This is the Page to record the cars specifics stuff. Details at the top, and then a running list of service history and stuff (newest last) at the bottom. Have a nice pic of her car as the featured image.
Vehicle Details
- Make – VW
- Model – Golf AllTrack
- Model Year – 2017
- Trim – 4-door AWD Wagon SEL
- Tire size: 225/45R18
- Possible new “winter focused” all season tires:
- Goodyear Assurance Weatherready (review)
- Michelin Crossclimate2 (would need new wheels, no 225/45R18 available)
- Possible new “winter focused” all season tires:
- Options – SEL w/4Motion
- Engine – 1.8 TSI Turbo (170 bhp)
- Transmission – 6 Speed DSG
- VIN – 3VWH17AU1HM513774 (VIN Decoder here)
- Purchase Date – December 3, 2016
- License Plate – 7VYG088 (California) (SMOG Lookup here)
- Color – Platinum Gray Metallic
Additional Specs online here and an extensive recap of the Mk 7 over at Wikipedia here.
MyCarFax Records here (logged in as )
Service History
Date: March 8, 2017
Mileage: 3,169
Performed by: Roseville Volkswagen
Services Performed: None – vehicle was recalled for an entertainment system software update – but Roseville VW didn’t have the correct software yet. A 2 hour waste of time.
Date: July 31, 2017
Mileage: 7,889
Performed by: Roseville Volkswagen
Services Performed: Left front strut replaced under warranty. Entertainment system software update “91Q1” done under warranty.
Date: October 5, 2017
Mileage: 9,991
Performed by: Neillo Volkswagen
Services Performed: 10,000 mile service. Filter, drain plug and 6 quarts of Castrol Edge 5/40. Complained about grooves in right front brake rotor but was told it was “within spec”.
Date: July 11, 2018
Mileage: 18,393
Performed by: Neillo Volkswagen
Services Performed: Replaced 5F Control Module in navigation system under warranty. Complained about grooves in right front brake rotor – “wear is normal”.
Date: September 4, 2018
Mileage: 19,951
Performed by: Neillo Volkswagen
Services Performed: 20,000 mile service. Oil, filter and drain plug. Inspected brakes – front at 10 mm, rear at 9 mm. Tire rotation (9/32 tread depth). Replaced cabin air filter.
Date: July 25, 2019
Mileage:
Performed by: Safelite AutoGlass
Services Performed: Repair rock chip in lower left-hand side of front window.
Date: August 20, 2019
Mileage:
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: OEM battery died. Replaced with better one (Duracell Ultra Platinum AGM SLI47AGM, DUR-9A47) from Batteries + Bulbs in West Sacramento. Full warranty until 8/20/23.
Date: August 31, 2019
Mileage: 29,927
Performed by: Neillo Volkswagen
Services Performed: 30,000 mile service.Oil, filter and drain plug. Tire rotation (8/32 tread depth). Front and rear brakes at 9 mm. Brakes were “pulsing”. Runout was .001 inches on front rotors, within spec, but was told would be worse when hot. Replaced front brake rotors and pads. Brake system flush. Requested new right front headlamp due to condensation problem – part ordered.
Date: October 21, 2019
Mileage: 31,431
Performed by: Neillo Volkswagen
Services Performed: Right front headlamp replaced under warranty.
Date: June 23, 2020
Mileage:
Performed by: Safelite AutoGlass
Services Performed: Rock chip repaired behind rearview mirror in front window. Replaced wiper blades.
Date: August 1, 2020
Mileage: 38,852
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: 40,000 mile service started. Oil and Filter changed (Castrol Edge 5W-40). ECS Tuning magnetic oil drain plug installed. Tires inspected and pressures set. Suspension checked. Washer fluid topped up. Coolant topped up with G13. Brake Fluid checked and topped up with Motul RBF600. Lights checked. Service Due Reset. Parts ordered for additional service items at next visit.
