Radiator Coolant

[firdausasri]

Hi Guys,

I'm sorry if this has been posted before as I couldn't find the info I'm looking for. Anyway, I noticed coolant level has dropped to min level. May I know what kind of coolant fluid you use? Or normal water will do the trick? Appreciate your help on this.

[Transporter]

Hi Guys,

I'm sorry if this has been posted before as I couldn't find the info I'm looking for. Anyway, I noticed coolant level has dropped to min level. May I know what kind of coolant fluid you use? Or normal water will do the trick? Appreciate your help on this.

Level should be checked with the engine at operating temperature. Top it up with distilled water (up to 1/2L), do not mix different coolants not even couple of drops. If your Polo is new you need to use VW coolant G12+. Otherwise you're risking cooling system corrosion and coolant leaks.

[Spec83]

As above you can grab the coolant from any vw service dept for about $15... It is also normal for pog gti to use a little coolant... I have topped mine up from min once in 2.5yrs.

[Kai]

Why would a car use coolant?

[jayjay]

maybe there's a problem if your car's using coolant..? do you have any leaks? how often do you have to fill it up?

[Bubu]

Its not uncommon to use a bit of coolant over time. The coolant that comes out of the radiator into the overflow bottle is hot. With the coolant being hot and if its hot in the engine bay it is possible for it to evaporate through the over flow breather in the top up bottle.

Mine has dropped a bit over a year. It all depends how much it goes through, if you have to top it up every few weeks then a small leak under pressure may be present. Otherwise it is all fine and operating as normal.

[Spec83]

Yep Yep... I am talking one fill up of about 200ml in 2 years... You must not be driving yours hard enough Kai lol

[firdausasri]

Thanks folks. I also contacted VW service centre, and they confirmed that I can just top up using tap water. Still, I'm sourcing VW G12+ coolant fluid later on.

[Transporter]

Thanks folks. I also contacted VW service centre, and they confirmed that I can just top up using tap water. Still, I'm sourcing VW G12+ coolant fluid later on.

Do not use tap water! Chlorine in water will react with aluminium, first it will ruin your radiator. The small amount which you will use won't make much dammage, but it is wrong to use tap water in cooling system.

[Veee1.8t]

hey guys....i was told i could top it up with kettle water? is this true?

[Grant]

hey guys....i was told i could top it up with kettle water? is this true?

kettle water would kill germs haha. i doubt it would remove minerals and elements (like mentioned chlorine, fluoride etc).

just pick up some distilled water from the supermarket

[Bubu]

Just buy a bottle of distilled water from any auto parts shop. I have even seen it sold in K-Mart, although that was some time ago. Its not expensive by any means.