The coolant level should fall between the MIN and MAX levels when the engine is cold. It could be a little bit higher than the MAX line while the engine is heated.
(Stands for automobiles with a 6-cylinder engine:) The coolant expansion tank contains a float. Using the float, determine the coolant level. The float on the coolant expansion tank should be situated between the MIN mark and the edge of the refill aperture when the engine is cold.
Important: On vehicles with 6-cylinder TDI engines, the warning signal must not be on, and the coolant expansion tank must not be empty.
In order to release the cap, carefully turn the screwdriver counterclockwise until you reach the first point of resistance (Fig. 298o).
Please take notice of the information on linko if the warning lamp is on in a car with a 6-cylinder TDI engine.
Add coolant up to the MAX mark at the proper concentration. The float on the coolant expansion tank of vehicles with 6-cylinder engines should be positioned between the MIN mark and the edge of the filler opening.
Make certain that the fluid level doesn’t fluctuate. If more coolant is required, do so.
Vehicles with a 6-cylinder engine: If required, insert the cap-mounted float into the expansion tank.
If the coolant level warning lighting illuminates as a result, take these steps:
You must not continue driving if the expansion tank cannot be filled with the allowed 2 litres of coolant to the edge of the filling aperture.
Any coolant loss typically signifies a cooling system leak. Drive right away to a reputable shop to get the cooling system inspected. A coolant loss can only happen if the coolant boils and is driven out of the system as a result of overheating if there are no leaks in the system.
- There is pressure on the cooling system. When the engine is hot, avoid removing the expansion tank’s cap to avoid getting burned by steam that may be escaping.
- The coolant and its ingredient may be harmful to your health. Keep the coolant additive in its original container and keep it out of children’s reach to prevent poisoning.
- Be cautious when working in the engine compartment because the radiator fan could unexpectedly turn on even if the ignition is off, posing a danger of harm.
- Vehicles with 6-cylinder TDI engines: If the expansion tank cannot be filled with the maximum 2 litres of coolant, there may be air in the cooling system and a danger of engine damage! Stop driving now. Hire an expert to help you.
- If the expansion tank is empty, don’t add any coolant. Engine damage is a possibility since air could get in the cooling system! Drive backwards in this situation. Hire an expert to help you.
In This Article...
Driving with low coolant is it acceptable?
No, driving with low engine coolant levels is not safe. Low engine coolant levels can result in airlocks in the coolant system, and an overheated engine might totally seize or destroy expensive sections like the engine block.
It is so simple to refill the engine coolant, so it is worth thinking about the effects. Never access the coolant reservoir while the engine coolant is still warm, though!
Does Audi require a specific coolant?
Use ONLY the certified Audi coolant antifreeze standards G13, G12++, G12+, or G11 for VW. Use of common store-bought coolant is NOT recommended since it frequently does not meet the requirements of an Audi cooling system. The majority of Audi coolant antifreeze is concentrated.
Can I fill my Audi with ordinary coolant?
Use ONLY Audi VW G11, G12+, G12++, or G13 Audi coolant antifreeze that has received OEM approval. Use of common store-bought coolant is NOT recommended since it frequently does not meet the requirements of an Audi cooling system. The cooling system in an Audi reacts negatively to inferior coolant.
Which kind of coolant does Audi employ?
Regardless of whether you drive a BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Mini, or Volkswagen, your car circulates a solution of water and coolant to dissipate the heat generated within the engine and prevent it from melting down completely (one notable exception are older Porsche models that are air and oil cooled and did not use water or coolant, but instead circulated a large amount of oil to dissipate the heat).
A Spectrum of Colors
Which coolant type is best for your BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, or Volkswagen out of the many available options? The answer is the kind that was initially installed in your car. Your coolant may be green, pink, blue, yellow, or even clear depending on the manufacturer. All coolants are naturally transparent, and dye is used to give them color. Each company adds their own color mixture to their coolant; this has no impact on the coolant’s chemical properties. Because the water in Europe is substantially harder than the water in the United States, European manufacturers prefer coolant that is phosphate-free.
Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT), Organic Acid Technology (OAT), and Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) are the three most common coolant types available today. A HOAT coolant is used by your BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, or Volkswagen.
In order to protect aluminum surfaces, silicate is added to OAT coolants to create HOAT coolants. The cylinder heads and radiators, as well as other parts of your BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Audi, and Volkswagen engine and cooling systems, are constructed of aluminum.
Silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors are not used in OAT coolants. These coolants are made to last for 150,000 miles and have a long service life (or 5 years). It should be mentioned, nevertheless, that German Auto Center and the majority of manufacturers advise cleansing or replacing the coolant every two years.
The metal (Iron) components of the engine and cooling system are protected by traditional coolants, which are IAT coolants and use silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors. IAT coolants shouldn’t be utilized because the majority of the iron components in your BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Mini, Audi, and Volkswagen have been replaced with aluminum and other lighter composites.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that modern German performance cars, whether you drive a Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Mini BMW, Volkswagen, or Audi, will last you for many miles and years if you maintain them properly. German Auto Center in Austin is the place to go for German auto repairs. We will be pleased to help you!
