2010 Seat Exeo ST engine

Trailer towing
204Where possible, operate the trailer with the maximum permitted drawbar
load on the ball joint of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the specified
limit.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressures on your vehicle, and adjust for “full load” conditions
(refer to the sticker listing the tyre pressures on the door pillar). It may also be
necessary to adjust the tyre pressures on the trailer according to the recom-
mendations of the trailer manufacturer.
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer with the
standard mirrors. If this is not the case you should have additional mirrors
fitted. The two exterior mirrors should be fitted on folding arms. Adjust the
mirrors to give sufficient rear vision.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, check the headlight beam settings with the trailer
hitched up. If necessary, alter the height of the headlight beams by means of
the headlight range control. See ⇒page 120.
Power supply
When you remove the ignition key, the power supply to the trailer is inter-
rupted.
Removable ball joint coupling
Vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket are equipped with a removable
ball joint coupling. This is stored in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment together with the necessary fitting instructions.
Note
If you frequently tow, we recommend you also have the vehicle serviced
between services.
Notes on towing
Towing a trailer involves additional attention by the driver.Weight distribution
The weight distribution of a loaded trailer with an unladen vehicle is very
unfavourable. However, if this cannot be avoided, drive extra slow to allow for
the unbalanced weight distribution.
Speed
The stability of the vehicle and trailer is reduced with increasing speed. There-
fore, it is advisable not to drive at the maximum permissible speed in unfa-
vourable road, weather or wind conditions. This especially applies when
driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately if the trailer shows the slightest
sign of swaying . Never try to stabilise the trailer by accelerating.
Anticipate hazards and brake in good time. If towing a trailer with an inertia
brake , first brake gently and then harder. This will prevent brake tapping by
the trailer wheels when they lock. Select a low gear in due course before
going down a steep downhill. This enables you to use the engine braking to
slow down the vehicle.
Swaying and pitching can be reduced by stabiliser aids. We recommend
having stabiliser aids installed when towing trailers with a high trailer weight.
They can be purchased and installed at a Technical Service.
Reheating
When climbing long hills in hot weather with the engine running fast in low
gear, you should keep an eye on the coolant temperature gauge ⇒page 60.
Reduce speed immediately if the needle moves to the right end of the scale.
If the temperature warning lamp
v in the instrument panel should start
flashing, stop the vehicle and let the engine cool down by running it at idling
speed for a few minutes.
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Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
214Vehicle maintenance and cleaningGeneral notesRegular washing and care help maintain the value of your
vehicle.Vehicle maintenance
Regular care and washing help to maintain the value of the vehicle. This may
also be one of the requirements for acknowledging warranty claims in the
event of bodywork corrosion or paint defects.
The best way to protect your vehicle against the harmful effects of the envi-
ronment is through correct maintenance and frequent washing. The longer
substances such as insect remains, bird droppings, resinous tree sap, road
dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other aggressive materials
remain on the vehicle, the more damage they do to the paintwork. High
temperatures (for instance in strong sunlight) further intensify the corrosive
effect.
After winter, a period when salt is put on the roads, it is important to have the
underside of the vehicle washed thoroughly.
Products for vehicle maintenance
Car care products are available in your Authorised Service Centre. Keep the
product instructions until you have used them up.
WARNING
•Car care products can be toxic. Because of this, they must always be
kept closed in their original container. Keep them out of the reach of chil-
dren. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.•Always read and observe the instructions and warnings on the package
before using vehicle care products. Improper use could cause health prob- lems or damage the vehicle. The use of certain products may produce
noxious vapours; they should be used in well ventilated areas.
•Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other
volatile fluids. These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of fire and explo-
sion.•Before washing your vehicle, or carrying out any maintenance, switch
the engine off, apply the handbrake firmly and remove the key from the
ignition.Caution
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle is dry.
Never use a dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes. This could damage the
paintwork or the windows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust with plenty
of water.
For the sake of the environment
•When purchasing products for your vehicle maintenance, select the ones
which are not harmful to the environment.•The waste from car care products should no t be disposed of with ordinar y
household waste. Observe the disposal information on the package.WARNING (continued)
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Vehicle maintenance and cleaning219
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Steel wheel rims– Clean steel wheel rims regularly using a separate sponge.Use an industrial cleaner to remove brake dust. Any damage to the paint on
steel wheel rims should be repaired before starting to rust.
WARNING
•Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the
tyres. This may cause an accident.•Water, ice and salt on the brakes can reduce braking efficiency. Risk of
accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking. Dry the
brakes by braking several times ⇒page 197.
Alloy wheel rimsEvery two weeks
– Wash salt and brake dust from alloy wheels.
– Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel rims.
Every three months
– Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels.Alloy wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance. If road
salt and brake dust are not often removed, the aluminium finish will be
impaired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy wheel rims. Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used. If the protective
coating is damaged, e.g. by flying stones, the damaged area should be
repaired immediately.
WARNING
•Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the
tyres. This may cause an accident.•Water, ice and salt on the brakes can reduce braking efficiency. Risk of
accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking. Dry the
brakes by braking several times ⇒page 197.
Underbody protection
The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it from chemical
and mechanical damage.The protective coating can be damaged when driving. We recommend you to
check the protective coating under the body and on the running gear, and
reinstated if necessary, before and after the winter season.
We recommend you to go to your Authorised Service Centre to carry out repair
work and additional anti-corrosion work.
WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes,
catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust system. The heat of
the exhaust system or the engine could cause them to ignite. Risk of fire.
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Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
220Cleaning the engine compartment
Take special care when cleaning the engine compartment.Anti-corrosion treatment
The engine compartment and the surface of the power unit are given anti-
corrosion treatment at the factory.
G o o d co r r o s i o n p r o t e c t i o n is p a r t i cu la r l y i m p o r t a n t i n wi n te r w h e n t h e v e h i c le
is frequently driven on salted roads. To prevent the salt corroding the vehicle,
the entire engine compartment should be thoroughly cleaned before and
after winter.
Yo u r A u t h o r i s e d S e r v i ce Ce n t r e has got the necessary equipment to provide
the correct cleaning and preserving products. For this reason, we recommend
having this work performed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually removed if the engine compartment
is cleaned with grease removing solutions, or if you have the engine cleaned.
On commissioning this work, ensure that all surfaces, seams, joints and
components in the engine compartment are given anti-corrosion treatment.
WARNING
•When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 229.•Before opening the bonnet, switch the engine off, apply the handbrake
firmly and always remove the key from the ignition.•Allow the engine to cool before you clean the engine compartment.•Do not clean the vehicle underbody, wheel arches or wheel trims
without protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-
edged metal parts. Failure to comply could result in injury.•Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk
of accident. Directly after washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking.
•Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature-controlled and could
start automatically, even when the key is removed from the ignition!For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits could be removed when the engine is washed.
The polluted water must be cleaned in an oil separator. For this reason,
engine washing should be carried out only by a qualified workshop or a petrol
station.Vehicle interior maintenancePlastic parts and dash panel cleaning– Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic parts and the dash panel.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
WARNING
Never clean the dash panel and the airbag module surface with cleaners
containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to become porous. If the
airbag triggered, plastic parts could become detached and cause injuries.
Caution
Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels
226
− For safety reasons we do not recommend carrying a spare fuel
canister in the vehicle. The canister could be damaged in an accident
and leak.•If, in exceptional circumstances, you have to carry a spare fuel canister,
please observe the following points:
−Never fill the spare fuel canister inside the vehicle or on it. An elec-
trostatic charge could build up during filling, causing the fuel fumes to
ignite. This could cause an explosion. Always place the canister on the
ground to fill it.
− Insert the fuel nozzle into the mouth of the canister as far as
possible.
− If the spare fuel canister is made of metal, the filling nozzle must be
in contact with the canister during filling. This helps prevent an electro-
static charge building up.
− Never spill fuel in the vehicle or in the luggage compartment. Fuel
vapours are explosive. Danger of death.Caution
•Fuel spills should be removed from the paintwork immediately.•Never run the tank completely dry. An irregular fuel supply could cause
misfiring. As a result, unburnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter and
cause damage.•When filling the fuel tank after having run it completely dry on a vehicle
with a diesel engine the ignition must be switched on for at least 30 seconds
without starting the engine. When you then start the engine it may take
longer than normal (up to one minute) for the engine to start firing. This is due
to the fact that the fuel system has to purge itself of air before starting.
For the sake of the environment
Do not try to put in more fuel after the automatic filler nozzle has switched off;
this may cause the fuel to overflow if it becomes warm.PetrolPetrol types
The recommended fuel types are listed on a sticker inside the
fuel tank flap.Only unleaded petrol conforming to standard DIN EN 228 may be used for
vehicles with catalytic converters (EN = “European Standard”).
Fuel types are differentiated by the octane rating, e.g: 91, 95, 98 RON (RON
= “Research Octane Number”, unit for determining the knock resistance of
petrol). You may use petrol with a higher octane number than the one recom-
mended for your engine. However, this has no advantage in terms of fuel
consumption and engine power.
The correct fuel type for your vehicle is given in the technical table for the
engine, in the Technical Specifications section.
