coolant level, does it need a top up ?
coolant level, does it need a top up ?
Hi all, i have just done a little inspection on my levels and i think the coolant may need a little top up , I was finding it hard to see the max line , on 2022 gti. I have got the 2nd year service in two weeks and I would assume it would get done then if needed ?. Had no lights on dash or anything like that . Have enclosed a piccy
- Attachments
-
- coolant level.jpeg (356.12 KiB) Viewed 1810 times
-
SRGTD
- Bling Bling Diamond Member
- Posts: 3821
- Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:40 pm
- Drives: 2020 AW Polo GTI+, Pure White.
- Location: UK
Re: coolant level, does it need a top up ?
Not sure you can assume it’ll be topped up; the dealer I used for all my VW’s didn’t top up the air in my tyres and I got short measure on the engine oil (that’s assuming they even bothered to change the oil! 
) when my Polo GTI+ was serviced last year (see below). I’d be sure to mention your car’s coolant level when you take it in for the service.
How long has the coolant been at the minimum mark on the expansion tank? Has it always been at the minimum, has it been going down over time or has it suddenly dropped? When the cooling system is filled in the factory, sometimes air can be trapped in the system which is usually purged within the first few months of ownership and the coolant level in the expansion tank will drop as coolant replaces the previously trapped air. However if the coolant level’s suddenly dropped recently in a car that’s nearly two years old, it could indicate a leak in the system or a leaking water pump / thermostat housing (not uncommon with VAG’s EA888 engine). I’d keep an eye on the coolant level and check it regularly after the dealer (hopefully) tops up the coolant during the service. Replacing the water pump and thermostat housing at a main dealer is an expensive job so if they are leaking, make sure you get them replaced before the warranty expires.
Back to the service on my Polo GTI+ last year; a few days before my car was serviced, I checked my tyre pressures and they were all down on pressure around 2-3psi. As I didn’t need to use the car until after it was serviced, I didn’t bother topping them up as I foolishly assumed they’d be inflated as part of the service, bearing in mind tyre pressures should be checked and adjusted if necessary. Big mistake on my part - the tyres were exactly the same under inflated pressure when I checked them after the service. Additionally, when the oil was changed, the new oil only just reached above the minimum mark on the dipstick which made me wonder did the dealer actually change the oil or did they just remove some of the old oil with an oil extraction pump so the level was different and made it appear that it had been changed?
. Oh, and they overcharged me for my brake fluid change! 
(I did get the amount of the overcharge back though). I mentioned the shortcomings of last year’s service when the car was serviced this year, but was just greeted with an air of indifference. Makes you wonder what else they may have missed……………
Poor dealership service is one of the factors that influenced my decision not to buy another VW this time around.
) when my Polo GTI+ was serviced last year (see below). I’d be sure to mention your car’s coolant level when you take it in for the service. How long has the coolant been at the minimum mark on the expansion tank? Has it always been at the minimum, has it been going down over time or has it suddenly dropped? When the cooling system is filled in the factory, sometimes air can be trapped in the system which is usually purged within the first few months of ownership and the coolant level in the expansion tank will drop as coolant replaces the previously trapped air. However if the coolant level’s suddenly dropped recently in a car that’s nearly two years old, it could indicate a leak in the system or a leaking water pump / thermostat housing (not uncommon with VAG’s EA888 engine). I’d keep an eye on the coolant level and check it regularly after the dealer (hopefully) tops up the coolant during the service. Replacing the water pump and thermostat housing at a main dealer is an expensive job so if they are leaking, make sure you get them replaced before the warranty expires.
Back to the service on my Polo GTI+ last year; a few days before my car was serviced, I checked my tyre pressures and they were all down on pressure around 2-3psi. As I didn’t need to use the car until after it was serviced, I didn’t bother topping them up as I foolishly assumed they’d be inflated as part of the service, bearing in mind tyre pressures should be checked and adjusted if necessary. Big mistake on my part - the tyres were exactly the same under inflated pressure when I checked them after the service. Additionally, when the oil was changed, the new oil only just reached above the minimum mark on the dipstick which made me wonder did the dealer actually change the oil or did they just remove some of the old oil with an oil extraction pump so the level was different and made it appear that it had been changed?
. Oh, and they overcharged me for my brake fluid change! 
(I did get the amount of the overcharge back though). I mentioned the shortcomings of last year’s service when the car was serviced this year, but was just greeted with an air of indifference. Makes you wonder what else they may have missed……………Poor dealership service is one of the factors that influenced my decision not to buy another VW this time around.
-
PO10ASH
- Getting There!
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2016 1:35 pm
- Drives: POLO GTI+
- Location: Nottingham, UK
- Contact:
Re: coolant level, does it need a top up ?
Just as a heads up, please mention this while servicing if you want it checked.
I had my 2nd or 3rd year service and within 2 days my coolant warning light came on while on a dual carrageway, I went back had it checked they said I had a coolant leak after a pressure check, they topped up the coolant and said they couldn't book my car in for 2 weeks, so to keep a bottle of water in my car and don't go on long journeys, after another check (2 weeks later) they topped it up and determined it wasn't actually a leak.
I had my 2nd or 3rd year service and within 2 days my coolant warning light came on while on a dual carrageway, I went back had it checked they said I had a coolant leak after a pressure check, they topped up the coolant and said they couldn't book my car in for 2 weeks, so to keep a bottle of water in my car and don't go on long journeys, after another check (2 weeks later) they topped it up and determined it wasn't actually a leak.
-
Dark_cze
- Silver Member
- Posts: 447
- Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:14 pm
- Drives: AW GTI with MT
- Location: Czech republic
Re: coolant level, does it need a top up ?
EA888 (and few others) are very prone to water pump/thermostat leak. I am personally dealing with one, right now. 
6 years and 80K km. Not cheap repair that is for sure.
What a wonderful and clever design, lets just make plastic housing, put it right on hot engine and torque the bolts to 9Nm (that is like a bit more then finger tight) because more will crack the housing ... what could go wrong?! right? /s
6 years and 80K km. Not cheap repair that is for sure.What a wonderful and clever design, lets just make plastic housing, put it right on hot engine and torque the bolts to 9Nm (that is like a bit more then finger tight) because more will crack the housing ... what could go wrong?! right?
/s-
Johntheo1
- Bronze Member
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:52 am
- Drives: 2018 MK10 AW1
- Location: Cork
Re: coolant level, does it need a top up ?
They also have separate cylinder block and cylinder head cooling circuits, wonder what alarm is flagged if the cylinder block stat should fail shut?, maybe a high oil temperature alarm?. If interested look up VW SSP 820333 pdf.Dark_cze wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2024 4:44 pm EA888 (and few others) are very prone to water pump/thermostat leak. I am personally dealing with one, right now.
What a wonderful and clever design, lets just make plastic housing, put it right on hot engine and torque the bolts to 9Nm (that is like a bit more then finger tight) because more will crack the housing ... what could go wrong?! right?