sorry- i know this sounds daft

[rougenoir]

but whats the coolant?
and what do i do if my golf mk5 says i should check it?



cheers

[eko]

The coolant keeps the engine cool as it circulates around the engine and the radiator. Without the coolant the engine will overheat and it could be damaged beyond repair. Do you have any leaks under the car? If you lift the bonnet you should be able to see a spherical container with some pink liquid inside. On the spherical container you will see a minimum and maximum markings. At what level is the liquid? This is best checked when the car engine is cool and the car is on the level surface.

[rougenoir]

Thankyou - just checked- it is below the min level!

I was stuck on the M6 today for an hour and a half whilst it was closed for a vehicle on fire.
27 degrees and all!
my engine was off- but i guess that didnt help- because it was as we finally started moving that the coolant light came on.

i guess i have to take it in to the garage for a top up on that?

[RickT]

You can go to the dealer and purchase some coolant from them, per litre.. Go to the parts desk and advise them that you require some..

Top it up when the engine is stone cold to just under the MAX level.. (ie a few mm)

If i was you.. I would top it up with a bit of water first ie.. 1 cm or so and then monitor as you may have a leak, theres no point buying coolant at this stage if your car is dropping it..

Then after a few miles montoir the level...

In fairness, if the coolant has dropped it will be leaking some where..

HOW many miles has the car done?>
Which engine is it?
How many miles since the last service??

Rick

[rougenoir]

i've not noticed a leak- but i will look out for it

its a mk 5 golf- 1.6 engine
'07 reg
about 13/14K miles
never had a service- its on one of those - the car will tell you when the service is!


water is ok to mix with coolant?
what is the fluid in there?

thanks btw rick

[eko]

Most engine coolants are made from propylene glycol (whatever that is). The coolant must protect the engine and the radiator not only against frost and overheating, but also against rust. The water in the cooling system combined with the high operating temperatures promotes corrosion. Without protection of the coolant, the rust would soon eat its way through the metal walls of the radiator. You can by a 1L bottle of engine coolant from places like Halfords and top your system up. I would suggest that you keep monitoring for leaks in the engine bay and under the car. Also regularly check the level of coolant in the coolant bottle.

Ed

[rougenoir]

thankyou ed

the warning light was off this morning- though the coolant level was low
rang garage who told me to top up with water- so i did, didnt need much though

lol- strangely propylene glycol makes more sense to me than 'coolant'!!