Do not reduce the concentration of the coolant in the summer with plain water. To ensure the protective properties of antifreeze and the efficiency of the cooling system, the percentage of additives in the coolant should be at least 40% and not more than 60%.
To operate the car throughout the year, the manufacturer carries out additional filling of the cooling system with antifreeze, which ensures normal operation of the car at an ambient temperature of 25-35°C. Use only the recommended type of antifreeze available from your Volkswagen dealer.
Other types of antifreeze significantly reduce the anti-corrosion properties of the coolant. And this, in turn, can cause its leakage, which will lead to serious engine damage.
Checking the coolant level
The expansion tank of the cooling system is located in the engine compartment next to the front plenum panel.
Attention: To avoid burns, never open the hood if you hear or observe vaporization, coolant leak from the engine compartment. Please wait before opening the hood. until vaporization or refrigerant leakage stops.
It is very important to maintain the correct level of refrigerant in the cooling system to ensure its proper operation. That is why it is necessary to carry out a regular check of the coolant level in the cooling system each time the vehicle is filled with fuel. To obtain objective and accurate data, the engine must be turned off during the coolant level check.
Since the expansion tank is made of transparent material, it is not necessary to remove the cap from it to check the coolant level.
The coolant level should be between the MIN and MAX marks when the engine is cold and slightly above the MAX mark when the engine is warm. If the expansion tank on your vehicle is equipped with an electric coolant level control device, its connection to the top of the tank is clearly visible in the figure.
If the coolant level is too low, the alarm lamp flashes until the normal level is restored.
Loss of coolant
Loss of coolant may indicate a leak in the cooling system. In this case, you must immediately contact a Volkswagen dealer for a thorough inspection. Simply topping up the cooling system is not enough.
In a sealed system, loss of refrigerant can only occur if the boiling point of the refrigerant rises as a result of overheating.
The coolant is subject to overheating if:
- The air flow towards the radiator is blocked by leaves accumulated on it, dust, insects or a headlight additionally installed in front of the decorative radiator grille.
- The boiling point of the coolant is too low as a result of using the wrong concentration of water-coolant mixture, see previous page.
- The radiator fan is not working or
- The vehicle is driven downhill for a long time in a low gear at a very high engine speed and at a very high outside temperature.
If the cause of overheating cannot be determined and rectified, contact your Volkswagen dealer immediately to avoid serious engine damage.
Refueling the cooling system
Caution: To avoid burns from the hot coolant, do the following:
- Stop the engine and let it cool down. The cooling system is under pressure.
- Close the lid with a large, thick piece of cloth to prevent coolant and steam from getting on your face and hands.
- Turn the cover slowly and very carefully counterclockwise while pressing it lightly.
If only water is added to the cooling system, it is necessary to restore the required ratio of water and antifreeze as soon as possible.
If a significant amount of coolant is lost, only water and antifreeze should be added to the cooling system when the engine has cooled.
Do not fill the cooling system above the MAX mark.
Excess coolant will escape through the relief valve in the cap as the engine warms up.
Replace the cover and screw it on tightly.
Caution: Antifreeze is poisonous. Always store it in a special container out of the reach of children.
The coolant drained from the cooling system is not normally reusable, so dispose of it in accordance with environmental regulations.
Radiator fan
The electric radiator fan is controlled by temperature sensors depending on the temperature of the engine compartment and the temperature of the coolant.
Caution: Never touch the radiator fan as it works depending on the engine temperature and may start unexpectedly even when the ignition is off.
The radiator fan turns on automatically when the cooler reaches a certain temperature and will continue to rotate until the temperature of the cooler decreases, i.e. within approximately 10 minutes.
Note: If the radiator fan does not turn on when the coolant reaches a very high temperature, check the fuse and replace it if necessary.
The speed of the radiator fan is independent of the engine speed, so the cooling effect cannot be improved by downshifting the engine. If the engine is running smoothly and the speed of the vehicle going downhill decreases slightly, it is not necessary to downshift the engine.
Work in winter conditions
At the beginning of the winter season, check the concentration of antifreeze in the cooler. If you need to add it, use only high-quality without salts of phosphoric acid (phosphate) antifreeze containing ethylene glycol, available from your Volkswagen dealer. The ratio between water and antifreeze depends on the expected air temperature.
Visitor comments