2011 SKODA OCTAVIA cooling

Note
After your skin has come in contact with the oil, you must thoroughly wash your
skin. 
Cooling system
Coolant The job of the coolant is to cool the engine.
The cooling system does not require any maintenance under normal operating
conditions. The coolant consists of water with a concentration of coolant additive
of 40 %. This mixture not only provides antifreeze protection down to -25 °C but
also protects the cooling and heating system from corrosion. It also prevents the
formation of scale and significantly increases the boiling point of the coolant.
You must therefore not reduce the concentration of antifreeze agent in the cool-
ant by adding water, also not during the summer months or in countries with a
warm climate. The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must be at
least 40 %.
You can increase the amount of antifreeze in the coolant if a higher concentration
of antifreeze is necessary for climatic reasons but only up to 60 % (antifreeze pro-
tection down to approx. -40 °C). The antifreeze protection tails off above that con-
centration.
Vehicles exported to countries with a cold climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland)
are already factory-filled with a coolant which offers antifreeze protection down
to about -35 °C. In these countries the concentration of coolant additive should be
at least 50 %.
Coolant
The cooling system is factory-filled with coolant (purple in colour), which complies
with the specification TL-VW
774 G.
When refilling, we only recommend you use the same antifreeze described on the
antifreeze expansion tank.
Please contact an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner if you have any questions re-
garding the coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different coolant.
An authorised ŠKODA Service Partner can also supply you with the correct coolant
additives. Coolant capacity Petrol engines Capacities (in liter)
1.2 ltr./77 kW TSI - EU5 7,7
1.4 ltr./59 kW - EU4 7,1
1.4 ltr./90 kW TSI - EU5 7,7
1.6 ltr./75 kW - EU4, EU2 7,4
1.8 ltr./118 kW TSI - EU5, EU2 DDK
(1.8 ltr./112 kW TSI - EU5)
8,6
2.0 ltr./147 kW TSI - EU5 8,6
Diesel engines Capacities (in liter)
1.6 l/77 kW TDI CR - EU5 8,4
1.9 ltr./77 kW TDI PD - EU4, EU3 8,4
1.9 ltr./77 kW TDI PD DPF - EU4 8,4
2.0 ltr./81 kW TDI CR - EU4, EU5 8,4
2.0 ltr./103 kW TDI CR DPF - EU4, EU5 8,4
2.0 l/125 kW TDI CR - EU5 8,4
CAUTION
● Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in particular,
involves significantly reducing the anticorrosion effect.
● Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of coolant
and, as a consequence of this, result in major engine damage. Note
On vehicles which are fitted with an independent auxiliary heating and ventila-
tion, the volume of the coolant is greater by approx. 1 ltr. 184
Inspecting and Replenishing

Inspecting the coolant level
Fig. 152 Engine compartment: Coolant
expansion bottle
The coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compartment on the right.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ page 180 .
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒ fig. 152 . The cool-
ant level when the engine is cold must lie between the b (MIN) and
a (MAX)
markings. The level may also rise slightly above the a (MAX) marking when
the engine is warm.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the warning light
in the instrument cluster ⇒ page 25, Coolant temperature/ Coolant quantity 
. We
still recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from time to
time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the system. You
should not merely top up the coolant in the reservoir. It is also important to have
the cooling system inspected without delay by a specialist garage.
Losses can only occur through the pressure relief in the cap of the coolant expan-
sion bottle which is completely free of leaks if the coolant boils as a result of over-
heating and is forced out of the cooling system. WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒ page 181, Working in the engine com-
partment
before working in the engine compartment. CAUTION
One should contact a specialist garage as soon as possible if the source of over-
heating itself cannot be determined and removed, since there may be grave dam-
age to the engine. 
Replenishing the coolant –
Switch the engine off.
– Allow the engine to cool down.
– Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir ⇒
 fig. 152 and un-
screw the cap carefully by turning it to the left ⇒  .
– Top up the coolant.
– Screw the cap tight until it is heard to lock.
The coolant which you use for replenishing the system, must comply with one
specific specification ⇒ page 184

. Do not use an alternative additive if the speci-
fied coolant additive is not available in exceptional cases. Just top up the system
with water and as soon as possible arrange adjustment to correct the mixing ratio
of water and coolant additive again by a specialist garage.
Only use fresh coolant for topping up the system.
Do not fill the coolant above the mark a (max.)
⇒ fig. 152 ! Excess coolant heats up
and then is forced out of the cooling system through the pressure relief valve in
the cap.
Wait until the engine has cooled down for a system which has suffered a major
loss of coolant before pouring in coolant. This is necessary to avoid engine dam-
age. WARNING
● The cooling system is pressurized! Do not open the cap of the coolant ex-
pansion bottle if the engine is still hot - risk of scalding!
● The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are also harmful to the
health. It is important, therefore, to always safely store any coolant additive in
its original container out of the reach of children - risk of poisoning! £ 185
Inspecting and Replenishing Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
● Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved for your
model of ŠKODA vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely af-
fect the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval and licensing of
your vehicle on public roads may also become void as a result.
● You must on no account drive at a higher speed than is permissible for
your tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control
over your vehicle.
● Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional ca-
ses and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
● Never fit tyres which have already been used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous history. Tyres age even if they have not been
used at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional ca-
ses and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
● Do not, where possible, replace individual tyres but at least replace them
on both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the
deeper tread depth to the front wheels. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of in conformity with the appropriate regulations. Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels from other models of cars for technical
reasons. This may also apply in certain circumstances to the wheels of the same
type of vehicle. 
Wheel bolts Wheels and
wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres - you
must therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape
of spherical cap. This is essential to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and
that the brake system operates properly.
If you retrofit wheel trims (or have this done), please also ensure that an ade-
quate flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system.
Authorised

ŠKODA Service Partners are instructed in the technical possibilities
which exist regarding converting or retrofitting tyres, wheels and wheel trims. WARNING
● In case of incorrect treatment of the wheel bolts, the wheel can loosen
when the car is moving - risk of accident!
● The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.
● If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim can
come loose when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque
which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in per-
manent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rim. CAUTION
The prescribed tightening torque of the wheel bolts for steel and light alloy
wheels is 120 Nm. 
Winter tyres The handling of your vehicle will be significantly improved when driving on wintry
roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow
and at temperatures below 7 °C because of their construction (width, rubber
blend, tread pattern). This particularly applies to vehicles which are equipped with
low-profile tyres
or high-speed tyres (code index H or V on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four wheels to obtain the best handling
characteristics.
You must only fit those types of winter tyre which are approved for your vehicle.
The permissible sizes of winter tyres are stated in your vehicle documents. Ap-
provals may differ because of national legislation.
Please remember that the tyres should be inflated to 20

kPa (0.2 bar) more than is
the case for summer tyres ⇒ page 192.
Winter tyres no longer offer the same winter performance once the tyre tread has
worn down to a depth of about 4 mm.
Ageing also causes winter tyres to lose most of their winter performance proper-
ties - even in cases where the remaining tread depth is still clearly more than 4
mm.
Speed restrictions apply to winter tyres as well as to summer tyres ⇒ page 194,
⇒  .
£ 195
Wheels and Tyres Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data