Jumped in the car this morning to drop the kids and school and got the 'Warning Low Coolant Level' which was a surprise, stopped the car and walked back to the driveway to look for any traces of a leak, thankfully none, so proceeded to take the kds to school.

 

5 minutes later after dropping the kids at school started the car again and this time now Warning message?

 

So got into work and had a search on here to find that it's not such a rare issue from the other threads I found, strange thing is in the 3 years & 30k I had my old 2010 VRS TDi for I never once got this error and or had to top up the fluid. Considering that my 2014 VRS TDi has only done just over 7k since I got it in April I'm a bit peeved to say the least!

 

I've not checked the levels but will after lunch once the engine has cooled down but wanted to ask if there was any particular brand of coolant I should get to top it up with?

 

Cheers

Gary

Needs to be the Pink Stuff. some people have had the same problem caused by air in the system.  Nip back to the dealers, they might fill it for free and get them to check the system as your car is still in warranty. Best to be on the safe side.

I'd get the coolant from the dealer it should be G12++ I think but check with them. Don't think it's compatible with normal stuff

I'd get the coolant from the dealer it should be G12++ I think but check with them. Don't think it's compatible with normal stuff

Should be G13. G12++ is now superceded but is compatible with G13 if you still have some.

Whats the matter with H²o ? as previously stated, its still in warranty

Is G12+ compatible with G13 because I also got the warning? The people from the shop convinced me that there's no problem so I bought G12+ but I am still not sure about this..

Is G12+ compatible with G13 because I also got the warning? The people from the shop convinced me that there's no problem so I bought G12+ but I am still not sure about this..

I think G12+ is ok but G11 is not. Theres a lot about compatability if you Google it.

I believe G13 is similar to G12++ but is a new formulation for the latest VAG engines. I think it has a lot less glycol and this has been replaced by silicone (or something like that? - my memory is not 100% about that). For that reason you need to be careful about G13 compatability.

 

Edit: Yup my memory was faulty - its glycerin they now use in place of glycol not silicone. I also note that some claim G11 is compataible with G13, but others do not. So beware.

Should be G13. G12++ is now superceded but is compatible with G13 if you still have some.

That would be the one! I'd use the real stuff and expect the dealer to provide it on a car in warranty as it really shouldn't use any

Whats the matter with H²o ? 

 For a small top up nothing but the g13 protects the engine against corrosion and freezing, water the coolant too much and problems will result... Slowly. The bottle of g13 is cheap, so why not use it?

Is it not cheaper still to top up with free tap water and advised the service desk when you book it in for one of its free services to check the coolant strength as its been topped up with water ?

Is it not cheaper still to top up with free tap water and advised the service desk when you book it in for one of its free services to check the coolant strength as its been topped up with water ?

If coolant strength is too weak the dealer may charge for a full drain and replace. This could be much more expensive than a G13 top up bottle. I think fluids are generally counted as consumables and not covered under warranty unless there is a specific component fault which causes loss.

Is it not cheaper still to top up with free tap water and advised the service desk when you book it in for one of its free services to check the coolant strength as its been topped up with water ?

You are meant to use distilled water not tap water.

You are meant to use distilled water not tap water.

Tap water is fine, mixed in the correct concentration with the right coolant (G13) designed to prevent corrosion in vag engines which use various ferrous, aluminium and copper alloys, and to protect form freezing. 50/50 is fine for all but the most extreme cold climates.

 

Use distilled water to top up batteries, if they aren't sealed as many are now

I think fluids are generally counted as consumables and not covered under warranty unless there is a specific component fault which causes loss.

That is all fine and dandy, but if the car is supplied as new with insufficient coolant and it is a sealed system so you can't possibly lose any unless there is a fault, I would expect a dealer to cover a top up within the first six months FOC.