Date: August 14, 2020
Mileage: 39,035
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: 40,000 mile service continued. Spark plugs changed with OEM plugs. DSG Oil and Filter Service (Motul). Haldex Oil and Filter Service (OEM). Brake Fluid Flush (2 bottles Motul RBF600). Some other photos here.
Date: January 13, 2021
Mileage: 41,972
Performed by: Rob
Services Performed: Purchased and installed 4 new 205/65R-16 BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK WS90 SL winter tires mounted on 16X6.5 5-112 ET42 Steel Wheels from TireRack.com, who mounted and balanced the tires.
These will only be used for trips up to Tahoe in the winter
Date: July 17, 2021
Mileage: 47,144
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: ~5 year service. Minor Service routine and Inspections this year. Included:
- Oil and filter change.
- VW/Audi OEM 5W-40 full synthetic sourced from ECS Tuning
- VW/Audi OEM Oil Filter cartridge and O-Ring sourced from ECS Tuning
- The ECS Tuning Magnetic drain plug installed last service is crap. Signs of minor weeping (on all three cars I’ve fitted it to). Plastic lip cracked on reinstall. Punted. Put back original VW OEM drain plug and changed O-ring with new ECS supplied O-Ring. Cleaned mist of oil from around drain plug.
- Checked Fluid Levels
- Topped up washer fluid with all season blue fluid (Rob had).
- Brake Fluid slightly down from max (normal wear) – topped with Prestone DOT4
- Coolant Level Low (uh-oh, here we go with another water pump housing). Topped up with new VW OEM G13 50/50 mix.
- Inspected engine
- Discovered coolant leak visible on the thermostat housing, weeping down side of engine block. Explains the coolant level. Same issue we’ve seen/fixed on Karen’s GTI and Lauren’s GTI. Design flaw.
- A small amount of oil mist noticed on the lower transmission area. Blow back. Not exactly sure of source, but suspect it might be coming from the bell housing weep hole? Perhaps the rear main seal? Took some photos. Need to monitor.
- Inspected Brakes – OK
- Inspected Suspension
- All OK except spotted some oily mist/coating on front fender liner areas. Both left and right, about same situation. Oily’ish. But, brakes, shocks, etc. no signs of leakage, so I can’t explain it. Maybe this was an undercoat on the AllTracks that is picking up dust and starting to look like this? Will continue to monitor.
- Saw the same oily’ish film on both the left and right outboard side of the swaybar bushings. Odd place to see anything. Wondering if previous mechanics maybe sprayed a silicon lubricant on these locations and now its collecting dust/debris. Will monitor.
- Inspected Exterior Lights – all good
- Inspected Wipers – all good
- Inspected Undercarriage and Exhaust – all good.
- Inspected Tires
- About 25% life left.
- Set tire pressures to 37psi Front/Rear
- Tires are getting close to replacement, and aging out potentially.
- Checked space saver spare. Set tire pressure to 60 psi.
- Rotated Tires fronts to rears.
- Changed from OEM lug nuts and plastic decorative covers, to new black lug nuts (that don’t need fake covers). Purchased from MotorsportGP. This will reduce the time wasted with the plastic covers each service and stop me scratching the rims with a pick tool each time they need pulled out.
- Dabbed all new wheel bolts with anti seize compound
- Torqued wheel nuts to spec
- Service due indicator reset using manual process
- Connected OBDEleven and scanned car.
- 3 codes in various modules. Nothing important.
- Reset, none remaining now.
- Added service performed to Carfax report.
Recommendations:
- Order new Water Pump, Thermostat Housing, Bypass Pipe, and Intake Manifold Gasket from ShopDAP. Replace to resolve coolant leak. While doing that service, plan to:
- Change coolant (original VW G13)
- Do an intake valve walnut blast to remove carbon deposits.
- All four tires should be replaced soon (could last another full season, but perhaps by next rainy season). Balance at the same time.
