2010 Seat Altea engine coolant

Checking and refilling levels227
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
WARNING
All work on the engine or in the engine compartment, e.g. checking and
refilling fluids, involves the danger of injury and scalding as well as the risk
of accident or fire.•Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment. Otherwise, there is a risk of sustaining
burns. Wait until no more steam or coolant is emitted, then allow the
engine to cool before carefully opening the bonnet.•Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.•Apply the handbrake and move the gear stick to neutral or selector
lever to position P.•Keep children away from the vehicle.•Never touch hot engine parts. There is a risk of burns.•Never spill liquids on a hot engine or on a hot exhaust gas system. This
is a fire hazard.•Avoid causing short-circuits in the electrical system, particularly at the
points where the jump leads are attached ⇒ page 276. The battery could
explode.•Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature controlled and could
start automatically, even when the engine has been switched off and the
key removed from the ignition!•Do not unscrew the cap on the expansion tank when the engine is hot.
If the coolant is hot, the cooling system will be pressurised!•Protect face, hands and arms by covering the cap with a large, thick
cloth to protect against escaping coolant and steam.•Always make sure you have not left any objects, such as cleaning cloths
and tools, in the engine compartment.•If you have to work underneath the vehicle, you must use suitable
stands additionally to support the vehicle, there is a risk of accident!. A
hydraulic jack is insufficient for securing the vehicle and there is a risk of
injury.
•If any work has to be performed when the engine is started or with the
engine running, there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety risk from the
rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and
from the high-voltage ignition system. You should also observe the
following points:
−Never touch the electrical wiring of the ignition system.
− Ensure that jewellery, loose clothing and long hair do not get
trapped in rotating engine parts. Danger of death. Before starting any
work remove jewellery, tie back and cover hair, and wear tight-fitting
clothes.
− Always think carefully about pressing the accelerator if a gear is
engaged in either an automatic or manual gearbox. The vehicle could
move, even if the handbrake is applied. Danger of death.•If work has to be carried out on the fuel system or on electrical compo-
nents, you must observe the following safety notes in addition to the above
warnings:
−Always disconnect the battery. The vehicle must be unlocked when
this is done, otherwise the alarm will be triggered.
− Do not smoke.
− Never work near naked flames.
− Always have a fire extinguisher on hand.Caution
When changing or topping up service fluids, make absolutely certain that you
fill the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Failure to observe this point will result
in serious malfunctions and engine damage!
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels
228
For the sake of the environmentService fluids leaks are harmful to the environment. For this reason you
should make regular checks on the ground underneath your vehicle. If you
find spots of oil or other fluids, have your vehicle inspected in a qualified
workshop.Opening the bonnet
The bonnet is released from inside the vehicle.
Before opening the bonnet ensure that the windscreen wipers are in
rest position.
– To release the bonnet, pull the lever under the dashboard ⇒fig. 161 in the direction indicated (arrow). The bonnet will be
released by a spring action ⇒.
– Lift the bonnet using the release lever (arrow) and open the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay and secure it in fixture designed for this in the bonnet.
WARNING
Hot coolant can scald!•Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment.
Fig. 161 Detail of foot-
well area on driver's side:
lever for unlocking the
bonnet.
Fig. 162 Arrester hook
for bonnet.
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Checking and refilling levels229
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
•Wait until no more steam, smoke or coolant is emitted from the bonnet,
then carefully open the bonnet.•When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 226.
Closing the bonnet– Raise the bonnet slightly.
– Release the bonnet stay and replace it in its support.
– At a height of about 30 cm let it fall so it is locked.If the bonnet does not close, do not press downwards. Open it once more and
let it fall as before.
WARNING
If the bonnet is not closed properly, it could open while you are driving and
completely obscure your view of the road. Risk of accident.•After closing the bonnet, always check that it is properly secured. The
bonnet must be flush with the surrounding body panels.•If you notice that the bonnet latch is not secured when the vehicle is
moving, stop the vehicle immediately and close the bonnet properly. Risk
of accident.
Engine oilEngine oil specifications
The engine oil used must conf orm with exact specifications.Specifications
The engine comes with a special, high quality, multi grade oil that can be
used in all seasons of the year except for those regions affected by extreme
cold.
As the use of good quality oil is necessary for the correct operation and long
service life of the engine, when it becomes necessary to replenish or change
the oil, always use an oil that complies to the VW standards.
If it is not possible to find oil conforming to the VW standards then oil
conforming to the ACEA or API standards with an appropriate viscosity at
atmospheric temperature should be used instead. The use of this type of oil
may have some repercussions on the performance of the engine for example,
long starting time, increased consumption and a higher emission level.
If a top up is required then different oils may be mixed as long as they all
conform to the VW standards.
The specifications (VW standards) set out in the following page should
appear on the container of the service oil; the container will display together
the different standards for petrol and diesel engines, the oil can be used for
both types of engines.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels233
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
•Never pour oil down drains or into the ground.•Use a suitable container when draining the used oil. It has to be large
enough to hold all the engine oilCoolantCoolant specifications
Coolant is a mixture of water and at least 40% coolant addi-
tive.The cooling system must be filled with a mixture of water and at least 40 % of
our coolant additive G12+ or an additive with the specification TT-VW 774 F (it
is dyed purple). This mixture gives the necessary frost protection down to -
25°C and protects the alloy parts of the cooling system against corrosion. It
also prevents scaling and raises the boiling point of the coolant.
The concentration of coolant must always be at least 40% - even if frost
protection is not required.
If greater frost protection is required in very cold climates, the proportion of
the antifreeze additive G12+ can be increased. However, the percentage of
coolant additives should not exceed 60%, as this would reduce the frost
protection. It would also reduce the cooling effect. A mixture with 60%
coolant additive will give frost protection to approx. -40°C.
WARNING
•The coolant additive is toxic. There is a toxic risk. Always keep the
coolant additive in the original container which should be stored out of the
reach of children. The same applies to coolant which you have drained off.
•The coolant additive G12+ must be added in sufficient quantities to
provide anti-freeze protection at the coldest ambient temperatures that
can be expected. At extremely cold ambient temperatures, the coolant
could freeze, causing the vehicle to breakdown. As the heater would also
not work in this situation, there is a risk of suffering exposure!Caution
•Other additives may give considerably inferior corrosion protection. The
resulting corrosion in the cooling system can lead to a loss of coolant,
causing serious damage to the engine.•The coolant additive G12+ (purple) can be mixed with the additive G12
(red) or G11. Never mix G12 (red colour) with G11.WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels
234Checking the coolant level and topping up

