Coolant warning

[smarty]

The other day i had the coolant light and error popup while driving (first time its happened)

The Tiguan is 800km's away from its first service, sure enough i pulled over and the coolant res is basically sitting on the low marker, obviously during driving the level moves around and has triggered the sensor.

Should i be worried? Its only done 14,000kms or is it too early to tell if there is a problem? Ive not noticed any coolant on the floor ever and there doesn't seem to be any obvious visual leaks

I would have thought that if there was an airlock or bubbles from filling at the factory that i would have had this problem well before 14,000kms as surely by now the coolant system would be well bled

hmm

[spacemannz]

I’d top it up as per the manual if it needs it and monitor it daily under same conditions. I.e. check when cold, and check when hot. Note if there is an obvious decline over time for either condition.
It might be worth booking that 15000km service ASAP and asking the dealer about it.

[smarty]

Yeah I'm booked in for next Friday.
I'll let them know and see what happens, i guess they'll not worry and just top it up
I think if it drops again after this service then that probably indicates there is a problem, i would have thought there should be zero loss regardless

[spacemannz]

I have to admit I lifted the bonnet once at the dealership (why? to check the engine was there I guess). At 600 km, I think I should lift the dipstick and check the fluids. I’m used to the 1000km service of yesteryear...

Yep the dealer will just shrug and top it up. Although they may be able to read the temperature log file and see if it has overheated.
Going forward, take a photo of the water reservoir before and after you drive it each time after the service. For at least the first week, and then perhaps every week or two thereafter. Look for a trend in the level.
The worry is, if your engine runs hot due to a leak, but doesn’t blow/seize, the dealer will likely fix the leak and leave you with a half baked engine for the rest of its life. That will probably be about 3 days after the warranty expired.

Afterthought... Have you noted the temp on the temperature gauge? My 162TSI rises quickly to a steady at about 90C in Sydney spring heat if that is helpful for reference.

[smarty]

Yep mine sits on the same about 90c and never noticed that its been above that, 162 TSI also.
I've had the car since 28 Feb 17. will see how we go

[ope126]

Just grab some G13 and top it up!

[NW3192]

Coolant warning

Every VW I’ve owned sits on 90 degrees. 100% normal. Had a thermostat go bung on a Mk7 GTi. Showed very quickly on temp gauge plus the engine systems reduced the max rpm to 3,000


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[Bora Sport]

Just top it up with water. Distilled preferably but tap water in small quantities is fine.

[smarty]

I understand the premise on topping it up, but its like topping up an engine with oil that's not meant to be burning it.
I don't know if its reasonable that the coolant needs to be topped up at this stage.
I'm not overly concerned at this stage anyhow, if it does it again after the service then ill be concerned.
Just wondered if anyone elses new tig has had abit of coolant go astray, or if its normal before the first service that you would notice a drop as things all settle in

[Bora Sport]

I was only suggesting that because the low coolant light is on then put some water in it to stop the light coming on until the service. Obviously it has to be monitored to determine if there is a problem.

[smarty]

Cheers
It’s only come on twice which is good, if it was beeping at me all the time I would just top it up.
Both times have been downhill, so the low level must just move slightly and trip the sensor.

[Cobwebs]

I've done only 4800kms and just completed a 2800km road trip. Arrived home with no warnings. Next day I went to go out and the coolant earning is displayed. I check the coolant tank and it is completely empty. The manual says I should get a 'professional' to fix the problem. Any comments or recommendations?

[Gashde]

My coolant warning came up last night just as I was leaving from work, when I checked the reservoir it was way below the Min range, which came to a big surprise for me as I've only done 826*KM on my 8 months car. This morning the warning didn't appear.

Would that be normal? On my previous car I change coolant basically every 10000km at service, and still have plenty of fluids left.

[IsDon]

Coolant warning

Without the manual to rely on, as I’m away at present, I think you’ll find that the volume of the coolant level is only accurate when the engine is at operating temperature. It will be lower when the car is cool. Thermal expansion of fluids and all that physics stuff.

In times gone by the reservoir in the photo was called an “expansion tank”. In the years before expansion tanks the coolant just dropped out onto the road. Now the coolant systems are are closed system. Instead of the coolant being dumped it is collected in the expansion tank. Then, when the engine cools, the fluid in the expansion tank flows back into the radiator.

If the volume in your expansion tank has been decreasing over time then you must be leaking it somewhere. The likely culprit is the radiator cap. Other options are the heater hoses, the radiator hoses or, least likely, the head gasket. If you’re worried, spend $10 on a new radiator cap (safety tip. Only remove it with the engine cool) then top up your coolant level to the full mark with the engine warm and monitor it for a couple of weeks.

[Gashde]

Without the manual to rely on, as I’m away at present, I think you’ll find that the volume of the coolant level is only accurate when the engine is at operating temperature. It will be lower when the car is cool. Thermal expansion of fluids and all that physics stuff.

In times gone by the reservoir in the photo was called an “expansion tank”. In the years before expansion tanks the coolant just dropped out onto the road. Now the coolant systems are are closed system. Instead of the coolant being dumped it is collected in the expansion tank. Then, when the engine cools, the fluid in the expansion tank flows back into the radiator.

If the volume in your expansion tank has been decreasing over time then you must be leaking it somewhere. The likely culprit is the radiator cap. Other options are the heater hoses, the radiator hoses or, least likely, the head gasket. If you’re worried, spend $10 on a new radiator cap (safety tip. Only remove it with the engine cool) then top up your coolant level to the full mark with the engine warm and monitor it for a couple of weeks.

Cheers on the info mate!

Although after the drive home last night (engine heated), the fluid level was roughly the same as the picture above (Which I took this morning, both below the minimum line). I've checked the floor and there's no evidence of liquid stains anywhere, I'm taking the car into the dealer to have a check up tomorrow, hopefully there's no leakage here.