- Four wheel alignment while there are new tires
Date: November 10, 2021
Mileage: 49890
Performed by: Rob
Services Performed: Duracell Ultra Platinum AGM battery (SLI47AGM, DUR-9A47) from 2019 getting weak. Replaced under warranty with new one from Batteries + Bulbs in West Sacramento. New battery marked with 7/21 manufacture date (old one was marked 1/19). Full warranty until 8/20/23.
Date: November 14, 2021
Mileage: 50,091
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed: The AllTrack developed the classic VW TSI engine coolant leak (noted in July service above). Noticed that the coolant level was slowly going down between services. Discovered signs of a leak on the Thermostat housing (rev H). Apparently this is super common for even low mileage TSI engines. Aluminum Water pump mounted to Plastic Thermostat housing mounted to Steel engine block – what could go wrong?
Ordered a new OEM Thermostat Housing (revision M), OEM water pump, OEM union pipe, and OEM intake manifold gasket from ShopDAP.com (one of their kits – see the VW Parts Page). Followed the best of steps in the two how to YouTube video’s linked over on the VW Knowledge page. Took the time to really cleanup all the drips and stains of the old fluid on the side of the engine block and hoses, etc.
While the intake manifold was off, took the time to cleanup several things.
- Cleaned the intake port flow director blades. Minor oil/carbon buildup. Brake clean to the rescue.
- Cleaned the chunky crud/carbon buildup on the back of the plastic intake manifold flaps/blades. Brake clean worked great.
- Cleaned the Throttle Body. Throttle Body cleaner.
- Intake valves had the dreaded carbon buildup everyone talks about with direct injection engines. Loads of caked on carbon/oil cake on the backs of the valves and valve stems.
- With a cylinder closed, I went after it dry with a series of picks. Flakes off pretty easy, was gooey and balled up. Shop vac to suck out bits and blobs. Patience. About 5 mins of work per cylinder. Used 24mm on crank bolt to rotate engine to manipulate the valves.
- Followed the FCP Euro video process for Walnut blasting intake valves (link on VW knowledge page). Purchased a 20 lb small sand blaster tank, 5 pound bag of 18/40 walnut shell grit, vacuum attachment blaster fitting, and special blasting wand. [note, wand did NOT connect properly to the blaster hose, had to go to Ace hardware and but a couple of NPT brass adapters to step down from 3/8 to 1/4]. Set Blaster to 60 PSI. Hardly used 1/4 of the walnut grit total.
- Blasted each chamber with walnut shells for about 30 seconds. Then went back in with picks to scrape around the valve seat seam to pick loose the bits of goop and residual walnut shells. Then vacuumed while using compressed air nozzle in the port. Then another 30 seconds of walnut blasting. Then picked again (hardly any residual now). Then compressed air and vacuum again to suck out last dregs. Sprayed with brake clean, and used lint free rag to wipe out chamber of walnut dust and last bits of carbon.
- Worked really well comparing before and after.
Refilled the cooling system with new OEM VW G13 coolant (about 1 gallon consumed). Used my Airlift II Cooling System filler kit purchased from FCP Euro so that it wouldn’t be hard to burp the system afterwards since all the air was sucked out prior to starting (worked great!).
Fired right up. Let idle until hot and checked for leaks above and below. None found!
Cleaned off accumulated crud on the undertray, and also cleaned the plastic parts of the engine bay I had off (engine cover, air intake, air filter housing).
Let cool off over night and then did a final precision top up of coolant.
Topped off the Windscreen washer fluid with 0°F fluid. Checked brake fluid and engine oil, both OK.
Final step was to connect to car using OBDEleven tool and cleared codes.
For a little fun I left a GoPro doing a time lapse recording during the day to capture the entire project. See how to do it in under 6 minutes!
Date: March 17, 2022
Mileage: 53,679
Performed by: Les Schwab
Services Performed: Purchased new Continental Extreme Contact DWS06+ all season tires, 225/45ZR-18 91Y. Installed (including new valve stems) and spin-balanced by Les Schwab on Northgate Blvd. in Sacramento.