Can you put water in your Audi’s coolant tank?
If your engine is overheating, the coolant overflow reservoir is very low or empty, and you have no other choice, you can pour water into your car’s radiator.
This should only be done while traveling a short distance, and you should make sure that the radiator is cleansed and properly supplied with coolant and water when you get there.
Natrad offers you top-notch cooling products and guidance. Stop into Natrad to get the appropriate coolant for your car.
Only Use Water In The Radiator In An Emergency
You need to stop right away if you discover that your engine temperature is increasing. Check the level of the coolant overflow reservoir after allowing the engine to cool. You need to add fluid to your car if it’s severely low or empty.
If you must continue driving, you can add water to the radiator to get you there, though it’s better to use a 50/50 mix of coolant and water (or a pre-mixed coolant).
Following are the methods to safely top off your radiator’s coolant with water:
- Make sure your car is in Park, Neutral, with the parking brake engaged, and that the engine is off and completely cool.
- Before removing the coolant reservoir cover, let the engine cool. Hot coolant might splutter and perhaps burn you if you try to remove the cap while it’s still hot.
- Using a towel or other thick material, gently loosen the radiator cap. Before removing the cap entirely, take a step back and let the pressure out.
- Up until the fill line, fill the radiator with the best water you can find. Close the car’s bonnet after replacing the radiator cap and tightening it to a click.
Even though it’s not ideal, adding water will benefit your car more than having no fluid at all.
What Type Of Water Is Best?
You should top off your radiator with the best water you have if you don’t have any coolant on hand. This water should ideally be distilled. You can also use tap or bottled water. Remember that minerals in tap or well water can build deposits throughout your cooling system, causing corrosion and shortening the radiator’s lifespan.
Pros/Cons of Using Water
Your radiator system becomes more contaminated when you use water. Although using water instead of low coolant is significantly better for the engine, you should switch the water out as soon as you can for the proper coolant for your car.
Any remaining coolant in the radiator is diluted when water is added to it. Preventing corrosion, raising the boiling point of water, and reducing the freezing point of water are just a few of the crucial jobs that coolant does. While using water in place of the coolant will allow you to drive the automobile for a brief period of time, your engine won’t be adequately protected.
This means that the radiator needs to be filled with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water as soon as the issue that led to a low coolant level is resolved.
When Can I Add Coolant To The Radiator Again?
Have a specialist examine your radiator to find out why the coolant was low in the first place. Before adding coolant, the technician will find and fix any leaks, replace any damaged cooling system components, and flush the radiator.
Before adding more coolant, the radiator must be flushed. One factor that can cause aluminum radiators to malfunction is a consistent lack of radiator flushing. Ensure that after fixing the cooling system, the technician does a full radiator flush.
After completely flushing the radiator, fill it with distilled water and a 50/50 blend of the coolant recommended by the manufacturer of your car.
Make sure to get your automobile to a radiator professional as soon as possible to identify the reason of the coolant loss if you find yourself in a precarious scenario where you must drive your car while using water as the coolant.
It is less likely that the radiator, heater, and engine will sustain serious damage if the radiator is fixed as quickly as possible.
A Natrad expert can repair, clean, and diagnose radiator issues. To ensure that your vehicle works smoothly, we carry the highest-quality coolant and will refill it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Does Audi advise flushing the coolant?
How frequently should an Audi have its coolant changed? Typically, after 30,000 miles or every two years, you should have your Audi’s coolant flushed. Your car may be able to go longer without a flush in some circumstances.
Can coolant be mixed?
Mixing two distinct antifreeze colors or types is never a smart idea. While combining two recipes won’t result in any explosive or harmful reactions, it may cause your coolant to become a sluggish chemical brew that won’t be able to pass through your cooling system as intended. In order to function properly, coolant must be fluid, and a thick coolant could block the cooling systems and cause other potential problems in the engine of your car. The final word? Don’t combine antifreeze in different colors.
Why is the coolant light on in my vehicle?
The coolant level being too low is the most frequent cause of the coolant light to glow. Your coolant tank may contain a floating sensor that activates the warning light when the level lowers. You might have to schedule a coolant change.
Leaks, whether in the reservoir or a line, are typically the source of low coolant levels. These leaks can be a major issue because they are difficult to identify and correct. Coolant can leak from a number of locations as it circulates through your engine, including hoses, the water pump, and the radiator.
Call your neighborhood garage or breakdown service right away to have your car recovered if you think there might be a leak.
Which coolant is required for my car?
The optimum sort of coolant to use in any vehicle radiator is a glycol-based antifreeze coolant for the majority of automobiles. However, it’s typically not a good idea to use glycol-based antifreeze by itself. Most of the time, you will need to add some water to the glycol-based antifreeze.
Can I simply top off my car’s coolant?
Add the proper coolant to the reservoir if the coolant level is low (not the radiator itself). Either diluted coolant alone or a 50/50 blend of concentrated coolant and purified water are acceptable. Replace the cap and tighten it until you hear a click when the coolant reaches the cold fill line. Zip up the hood.