Caution
•Petrol with standard EN 228 may be mixed with small quantities of
ethanol. However, the bioethanol fuels available at commercial establish-
ments with reference E50 or E85, which contain a high percentage of ethanol,
may not be used, as they will damage the fuel system.•Even one tankful of leaded fuel would permanently impair the efficiency
of the catalytic converter.
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels227
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•High engine speed and full throttle can damage the engine when using
petrol with an octane rating lower than the correct grade for the engine.For the sake of the environment
Just one full tank of leaded fuel would seriously impair the efficiency of the
catalytic converter.Petrol additives
Petrol additives improve the quality of the petrol.The quality of the petrol influences the performance, power and life of the
engine. For this reason, you should use good quality petrol containing addi-
tives. These additives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the fuel system
clean and prevent deposits from building up in the engine.
If good quality petrol with additives is not available or engine problems occur,
the required additives must be added during refuelling.DieselDiesel*Diesel fuel must conform to DIN EN 590 (EN = “European Standard”). It must
have a cetane number (CN) of at least 51. The cetane number indicates the
ignition quality of the diesel fuel.
Notes on refuelling ⇒ page 225.
Biodiesel*
Caution
•Your vehicle is not designed to use biodiesel fuel. Never, under any
circumstances refuel with biodiesel. The use of biodiesel fuel could damage
the engine and the fuel system. The addition of biodiesel to diesel fuel by the
diesel manufacturer in accordance with standard EN 590 or DIN 51628 is
authorised and will not cause damage to the engine or the fuel system.•The diesel engine has been designed to be used exclusively with diesel
fuel conforming to standard EN 590. Never refuel or use petrol, kerosene, fuel
oil or any other type of fuel. If you accidentally fill up the vehicle with the
wrong type of fuel, do not start the engine. Seek assistance from specialised
personnel. The composition of these fuels may severely damage the fuel
system and the engine.Winter driving
Diesel can thicken in winter.Winter-grade diesel
When using summer-grade diesel fuel, difficulties may be experienced at
sub-zero temperatures because the fuel thickens due to wax separation.
Therefore, winter-grade diesel fuel is available in some countries during the
cold months. It can be used at temperatures as low as -22 °C.
In countries with different climatic conditions the diesel fuel generally sold
has different temperature characteristics. Check with an Authorised Service
Centre or filling stations in the country concerned regarding the type of diesel
fuels available.
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Checking and refilling levels
228Filter pre-heater
Your vehicle is fitted with a fuel filter glow plug system, making it well
equipped for operation in winter. This ensures that the fuel system remains
operational to approx. -24 °C, provided you use winter-grade diesel which is
safe to -15 °C.
However, if the fuel has waxed to such an extent that the engine will not start
at temperatures of under -24 °C, simply place the vehicle in a warm place for
a while.
Caution
Do not mix fuel additives (thinners or similar products) with diesel fuel.
BonnetReleasing the bonnet
The bonnet is released from inside the vehicle.– To release the bonnet, pull the lever under the dash panel
⇒fig. 175 in the direction indicated (arrow).The bonnet springs out of its lock.
Fig. 175 Detail of foot-
well area on driver side:
lever for unlocking the
bonnet.
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Checking and refilling levels229
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Opening the bonnetBefore opening the bonnet make sure that the windscreen wiper
arms are not lifted away from the glass. Otherwise the paint may be
damaged.
– Lift the bonnet slightly ⇒.
– Press the release catch under the bonnet upwards ⇒fig. 176 .
This will release the arrester hook under the bonnet.
– Open the bonnet.The bonnet is held in position by a gas-filled strut.
WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or drips of coolant being released
from the engine compartment. Failure to comply could result in burns. Wait
until no steam or coolant can be seen before opening the bonnet.Work in the engine compartment
Extra caution is necessary when working on components in
the engine compartment.Always be aware of the danger of injury and scalding as well as the risk of
accident or even fire when working in the engine compartment (e.g. when
checking and refilling fluids). Always observe the warnings listed below and
follow all general safety precautions. The engine compartment of the vehicle
is a potentially hazardous area ⇒
WARNING
•Switch the engine off.•Remove the ignition key.•Apply the handbrake firmly.•If your vehicle is equipped with a manual gearbox, place the gear lever
in neutral. If you are driving an automatic vehicle, place the selector lever
in position P.•Wait for the engine to cool down.•Children should not be allowed to approach the engine compartment.•Never spill liquids used for vehicle operation on the engine compart-
ment, as these may catch fire (e.g. coolant).•Take care not to cause short circuits in the electrical system, especially
when working on the battery.
Fig. 176 Release catch
under the bonnet
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