Date: August 31, 2022
Mileage: 58,562
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed:
~6 year/60K mile service. Service routine and Inspections this year included:
- Oil and filter change.
- VW/Audi OEM 5W-40 full synthetic sourced from ECS Tuning (took almost 6 full liters)
- VW/Audi OEM Oil Filter cartridge and O-Ring sourced from ECS Tuning
- Serviced VW OEM drain plug and changed O-ring with new ECS supplied O-Ring.
- Cleaned mist of oil from around drain plug.
- Changed Air Filter with VW/Audi OEM filter sourced from ECS Tuning
- Changed Cabin Air Filter with aftermarket VA-19 carbon filter from ATP Automotive on parts page.
- Checked Fluid Levels
- Topped up washer fluid with plain water.
- Coolant Level below minimum level. Topped up with new VW OEM G13 50/50 mix.
- Inspected engine block, rad and hoses for leaks. Carefully inspected recently replaced water pump and thermostat housing. No signs of any leaks. Will continue to monitor.
- Inspected Brakes – OK
- Flushed Brake Fluid using Prestone DOT4 synthetic.
- Vacuumed fluid from reservoir.
- Manually bled all four wheels
- Replaced RF bleed nipple dust cap
- Inspected engine
- A small amount of oil mist noticed on the lower transmission area. Blow back. Not exactly sure of source, but suspect it might be coming from the bell housing weep hole? Perhaps the rear main seal? See photos in the 2021 service. Cleaned it all off. Need to monitor.
- A small amount of oily mist on the front differential haldex housing, forward of the drain hole. No sign of source. Cleaned off. Need to monitor.
- Noted a small amount of what looked like engine oil on RF extreme corner of undertray once removed. Cleaned off. Inspected the lower intercooler outlet pipe where it connects to the intercooler pipe. I saw a bit of oilyness. Also some on the other undertrays that overlap at that area. Wiped it clean. Wondering if this is PCV blowby collecting at low spot of intake tube system, and wept out during the water pump service disconnection. Will monitor.
- Inspected Suspension
- All OK except some same oily mist coatings on front fender liner areas. Both left and right, about same situation. Was noted in the 2021 inspection, but no different. Oily’ish. But, brakes, shocks, etc. no signs of leakage, so I can’t explain it. Maybe this was an undercoat on the AllTracks that is picking up dust and starting to look like this? Will continue to monitor.
- Saw the same oily’ish film on both the left and right outboard side of the swaybar bushings. Same as seen in 2021 photos. Odd place to see anything. Wondering if previous mechanics maybe sprayed a silicon lubricant on these locations and now its collecting dust/debris. Will monitor.
- Inspected Exterior Lights – all good
- Inspected Wipers – all good
- Inspected Undercarriage and Exhaust – all good.
- Inspected Tires
- About 75+% life left (were replaced last year)Set tire pressures to 37psi Front/Rear
- Checked space saver spare. Set tire pressure to 60 psi.
- Rotated Tires fronts to rears.
- Torqued wheel nuts to spec
- Service due indicator reset using manual process
- Connected OBDEleven and scanned car.
- 3 codes in various modules. Nothing important.
- Reset, none remaining now.
- Added service performed to Carfax report.
Recommendations:
- Service schedule calls for new Serpentine Belt at 60K. Should get this on order.
- Spark plugs are shown as ‘due’ at 6yr on service schedule, but since we replaced these on the 40K service in 2020, I think we can run these to the 8yr service mark. The VW Owners manuals between 2016 and 2017 changed their position on this. 2016 manual says every 6yr regardless of miles. 2017 calls for them to be changed at the 40K miles service. Based on the other two GTI’s I maintain, the plugs started to misfire about 6 yrs, so 4yr is likely more optimal.
- Four wheel alignment while the new tires are still in good condition.
- Engine compartment could use a pressure wash to remove dust accumulation.
Date: November 12, 2022
Mileage: 60,600
Performed by: Stefano
Services Performed:
Replaced serpentine belt.
Stefano's Garage 