Before each long trip, the fluid level in the expansion tank should be checked.
No special tools are required.
Materials required:
- VW coolant concentrate "G12 Plus" purple (designation G 012 ABF) or another product whose packaging contains a note that it complies with the Volkswagen Group standard VW-TL-774-F, for example, Glysantin-Alu-Protect-Premium/G30.
- pure distilled water.
Caution! When the engine is hot, place a thick cloth on the radiator filler cap before removing it to avoid being burned by hot coolant or steam. Remove the cap only when the coolant temperature is below +90°C.
The coolant level when the engine is cold (coolant temperature is about +20°C) should be between the maximum and minimum marks on the expansion tank.
When the engine is warm, the fluid level may rise slightly above the maximum mark (see illustration 9.0).
To avoid engine damage, add large quantities of cold coolant only when the engine is cold.
Attention! If VW "G12 Plus" concentrate or another concentrate corresponding to the Volkswagen Group standard VW-TL-774-F is not available to top up the coolant volume, do not pour in the wrong concentrate. It is necessary to bring the coolant level up to the standard by pouring in distilled water. Subsequently, at the first opportunity, bring the concentration of the coolant in the system to the prescribed value.
1 Unscrew the expansion tank cap slightly to release excess pressure, then unscrew the cap completely and remove it.
If the fluid level drops significantly within a short period of time, inspect the system to check for leaks.
Coolant - Checking Antifreeze Content
To avoid malfunctions, it is recommended to check the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant regularly and especially before the winter period of vehicle operation. This is especially important if water was poured into the system.
Tools required:
- hydrometer or refractometer A, for example, VWT10007 or HAZET-481 O-V (see illustration 9.0a). When using a refractometer, you can also measure the density of the electrolyte in the battery and the concentration of the washing fluid in the washer reservoir.
Materials required:
- VW coolant concentrate "G12 Plus" purple (designation G 012 ABF) or other, on the packaging of which there is a note that it complies with the Volkswagen Group standard VW-TL-774-F, for example, Glysantin-Alu-Protect-Premium/G3 0.
- pure distilled water.
Examination
1. Drive the car for a short time to raise the coolant temperature. The upper radiator hose should be just warm enough.
When checking the concentration of antifreeze in the coolant, its temperature should be approximately +20°C.
Caution! When the engine is hot, place a thick cloth on the radiator filler cap before removing it to avoid being burned by hot coolant or steam. Remove the cap only when the coolant temperature is below +90°C.
2. Unscrew and remove the cap from the expansion tank, taking precautions.
Checking the concentration of coolant with a hydrometer
3. Use a hydrometer to take coolant from the expansion tank and determine its concentration based on the position of the float (see illustration).
Protection against freezing in our latitudes should be provided down to -25°C, and in latitudes with extremely cold climates - down to -35°C.
Checking the concentration of coolant with a refractometer
4. Draw a small amount of cooling liquid into a pipette, apply it to prism 1 of refractometer A and close the lid 2 (see illustration 9.0a).
5. Look into the eyepiece and read the antifreeze content in the coolant on scale 6 (see illustration).
Increasing the antifreeze content in the coolant
If protection against freezing at -25°C is required, the coolant should contain 40% antifreeze. If protection is required at -35°C, water and concentrate should be mixed in a 1:1 ratio.
Attention! If it is necessary to use a coolant with a higher antifreeze content, its share can be increased to a maximum of 60%. In this case, protection against freezing at -40°C is provided. If the antifreeze share is higher than the specified figure, the freezing threshold is reduced and, in addition, this leads to a decrease in the cooling effect.
Using the table below, you can bring the antifreeze content in the coolant to the desired concentration.
The table is only an aid because the information in it is approximate. The exact filling volumes depend on the engine type.
Example: When measuring the concentration of the coolant, it turned out that the coolant poured into the FS1 2.0 liter gasoline engine(filling volume 8.1 l) provides freeze protection only at ambient temperatures of -10°C. To provide freeze protection at temperatures of -25°C, drain 2.0 l of coolant from the system and add 2.0 l of clean antifreeze.
6. Close the expansion tank cap and check the coolant concentration again after a test drive.
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