Engine coolant topup

foofi22

Hi
This is probably a stupid question but here goes...


I have a 2017 Seat Ibiza. This morning the coolant temperature light came on. The reported coolant and oil temperatures were 90 and 93 degrees respectively.


I had a look under the bonnet and the coolant in the expansion chamber was about 1cm below the minimum - I'm presuming this was the cause of the warning light.


The manual says I need "G13" coolant - I've had a look at Halfords but their online tool recommended G40 (and others). Is it ok to "mix" these types?


Thanks

foxy-stoat

I would go with your manual over a halfords guide, unless your coolant has already been replaced with G40.

oldagetraveller

I would also be wanting to know where the coolant has gone.
1cm below the minimum, if it had been at maximum when last checked, would concern me. You do check it visually rather than rely on some random warning light?

The coolant overflow bottle on my over 5 years old car is still at max.. Never required one drop in that time. Does fluctuate slightly depending on temperatures though. Not to below minimum.

AdrianC

I believe G40 and G12/G12++/G13 are all the same basic thing - the pink "long-life" OAT coolant. VAG have been using it since the 80s.

1cm below minimum isn't itself a big issue, unless it's allowing it to suck air in to the system - but I'd expect it to self-bleed as soon as it's topped up. If it keeps dropping, though, you need to investigate why.