Get Engine coolant Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

Engine coolant

¤ Introduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Warning light and engine coolant temperature gauge

Engine coolant specifications

Checking engine coolant level and topping off

Never do any work on the coolant system unless you

know exactly how to carry out the job,

have the correct technical information and the proper tools, sup-

plies, and operating fluids, and

are familiar with the necessary safety precautions ⇒ꢀ

!

If you are uncertain in any way, have the work done by an authorized

Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Serious personal injury may result from improperly performed work.

More information:

Trailer towing

Working in the engine compartment

Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications

WARNING

Engine coolant is poisonous!

Always keep the coolant in its original container stored in a

safe place.

To reduce the risk of poisoning, never store engine coolant in

empty food or beverage containers or in any other containers

that might mislead someone into drinking from them.

Always keep engine coolant out of reach of children.

Always make sure there is enough of the correct coolant ad-

ditive to provide proper antifreeze protection at the coldest

temperatures that can be expected where the vehicle will be

used.

At extremely cold temperatures, the coolant could freeze,

causing the vehicle to break down. The heater would also not

work, and vehicle occupants could be without protection at

subfreezing temperatures.

Coolant and coolant additives can pollute the environment. Col-

lect leaking operating fluids and dispose of them properly in accord-

ance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Warning light and engine coolant temperature gauge

Fig. 167 Engine coolant temperature gauge in the instrument cluster:

A Engine cold; B Normal temperature range; C Warning zone.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

If the indicator in the engine coolant temperature gauge is located in

the cold range (A), the engine has not reached operating tempera-

ture. High engine speeds and heavy engine loads should be avoided.

Under normal driving conditions, the needle should be in the middle

of the gauge. The temperature may go higher when the engine is

working hard, especially in hot weather.

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights

come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.

The following table explains what to do if the engine coolant tempera-

ture warning light ~ does not go out a few seconds after the engine

is started or starts flashing while driving.

Temperature

gauge

needle

Possible

cause

Flashes

Proper response

⇒ꢀfig. 167

Temperature

gauge

Possible

cause

Flashes

Proper response

needle

⇒ꢀfig. 167

Stop!

Pull off the road and stop

as soon as you can do so

safely. Stop the engine

and let it cool down until

the temperature needle is

in the normal range again.

Check the engine coolant

level and add engine cool-

ant if needed.

If the engine coolant level

(C)

Engine coolant is correct or the problem

~

Warning

zone

temperature

too high.

continues after adding

coolant and driving a short

distance, do not drive any

farther. Contact the near-

est authorized Volkswagen

dealer or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facili-

ty.

If the coolant level is cor-

rect, the overheating may

be caused by a radiator

fan fault. Check the fuses

and replace as necessary.

Temperature

gauge

Possible

cause

Flashes

Proper response

needle

⇒ꢀfig. 167

Check the engine coolant

level after the engine has

cooled down and add en-

gine coolant if low.

If the engine coolant level

is correct or the problem

continues after adding

coolant, do not drive any

farther. Contact an au-

(B)

Engine coolant thorized Volkswagen deal-

Normal range level too low.

er or authorized

Volkswagen Service Facili-

ty.

These instructions apply

only when the coolant

temperature stays in the

normal range. Stop imme-

diately if the needle goes

into the red warning zone

(C).

Stop!

Get assistance from an

Engine coolant authorized Volkswagen

–

system

malfunction.

dealer, an authorized

Volkswagen Service Facili-

ty, or another qualified

workshop.

Do not drive at high engine

speeds or with heavy en-

gine loads until the engine

warms up.

The engine has

not yet warmed

up.

(A)

Cold range

–

When the ignition is switched on, several warning and indicator lights

come on briefly for a function check. They go out after a few seconds.

WARNING

Failure to heed warning lights and instrument cluster text mes-

sages can cause the vehicle to break down in traffic and result

in a collision and serious personal injury.

Never ignore warning lights or text WARNINGS.

Always stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

NOTICE

Failure to heed warning lights or text WARNINGS can result in

vehicle damage.

Engine coolant specifications

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

The engine cooling system is filled at the factory with a mixture of

specially conditioned water and at least 40 percent of Volkswagen

engine coolant additive G 13 (TL-VW 774 J). This engine coolant ad-

ditive is pink.

This mixture provides antifreeze protection down to -13 °F (-25 °C). It

also helps to protect the light alloy parts in the engine cooling system

against corrosion. In addition, the mixture helps prevent calcium de-

posits and increases the boiling point of the engine coolant.

To protect the engine, the mixture must always contain at least 40%

coolant additive even in warm weather or climates where antifreeze

protection is not needed.

If more antifreeze protection is needed for climate conditions, the per-

centage of coolant additive can be increased. However, the coolant

additive percentage must never be more than 60%; otherwise, anti-

freeze protection is reduced and the ability of the mixture to cool the

engine is also reduced.

When adding engine coolant, use a mixture of distilled water and at

least 40% coolant additive G 13 or G 12 plus-plus (TL-VW 774 G) for

optimum corrosion protection ⇒ꢀ .

