The expansion tank with 'mit Silikat' sign has silicate bags known to split and block the heater matrix with silica crystals, potentially costing thousands in repair bills. This design by VW was an attempt to prolong coolant life.
Reviews of OEM Volkswagen expansion tank
12 votes
Good news is that none of the sensors leak out from the O-ring seal with the new tank, so I do think there could have been a problem with the yellowed out old tank, perhaps slightly warped/deformed.
Those tanks are cheap and very easy to replace, also if you don't get a lot of air in your system they work just fine. So slap a new one in there and no worries.
Yes, replacing the expansion tank corrected my issue. Leaking or venting from that tank is not normal, if the system builds up to much pressure it should release from the pressure cap.
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What we know about OEM Volkswagen expansion tank
The brand is registered in Germany. Official website: https://www.volkswagen.de/.
In March 2026, PartReview does not yet have a formed opinion of OEM Volkswagen expansion tank. You can help by adding a review for OEM Volkswagen expansion tank.
Currently there are 4 reviews and 12 votes. Average rating — 3.8 out of 5. Vote balance: 9 up, 3 down.
Users also evaluated the qualities of OEM Volkswagen expansion tank:
- Level visibility - coolant level is easy to see and read - no rating yet
- No leaks - cap and seams stay dry - rated positively. 5 points out of 5.
- No coolant smell - no sweet odor around the engine bay - no rating yet
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