circuit…) Run the car to mix both liquids, specially if done in winter !!

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

No need to remove the thermostat.

Second method is the right one.

Plus, the coolant on this car is always flowing through the small hose from the thermostat to the tank. That's why it's called a self-bleeding system. (except the radiator bleed valve which makes things a little easier/faster)