The correct coolant level is important for fault-free func-
tioning of the engine cooling system.Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings ⇒ in
“Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment” on
page 226.
Opening the coolant expansion tank
– Switch off the engine and allow it to cool.
– To prevent scalding, cover the cap on the expansion tank with a
thick cloth and carefully unscrew the cap ⇒ .
Checking coolant level
– Look into the open coolant expansion tank and read off the coolant level. – If the level is underneath the “MIN” mark, top up with coolant.
To p p i n g u p c o o l a n t
–Only use new
coolant.
– Do not fill above the “MAX” mark.
Closing the coolant expansion tank
– Screw the cap on again tightly.
The position of the coolant expansion reservoir is shown in the corresponding
engine compartment diagram ⇒page 285.
Make sure that the coolant meets the required specifications ⇒page 233.
Do not use a different type of additive if coolant additive G12+ is not avail-
able. In this case use only water and bring the coolant concentration back up
to the correct level as soon as possible by putting in the specified additive
⇒ page 233.
Always top up with new coolant.
Do not fill above the “MAX” mark. Otherwise the excess coolant will be forced
out of the cooling system when the engine is hot.
The coolant additive G12+ (dyed purple) may be mixed with G12 (dyed red)
and also with G 11.
WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compartment or on the engine must be
carried out cautiously.•When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 226.
Fig. 166 In the engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank cap
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Checking and refilling levels235
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
•When the engine is warm or hot, the cooling system is pressurised! Do
not unscrew the cap on the expansion tank when the engine is hot. This is
a burn injury risk.Caution
•When mixed with other additives the colour of G12 will change to brown.
If this occurs you should have the coolant changed immediately. Failure to do
so will result in engine damage!•If a lot of coolant has been lost, wait for the engine to cool down before
putting in cold coolant. This avoids damaging the engine. Large coolant
losses are an indication of leaks in the cooling system. See a specialised
workshop immediately and have the cooling system checked. Otherwise,
there is a risk of engine damage.
Washer fluid and windscreen wiper bladesTopping up washer fluid

The water for cleaning the windscreen should always be
mixed with washer fluid.The windscreen washer and the headlight washing system are supplied with
fluid from the windscreen washer fluid container in the engine compartment.
The reservoir is located on the right-hand side of the engine compartment.
Plain water is not enough to clean the windscreen and headlights. We recom-
mend that you always add a product to the windscreen washer fluid.
Approved windscreen cleaning products exist on the market with high deter-
gent and anti-freeze properties, these may be added all-year-round. Please
follow the dilution instructions on the packaging.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 167 In the engine
compartment: Cap of
windscreen washer fluid
reservoir.
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Technical Data285
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
Te ch n i c a l D a t aChecking fluid levelsFrom time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the
vehicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids,
otherwise serious damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
Engine oil filler cap
Engine oil dipstick
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath the cover)
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the components
mentioned above. These operations are described in the ⇒page 226. Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the technical data as of
⇒
page 281 are given.
Fig. 208 Diagram for the
location of the various
elements
A1A2A3A4A5A6
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Index
300CCatalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
CD changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Automatic locking system for involuntary unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Automatic speed dependent locking and un- locking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Emergency unlocking system . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Selective unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Central locking button Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Centre arm rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Changing gear See Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Changing gear in Tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Changing the lamps Main headlight lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
rear lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Changing the main headlight lamps dipped beam lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
main beam lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
turn signal lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Changing the rear lights indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
luggage compartment lights . . . . . . . . . . . 273 rear fog light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
reverse light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . 236
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 241
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Child seats on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Cigarette lighter* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle . . . . . . . . 209
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Climatic* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Climatronic General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Clothes hook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Controls
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Light switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233, 234 Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Coolant Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Coolant level warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Coolant Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Coolant temperature Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Cruise control system Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Cruise control* Turning off the cruise control system . . . . 190
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