Engine coolant Introduction In this section you ll find information about: Warning light and engine coolant temperature gauge Engine coolant specifications Checking engine coolant level and topping off Never do any work on the coolant system unless you know exactly how to carry out the job, have the correct technical information and the proper tools, supplies, and operating fluids, and are familiar with the necessary safety precautions! If you are uncertain in any way, have the work done by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work. More information: Trailer towing Working in the engine compartment Parts, accessories, repairs, and modifications Engine coolant is poisonous! Always keep the coolant in its original container stored in a safe place. To reduce the risk of poisoning, never store engine coolant in empty food or beverage containers or in any other containers that might mislead someone into drinking from them. Always keep engine coolant out of reach of children. Always make sure there is enough of the correct coolant additive to provide proper antifreeze protection at the coldest temperatures that can be expected where the vehicle will be used. At extremely cold temperatures, the coolant could freeze, causing the vehicle to break down. The heater would also not work, and vehicle occupants could be without protection at subfreezing temperatures. Coolant and coolant additives can pollute the environment. Collect leaking operating fluids and dispose of them properly in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Warning light and engine coolant temperature gauge Fig. 158 Engine coolant temperature gauge in the instrument cluster: A Engine cold; B Normal temperature range; C Warning zone. Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the S If the indicator in the engine coolant temperature gauge is located in the cold range (A), the engine has not reached operating temperature. High engine speeds and heavy engine loads should be avoided. Under normal driving conditions, the needle should be in the middle of the gauge. The temperature may go higher when the engine is working hard, especially in hot weather. When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds. The following table explains what to do if the engine coolant temperature warning light does not go out a few seconds after the engine is started or starts flashing while driving. Flashes 8 Temperature gauge needle fig. 158 Possible cause Proper response (C) Warning zone Engine coolant temperature too high. Stop! Pull off the road and stop as soon as you can do so safely. Stop the engine and let it cool down until the temperature needle is in the normal range again. Check the engine coolant level and add engine coolant if needed If the engine coolant level is correct or the problem continues after adding coolant and driving a short distance, do not drive any farther. Contact the nearest authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. If the coolant level is correct, the overheating may be caused by a radiator fan fault. Check the fuses and replace as necessary 8 Displayed in color on an instrument cluster with color display.
Flashes 8 Temperature gauge needle fig. 158 Possible cause Proper response (B) Normal range Engine coolant level too low. Check the engine coolant level after the engine has cooled down and add engine coolant if low If the engine coolant level is correct or the problem continues after adding coolant, do not drive any farther. Contact an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. These instructions apply only when the coolant temperature stays in the normal range. Stop immediately if the needle goes into the red warning zone (C). Engine coolant system malfunction. Stop! Get assistance from an authorized Volkswagen dealer, an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility, or another qualified workshop. (A) Cold range The engine has not yet warmed up. Do not drive at high engine speeds or with heavy engine loads until the engine warms up. When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds. Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text messages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result in a collision and serious personal injury. Never ignore warning lights or text S. Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. NOTICE Failure to heed warning lights or text S can result in vehicle damage. Engine coolant specifications Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the S The engine cooling system is filled at the factory with a mixture of specially conditioned water and at least 40 percent of Volkswagen engine coolant additive G 13 (TL-VW 774 J). This engine coolant additive is pink. This mixture provides antifreeze protection down to -13 F (-25 C). It also helps to protect the light alloy parts in the engine cooling system against corrosion. In addition, the mixture helps prevent calcium deposits and increases the boiling point of the engine coolant.
