Coolant warning

paddy6789 · Mar 17, 2018

So I was completing an overtake yesterday on the M6, middle lane to the outside lane - put my foot down a bit and then all of a sudden a load of beeping happened, warning lights on the dash and a ‘Check Engine Coolant’ message displayed. Then the dash displayed these lights:

Pulled over, checked the coolant, and everything seemed ok. Couldn’t seen any leaks, couldn’t hear and hissing or see any wet patches around the hoses I could follow and get access to.

The coolant tank was just below the min mark, but it’s always been just below this mark as I check it pretty much every weekend. The coolant cap wasn’t loose or anything either. Coolant and oil temps were both at 90 (where they usually are). When turning the car back on, all lights has cleared and it seems fine. Driven about 40 miles since, completed many overtakes and still hasn’t happened again since.

Now, I have some Evans Powercool Waterless coolant to go in, but I’m not wanting to swap out the coolant for that if I have a hose leak somewhere. My car is going for a service in two weeks so I’ll get them to check the coolant hoses at the same time.

Has anyone else experienced this? Anything I should look for or be aware of?

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chrisRibiza · Mar 17, 2018

If the car tank is below the min mark.... why not just top it up to the max with G13 coolant?

aaaa_kk · Mar 17, 2018

I had the same during a 2 hour motorway journey around October last year. I just checked the level, that seemed fine, then finished the journey. When using the Cupra the next day the lights and warnings had all disappeared. I just bought some more coolant to top it up to near the top of the max mark and haven’t had anything come on since. Not sure what caused it but I just check every so often I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.

paddy6789 · Mar 17, 2018

I’ll top it up and keep an eye on it. But it’s always been just below min since I got it from new. Just wondered if it was something I should worry about.

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chrisRibiza · Mar 17, 2018

I'd top it up and keep an eye on it. If its below the min mark then it could well be that the level dipped under the sensor and set it off.

I had to top my coolant up a couple of times last year although I always done it before the light came on. I just keep a bottle in the boot incase I ever need it. There seemed to be no pattern to the level of mine dropping.

eltawater · Mar 17, 2018

I had a problem with my coolant level in December on my cupra. Level warnings went off on my way to work and i had to top up a bit with some distilled water from a garage.

Got it booked into the seat garage who couldn't find anything wrong with it. I measured the level every morning for a week and watched the level drop progressively until i booked it in again. Garage technician pressure tested it overnight with no issues.

Finally he drained the system and refilled it and touch wood it's been fine since. He mentioned that there is a bulletin for cars which means they might have occasional airlocks in the system from the factory and that a drain / refill is the answer.

paddy6789 · Mar 17, 2018

Well I’ve topped it up with the VW/Seat coolant from TPS for my car. Took just under a litre before it was over the min mark.

I’ll get it pressure tested with it’s service and see if it’s got any leaks - I’ll probably get them do put the waterless coolant at the same time

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chrisRibiza · Mar 17, 2018

Yours must have been low. Min to Max on mine is about 300ml.

SRGTD · Mar 17, 2018

paddy6789 said:
Well I’ve topped it up with the VW/Seat coolant from TPS for my car. Took just under a litre before it was over the min mark.

I’ll get it pressure tested with it’s service and see if it’s got any leaks - I’ll probably get them do put the waterless coolant at the same time

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G13 is the approved coolant for modern VAG engines. If your car’s under warranty and you use use a coolant that isn’t approved for use in VAG engines, you’ll probably invalidate your warranty.

paddy6789 · Mar 17, 2018

Most of my engine bay is probably invalidated anyway

but I have topped up with G13 for now, but it will all be drained and replaced with the Waterless coolant in a couple of weeks.

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kevster184 · Mar 17, 2018

I had this a while back now, was really concerned at the time. I did ask on here. It appeared to be an air lock. Since it has lost a tiny bit between services but not enough to go below minium.

Now you think top to up with right coolant/water.

SEAT just use water in a watering can, dash cam footage can be useful sometimes.

SteveFR · Nov 24, 2018

Had my second low coolant warning in about 6 months this week, thankfully kept the bottle of G13 I purchased in the summer in boot so pulled over and quickly topped up before continuing with my journey.

Car is in for annual service soon, hopefully garage doesn’t find anything too expensive wrong with coolant system.

kevster184 · Nov 24, 2018

SteveFR said:
Had my second low coolant warning in about 6 months.....

Car is in for annual service soon, hopefully garage doesn’t find anything too expensive wrong with coolant system.

Seems more that what I loose, but as per my post above all Seat seem to do is top it up with tap water from a watering can!

paddy6789 · Nov 24, 2018

My issue actually was a coolant leak which was discovered when servicing the car and changing the intercooler. The culprit was the water pump which was replaced with a more robust aluminium one and all was well again. It was a tad pricy but I'd prefer not to have niggly issues like that crop up.

Wastedagen · Nov 24, 2018

Is it OK to just top up with G13 into the system instead of G12. The G12 I bought was pink just like the stuff in the car. The G13 on the shelf (ECP), was more a rich purple colour. So I matched colours and topped up with G12.
If I were to put in G13, do I need to drain the system completely then fill up with G13? Or OK to just put the purple G13 in?

TIA....

paddy6789 · Nov 24, 2018

I think you should be ok to mix:

http://www.underhoodservice.com/volkswagen-engine-coolants-tech-tip/

Check that article

Wastedagen · Nov 24, 2018

paddy6789 said:
I think you should be ok to mix:

http://www.underhoodservice.com/volkswagen-engine-coolants-tech-tip/

Check that article

That's brilliant. Thanks....

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