Stop! Check Coolant!

[Stuart_B]

Had this error message up on my vw gt tdi 130 today twice.

Done a search on this site but it came up with very little.

Firstly, if it is just a case of topping up the "coolant", where am I looking, what am I using (i.e water or a specialised coolant), and what possible damage could it do?

Is it to do with the turbo or is it the main water level??

[v6dub]

Yeah just have a look at the expantion tank, it is at the top left hand side, it will have a blue top to it, you should add G12 coolant that you can get from VW, but you are able to add small amounts of water, but not that much, the only damage you will do, is if you keep adding water you will dry out the gaskets within the engine, and that is expensive,

[Eshrules]

Yeah just have a look at the expantion tank, it is at the top left hand side, it will have a blue top to it, you should add G12 coolant that you can get from VW, but you are able to add small amounts of water, but not that much, the only damage you will do, is if you keep adding water you will dry out the gaskets within the engine, and that is expensive,

as the good man above says,

check the expansion tank level, it'll probably need a top up, ideally, this should be done regularly though to avoid such warnings.

do be sure to use the G12 coolant, I would never advise to use water, for the sake of a couple of quid, it's really not worth skimping on the coolant, not when you consider just what it's resposible for.

[v6dub]

You have to remember that G12 coolant come as a concentrate and has to be mixed with a certain percentage of water.
Personal I would use comma Xtream red coolant, for the main reason that it is better than the VW stuff and it is safe to mix with the G12 that is already in there.

[Crasher]

Use G12+ and it will mix with anything.

[iallen1@btinter]

Hi There,
I have had the same problem with my mark 4 2003 golf match, i knew the coolant wasnt low as i check it every week. I called out VW assist and apparently it is a common problem, there are two prongs in the expansion tank that when the water level is low brings the light on, but they can fur up and for some reason this can also bring the light on. It went to the dealer and had a brand new expansion tank and full coolant change, hence no more problems. This can happen when the water level is normal as mine was.

[Stuart_B]

I topped this up with water, say 1/4 - 1/2 a litre. I'd like to sort it properly, so is there a way of draining it all and then i'll re-top it up with the G12/water correct solution.

Also, how much is the G12 and how much do you get in a bottle?

Cheers for the replys!