Coolant levels

[Sute]

Same issue over here - GTI.

I had the car serviced (at 30K) and 10 days later the warning lamp came on the screen.
Took it to BW Five Dock and they just opened the bottle cap. There was a 'whoosh' and coolant level rose by a third, apparently there is some vaccum in the cooling system.
As a precaution they gave me a bottle to top up if needed but only when the engine is cold.

Checking fluid levels monthly or just before long trips is not a bad idea at all (plus it's documented in the manual).
As long as there's no visible puddles/drops under your car, there's nothing to worry about.

Happy customer.....

[kevvie]

Just under 10,000km and I have just had the warning light come on....level is very low. Due for first service in a month so will take some photos before filling it up.

The UK threads read like the water pump is a very common early failure on the Mk6 - from a leakage perspective anyway.

[scozzy]

Just reading these posts - would get it checked asap! My new R is less than 3months old and under 1500kms from Barlowworld Sydney. Last week had just finished washing it and when i jumped in the car the check coolant light on the MFI chimed on, by pure luck i was near the dealership and headed straight for there. Thankfully I did - pulled up at the dealers and the entire coolant resevoir was pouring from under the car. They gave me a TDI passat CC straight away.

That was last week and when i phoned up to check what was wrong they apparently need a replacement part that is required to come from Singapore or Germany - been told it will take a week and they have never seen this part fail before.

Hope it is a one off - my previous R32 ran like a dream with no issues at all for 5 years. Hope i haven't made a mistake in changing - miss the growler.

[scozzy]

Mk6 R Coolant dumped

Have seen a few posts on coolant issues surrounding the R and just had a lucky escape recently.

Anyone else had similar issue or advice on what to ask regarding the problem - i like to know what the fault was but service are normally very sparese on the info.

[Lucas_R]

No idea mate unfortunately - my coolant level (and oil for that matter) havent budged in the 8,000km my car has travelled.

Theres really only so many parts it could be....the radiator has a crack, a rubber pipe has a crack, or the water pump is leaking. There really arent too many more parts that could have failed all of a sudden.

What i dont understand, is how VW never ever ever seems to have the part that is required in stock, or even in the country. Every time i read on here that someone requires a new part, whether it be a gearbox or a screw, it always needs to be ordered in from overseas.

[scozzy]

Yeah there stock is a frustration ......still the upside is i get to ring the neck of someone elses Passat CC TDI for a while.

Just curious - Whats a 42DD catch can??

[Lucas_R]

Yeah there stock is a frustration ......still the upside is i get to ring the neck of someone elses Passat CC TDI for a while.

Just curious - Whats a 42DD catch can??

See link for photos and details. Putting it simply, a catch can absorbs oily air vapours and reduces build up on the intake valves. Further details available in this link >> http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...ead-64635.html

[mythik]

I bothered to look at my MY12 MK6 GTI today when stone cold after reading this helpful thread - I tend to only ever stare at it when the engine has been running and is up to operating temperature. It was about 2cm below the LOW mark, no warning had activated. Oh well.

After 10250km, I've topped it up with ~200mL of distilled/demineralised water. The concentration of G12 in the system from factory is 50%, so the dilution that will occur as a result of adding this small quantity to the 8L capacity system will be inconsequential.

Thanks for posting about this, I probably would have not noticed.

[Diesel_vert]

I bothered to look at my MY12 MK6 GTI today when stone cold after reading this helpful thread - I tend to only ever stare at it when the engine has been running and is up to operating temperature. It was about 2cm below the LOW mark, no warning had activated. Oh well.

After 10250km, I've topped it up with ~200mL of distilled/demineralised water. The concentration of G12 in the system from factory is higher than necessary for the Australian temperature conditions, so the dilution that will occur as a result will be inconsequential.

Thanks for posting about this, I probably would have not noticed.

The concern for hot climates is not the freezing point, but corrosion protection and scale or sludge formation.

For this reason, one should maintain the coolant concentration level as specified by the manufacturer; Volkswagen specifies a minimum of 40%, and a maximum of 60%.

Of course in emergencies, topping up with distilled water is better than nothing, but keeping a bottle of genuine coolant at home might be useful.

• G 012 A8G M1 (1.5 L) : coolant concentrate
• G 012 774 M2 (1.5 L) : coolant solution, diluted with 50% water

Perhaps it's better (and cheaper) to purchase the bottle of concentrate as you can dilute it yourself (makes 3.75 L of coolant solution @ 40%), rather than the pre-mixed 50% solution.

[Ryan_R]

I've got 2 extra bottles of G12++ coolant if anyone wants to reimburse me for them. (The VW service manager that I spoke to obviously doesn't know how much coolant is required to refill the tank.

[mythik]

For this reason, one should maintain the coolant concentration level as specified by the manufacturer; Volkswagen specifies a minimum of 40%, and a maximum of 60%.

Just checked the concentration; I'm not sure what it was originally as I didn't have the equipment handy, but the concentration after my top-up with distilled water and a 60km spirited drive is now 48%.

[Diesel_vert]

I've got 2 extra bottles of G12++ coolant if anyone wants to reimburse me for them. (The VW service manager that I spoke to obviously doesn't know how much coolant is required to refill the tank.

For GTI and R models, the coolant capacity is approximately 8.0 litres, depending on equipment.

For those with other models - the coolant capacity does vary depending on engine.

Just checked the concentration; I'm not sure what it was originally as I didn't have the equipment handy, but the concentration after my top-up with distilled water and a 60km spirited drive is now 48%.

That would imply that the initial concentration was at 50%, so you're well safe.

[Ryan_R]

I've only got the 1.4, and I was told 10L

[Diesel_vert]

I've only got the 1.4, and I was told 10L

Oops, given the title of this thread and your username (didn't see your sig), I thought you had an R.

Anyway, the workshop manual says 5.6 L, depending on equipment, but that seems a bit low.

[Ryan_R]

That's about right - I mixed one bottle of G12++ with water in the 5L container, the added a bit the next day. I've got 3 remaining bottles, one of which I'll use when upgrading to the Audi S3 intercooler.