I think Im about half a mm of level from getting a low coolant alarm on my 2016 vrs tsi 220! Never had this on a car before, I havent had to top oil up between services either but I started doing that too when I bacame a skoda owner! 

 

2 things, first is this normal for a 2.0 tsi? Second, there seems to be some sort of folklore suggesting it may do this for about the first 30,000km and then settle down? True?

 

Car is approaching 18,000 miles. It will be the garages car once my MY19 is built and delivered so Im not too worried about any impending doom. Im going to give them a bell tomorrow and see what they say. Its getting belted down the M6 on tuesday so its going to need to be topped up either way, if not by them then by me. So what do I do? Go full profesh mix up some antifreeze or go macguyver and just top it up with normal water? 

If it was a TDI I would have suggested leaking water pump, but I'm not sure if the TSI engine suffers from this problem.

Put the proper stuff in and keep an eye on it.  Got an idea of the rate of loss?

 

Mine's done 22,000 and hasn't needed the coolant topping up.  However, lack of circulating coolant may have added to the untimely demise of the turbo.

 

Is that just condensation/moisture on the outside of the expansion tank?

 

Gaz

17 minutes ago, V6TDI said:

Put the proper stuff in and keep an eye on it.  Got an idea of the rate of loss?

 

Mine's done 22,000 and hasn't needed the coolant topping up.  However, lack of circulating coolant may have added to the untimely demise of the turbo.

 

Is that just condensation/moisture on the outside of the expansion tank?

 

Gaz

Yeah thats just general mess, its not from the tank. It rained for all of the day yesterday. As far as I can tell thats now twice as far as it was from the minimum as it was about a 1000 miles ago. 

My 63 has needed a couple of minor top ups when approaching or dipping just below the min line in the past 2 years. Nothing that drastic though.

So in the meantime, whats my best top up mix? 50/50 antifreeze and water? Demin? Ive literally never had to even take the cap off a coolant tank in the last 19 years on the road 

1,000 miles ago when on MIN was the time to have put some G13 in to between MIN & MAX as there is no 'Fill to this level',  marker.

 

Ready Mix or 50 / 50 with the correct H20.  ie de-Inonised. 

Yep 50/50 if it's G13 Concentrate to somewhere between min and max.

29 minutes ago, Offski said:

1,000 miles ago when on MIN was the time to have put some G13 in to between MIN & MAX as there is no 'Fill to this level',  marker.

 

Ready Mix or 50 / 50 with the correct H20.  ie de-Inonised. 

As clever as this sounds, it was under the min 1000 miles ago, needed to see if it would go any further!

When stopped after a run has it ever shown any higher?

1 minute ago, Offski said:

When stopped after a run has it ever shown any higher?

No, if it was any higher it would be marginal i.e. from just below the min to the min line. I didnt know if it just ran at the min level or thereabouts, I took some advice maybe from the fb briskoda page at the time and left it for a few miles. Now I think about it its very unlikely to be 1000 miles, given my mileage its probabky nearer 500 miles. Its either farted out a lot of air recently or there may be a problem!

It maybe farted out near touching cloth and liquid and steam went out the overflow....

 

Not worth experimenting with thousands of quids worth of car IMO.   Just topping up fluids as required, and if loss concerns you discuss with a mechanic or in the case of Skoda a Technician. 

25 minutes ago, Offski said:

It maybe farted out near touching cloth and liquid and steam went out the overflow....

 

Not worth experimenting with thousands of quids worth of car IMO.   Just topping up fluids as required, and if loss concerns you discuss with a mechanic or in the case of Skoda a Technician. 

Yeah thats sage advice. I need to get hold of some stuff tomorrow. Or maybe the dealer will have 500ml of stuff lying around they can put in. I'll be registering it as a potential issue anyway, its in both our interests that its inspected while its still under warranty!

My tsi used to need coolant every month or so, was the radiator beginning to corrode in the bottom corner.

 

I've done 65k on a 63 plate though.

That is nothing in 18000 miles and perfectly normal. As long as it hasn’t suddenly dropped. It’s 50% water and water evaporates.  Just top it up cold to the mid range area, probably only a cup full and not above!  Use the proper stuff, on ebay  or from any vag outlet in 1 litre packs. Not expensive. Sorry not got a clue what those strange words mean? ? 

 

My 230 was dropping to min mark and just below cold when quite new, topped it up with a  Cupful twice in 40 odd K. Can’t see any reason to report it unless it is sudden and more substantial. 

Top up and keep an eye on it. Mine has 34000 miles and not lost any. 

Thanks for all the advice guys, I still dont know where Im going to get the stuff from in the next two days but Im sure I'll manage!

 

Im just a bit weirded out, Ive NEVER had to do this on any car Ive ever had so Im naturally curious to know if its because of an issue or not. 

Ebay! or vag garage. It's ready mixed in a 1 litre bottle

 

If you put too much in it will expand and push  some out giving you the impression it's losing it. Mine has been pretty much exactly the same as yours.  If I top it up past the full mark it will soon drop back to the normal level, it's got to have expansion room. Most people look at it when the engine is still hot or warm which gives a higher level. If they check it stone cold on a cold day it will be lower. 

 

Don't know why people think fluids never need topping up, they always do at some point. The manual tells you to top it up if it drops slightly and what to use. If it drops to that level within a few days I would be looking for obvious leaks. Check the oil is not emulsifying and that there is not excessive condensation from the exhaust when hot, always is cold on a cold day.  First thing I would change because it isn't expensive is the expansion tank cap as that is the most likely place it is getting past. 

Edited 4 November, 20187 yr by teescom09

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-VW-Audi-Seat-Skoda-ready-mixed-G13-Coolant-1-5-Litres/152234335270?hash=item2371df9c26:m:m1cSFJEuwqzTzkb8B5qRpSA:rk:1:pf:1&var=451424724311&frcectupt=true

 

Thats the first one that popped up, I got it cheaper than that. Or a concentrate:

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5-Litre-Genuine-Audi-VW-Vag-G13-Concentrate-Antifreeze-GA13A8JM1-Coolant/183514839570?epid=887793701&hash=item2aba563a12:g:pk0AAOSwAN1bqVKe:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true

 

 

 

Edited 4 November, 20187 yr by teescom09

Hi @teescom09 thanks for the links! I need it in the next day or so as Im flying out to thr maldives on tuesday and need the car for the motorway, so I'll need to pay over the odds at the stealers to get it in my hands. This car is mine until feb or march so I'll top up and keep an eye on it. I'll let the service department know as a courtesy as it will be their car soon anyway!

No problem. Probably find it similar price if not cheaper in dealers. It should have been topped up during services! 

Some people think coolant never needs topping up because there are lots of manufacturers that have pressurised coolant systems that do not move,  and that does not have the h20 evaporating.  Simple really

. They are not vw group ones.

Thanks for all the info guys. Ive had it topped up today (gratis of course) and I'll keep an eye on it. Im belting down the M6 tomorrow and then back in a few weeks, which is the equivalent probably of 2 weeks mileage so if theres any problems I'll see pretty soon. 

 

Ive had peugot, vauxhall, bmw, nissan, volvo, 5 different SEATs of varying ages and 1 skoda - this is my first coolant topping up experience 

On my 1.8 tsi (same engine basically) I had a slight but continuous leak of coolant. It was the auxiliary electrical coolant pump that was leaking slightly for its shell.

If you're needing something quick just get distilled water (go to somewhere that sells fish as it's less than 20p a litre) - you should have enough G13/+ for now.