Do not mix G 13 with G 12 plus or G 11. Mixing these coolant addi-

tives together significantly reduces corrosion protection ⇒ꢀ and can

lead to engine damage that is not covered by any Volkswagen Lim-

ited Warranty.

WARNING

Too little antifreeze protection in the engine cooling system can

cause engine failure and severe injuries.

Always make sure there is enough of the correct coolant ad-

ditive to provide proper antifreeze protection at the coldest

temperatures that can be expected where the vehicle will be

used.

At extremely cold temperatures, the coolant could freeze,

causing the vehicle to break down. The heater would also not

work, and vehicle occupants could be without protection at

subfreezing temperatures.

NOTICE

Never mix original Volkswagen engine coolant additives with

other additives not approved by Volkswagen. Mixing

Volkswagen coolant additives with coolant additives made by

other manufacturers can seriously damage the engine and the

engine cooling system.

If the fluid in the engine coolant reservoir is any color but pink,

then G 13 was mixed with a different engine coolant. If this is the

case, the engine coolant must be replaced immediately. Other-

wise serious malfunctions or engine damage can occur!

Engine coolant and engine coolant additives can pollute the envi-

ronment. Collect leaking operating fluids and dispose of them proper-

ly in accordance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Checking engine coolant level and topping off

Fig. 168 Coolant expansion tank in the engine compartment.

Fig. 169 Coolant expansion tank cap in the engine compartment.

¤ Please first read and note the introductory information and

heed the WARNINGS

If the coolant level drops too low, the engine coolant lev-

el/temperature warning light lights up.

Preparations

Park the vehicle on level ground.

Always let the engine cool down ⇒ꢀ

Open the engine hood

.

There is a « symbol on the cap of the engine coolant expansion

tank ⇒ꢀfig. 169.

Checking engine coolant level

When the engine is cold, check the engine coolant level relative to

the marking on the side of the expansion tank ⇒ꢀfig. 168.

If the coolant level in the tank is below the minimum mark (“min”),

add coolant. When the engine is warm, the engine coolant level may

be slightly above the upper edge of the marked range.

Adding engine coolant

Always protect face, hands and arms from hot escaping coolant or

steam by covering the cap with a large, thick rag.

Carefully unscrew the cap ⇒ꢀ

.

Add only new engine coolant according to Volkswagen specifica-

tions (⇒ꢀEngine coolant specifications) ⇒ꢀ .

The engine coolant level must be inside the marks on the side of

the reservoir ⇒ꢀfig. 168. Do not fill above the top edge of the filling

range! ⇒ꢀ

Screw the lid tightly.

Even in an emergency, do not use any other kind of coolant addi-

tive if engine coolant meeting Volkswagen specifications (⇒ꢀpage 456,

Engine coolant specifications) is unavailable! Instead, add distilled

water only ⇒ꢀ . As soon as possible, have the correct coolant ratio

restored using engine coolant that meets Volkswagen specifications

⇒ꢀ Engine coolant specifications.

WARNING

Hot steam and hot engine coolant can cause serious burns.

Never open the hood if you see steam or coolant escaping

from the engine compartment. Always wait until you no longer

see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine.

Always let the engine cool down completely before carefully

opening the hood. Hot components will burn skin on contact.

When the engine has cooled down and you are ready to open

the hood:

– Apply the electronic parking brake and shift the transmis-

sion into Park (P) (automatic) or Neutral (manual only).

– Take the vehicle key out of the ignition.

– On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the re-

mote control vehicle key is out of range of the vehicle and

that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter

button

– Always keep children and others away from the engine

compartment and never leave them unsupervised.

The engine coolant system is under pressure when the en-

gine is hot. Never unscrew the coolant expansion tank cap

when the engine is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause

severe burns and other serious injuries.

– Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counterclock-

wise direction while applying light downward pressure on the

top of the cap.

– Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escap-

ing coolant or steam by covering the cap with a large, thick

rag.

Never spill fluids on the engine or exhaust system when re-

filling. Spilling fluids onto hot parts of the engine or exhaust

system can cause a fire. Under some conditions, the ethylene

glycol in engine coolant can catch fire.

NOTICE

Use distilled water only when adding coolant! All other types

of water contain chemical compounds that can cause extensive

corrosion damage to the engine. This can even lead to engine

failure. If you have added non-distilled water, take the vehicle

immediately to an authorized Volkswagen dealer or an author-

ized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the coolant system

drained, flushed, and refilled completely with the proper coolant.

Refill engine coolant only up to the top edge of the marked fill

range ⇒ꢀfig. 168. Excess engine coolant may be forced out of the

engine cooling system when it gets hot and cause damage.

In the case of significant engine coolant loss, refill engine

coolant only when the engine is completely cooled down. Signif-

icant engine coolant loss is a sign of leaks in the cooling sys-

tem. Have the engine cooling system checked immediately by an

authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Ser-

vice Facility. Otherwise the engine may be damaged!

When changing or topping off operating fluids, make sure that

you pour the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Serious malfunc-

tions and engine damage can result if you pour operating fluids

into the wrong reservoir.

Engine coolant for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Seventh Generation (2010-2014)

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