To protect the engine, the mixture must always contain at least 40% coolant additive even in warm weather or climates where antifreeze protection is not needed. If more antifreeze protection is needed for climate conditions, the percentage of coolant additive can be increased. However, the coolant additive percentage must never be more than 60%; otherwise, antifreeze protection is reduced and the ability of the mixture to cool the engine is also reduced. When adding engine coolant, use a mixture of distilled water and at least 40% coolant additive G 13 or G 12 plus-plus (TL-VW 774 G) for optimum corrosion protection. Do not mix G 13 with G 12 plus or G 11. Mixing these coolant additives together significantly reduces corrosion protection and can lead to engine damage that is not covered by any Volkswagen Limited Warranty. Too little antifreeze protection in the engine cooling system can cause engine failure and severe injuries. Always make sure there is enough of the correct coolant additive to provide proper antifreeze protection at the coldest temperatures that can be expected where the vehicle will be used. At extremely cold temperatures, the coolant could freeze, causing the vehicle to break down. The heater would also not work, and vehicle occupants could be without protection at subfreezing temperatures. NOTICE Never mix original Volkswagen engine coolant additives with other additives not approved by Volkswagen. Mixing Volkswagen coolant additives with coolant additives made by other manufacturers can seriously damage the engine and the engine cooling system. If the fluid in the engine coolant reservoir is any color but pink, then G 13 was mixed with a different engine coolant. If this is the case, the engine coolant must be replaced immediately. Otherwise serious malfunctions or engine damage can occur! Engine coolant and engine coolant additives can pollute the environment. Collect leaking operating fluids and dispose of them properly in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Checking engine coolant level and topping off Fig. 159 Coolant expansion tank in the engine compartment. Fig. 160 Coolant expansion tank cap in the engine compartment. Please first read and note the introductory information and heed the S If the coolant level drops too low, the engine coolant level/temperature warning light comes on. Preparations Park the vehicle on level ground. Always let the engine cool down. Open the engine hood Working in the engine compartment. There is a symbol on the cap of the engine coolant expansion tank fig. 160. Checking engine coolant level When the engine is cold, check the engine coolant level relative to the marking on the side of the expansion tank fig. 159. If the coolant level in the tank is below the minimum mark ( min ), add coolant. When the engine is warm, the engine coolant level may be slightly above the upper edge of the marked range. Adding engine coolant Always protect face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
Carefully unscrew the cap. Add only new engine coolant according to Volkswagen specifications ( Engine coolant specifications). Only refill coolant if there is coolant in the expansion tank. If there is no coolant visible in the expansion tank, the engine could be damaged. If you cannot see any coolant in the expansion tank, do not drive the vehicle. Seek professional assistance. If you can see coolant in the expansion tank, refill coolant until the level remains stable. The engine coolant level must be inside the marks on the side of the expansion tank. Do not fill above the top edge of the filling range! Screw the lid tightly. Even in an emergency, do not use any other kind of coolant additive if engine coolant that meets Volkswagen specifications ( Engine coolant specifications) is not available! Instead, add distilled water only. As soon as possible, have the correct coolant ratio restored using engine coolant that meets Volkswagen specifications Engine coolant specifications. Hot steam and hot engine coolant can cause serious burns. Never open the hood if you see steam or coolant escaping from the engine compartment. Always wait until you no longer see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine. Always let the engine cool down completely before carefully opening the hood. Hot components will burn skin on contact. When the engine has cooled down and you are ready to open the hood: Firmly apply the parking brake and shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual only). Take the vehicle key out of the ignition. On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the remote control vehicle key is out of range of the vehicle and that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter button Starter button. Always keep children and others away from the engine compartment and never leave them unsupervised. The engine coolant system is under pressure when the engine is hot. Never unscrew the coolant expansion tank cap when the engine is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause severe burns and other serious injuries. Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counterclockwise direction while applying light downward pressure on the top of the cap. Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag. Never spill fluids on the engine or exhaust system when refilling. Spilling fluids onto hot parts of the engine or exhaust system can cause a fire. Under some conditions, the ethylene glycol in engine coolant can catch fire. NOTICE Use distilled water only when adding coolant! All other types of water contain chemical compounds that can cause extensive corrosion damage to the engine. This can even lead to engine failure. If you have added non-distilled water, take the vehicle immediately to an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the coolant system drained, flushed, and refilled completely with the proper coolant.
Refill engine coolant only up to the top edge of the marked fill range. Excess engine coolant may be forced out of the engine cooling system when it gets hot and cause damage. In the case of significant engine coolant loss, refill engine coolant only when the engine is completely cooled down. Significant engine coolant loss is a sign of leaks in the cooling system. Have the engine cooling system checked immediately by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Otherwise the engine may be damaged! Do not refill engine coolant if there is no coolant in the expansion tank. Air could enter the cooling system. Do not drive the vehicle! Seek expert assistance. Failure to do so can result in engine damage. When changing or topping off operating fluids, make sure that you pour the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Serious malfunctions and engine damage can result if you pour operating fluids into the wrong reservoir.