2012 Seat Exeo ST checking oil

240Checking and refilling levels
Coolant fluid loss
Any loss of coolant fluid normally indicates a leak in the cooling system. In
this case the cooling system should be inspected by a specialised work-
shop without delay. It is not sufficient merely to top up the coolant fluid.
If there are no leaks in the system, a loss of coolant fluid can only occur if
the coolant boils and is forced out of the system as a result of overheating.
CAUTION
Radiator sealants must not be added to the coolant fluid. Such additives
could seriously impair the function of the cooling system. 
Topping up the coolant fluid
Be careful when topping up with coolant fluid. – Switch the engine off.
– Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the cap on the expansion tank ⇒ Fig. 182 with a cloth,
and carefully unscrew the cap anticlockwise ⇒ 
.
– Add coolant fluid.
– Screw on the cap tightly.
Make sure that the coolant fluid meets the required specifications
⇒  page 238. Do not use a different type of antifreeze if G12++antifreeze is
not available. In this case, use only water and bring the antifreeze concen-
tration back up to the correct level as soon as possible.
Always top up with new coolant fluid. Do not fill above the “max” mark. Excess coolant fluid is forced out of the
system through the valve in the filler cap when the engine gets hot.
If a lot of coolant fluid has been lost, wait for the engine to
cool down before
putting in cold coolant. Failure to do so could result in serious engine dam-
age.
WARNING
● The cooling system is under pressure. Do not unscrew the cap on the
expansion tank when the engine is hot. Failure to comply could result in
burns.
● The antifreeze and coolant fluid can be a health hazard. Therefore,
the antifreeze should be stored in the original container in a safe place
out of reach of children. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.
For the sake of the environment
Drained off coolant should not be used again. Drain off the used coolant in-
to a suitable container and dispose of it in the proper manner (observe envi-
ronmental regulations). 
Radiator fan
The radiator fan can start running spontaneously. The auxiliary fan can continue to run for as long as 10 minutes after stop-
ping the engine, even after the ignition is switched off. It may also start run-
ning suddenly ⇒ 
after some while if
● Stored heat raises the coolant temperature, or
● The hot engine compartment is additionally heated up by the sun. 

242Checking and refilling levels
Changing windscreen wiper blades
If the windscreen wiper blades are in perfect condition, you
will benefit from an improved visibility. Damaged wiper
blades should be replaced immediately.
Fig. 184 Removing the
wiper blade
Fig. 185 Fitting the wip-
er blade Removing the wiper blade
–
Lift the wiper arm away from the windscreen.
– Slide the retainer catch on the wiper blade in the direction indi-
cated ⇒ Fig. 184 A
. Hold onto the wiper blade at the same
time.
– Pull the wiper blade B
out of its mounting on the wiper arm.
Fitting the wiper blade
– Slide back the retainer catch on the new wiper blade. The
mounting on the wiper blade should now be visible.
– Fit the new wiper blade into the mounting on the wiper arm
⇒ Fig. 185 C
.
– Slide the retainer catch on the wiper blade in direction D
so
that it clicks into place on the wiper arm.
– Fold the wiper arm back down onto the glass.
If the windscreen wipers smear , they should be replaced if they are dam-
aged, or cleaned if they are soiled.
If this does not produce the desired results, the setting angle of the wind-
screen wiper arms might be incorrect. They should be checked by a special-
ised workshop and corrected if necessary. 

244Checking and refilling levels
Removing the wiper blade
–Lift the wiper arm away from the glass ⇒ Fig. 186
– Slide the blade adapter in the direction of the arrow and remove
the blade ⇒ Fig. 186.
Fitting the wiper blade
– With one hand, hold the top end of the wiper arm.
– Place the blade as shown in the ⇒ Fig. 187 and slide the adapt-
er along until it engages.
Check the condition of the wiper blade regularly. Change as required.
If the windscreen wiper scrapes, it should be replaced if damaged, or
cleaned if soiled.
If this is not sufficient, refer to a specialised workshop.
WARNING
Do not drive unless you have good visibility through all windows!
● Clean the windscreen wiper blades and all windows regularly.
● The wiper blades should be changed once or twice a year.
CAUTION
● A damaged or dirty window wiper could scratch the rear window.
● Never use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint thinner or similar products to
clean the window.
● Never move the windscreen wiper by hand. This could cause damage. Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid level can be checked visually.
Fig. 188 Engine com-
partment: markings on
brake fluid reservoir
The brake fluid level must be between the “Min” and “Max” ⇒ Fig. 188
markings.
The fluid level may drop slightly after a period of time due to the automatic
compensation for brake pad wear. This is quite normal.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in a short time, or drops below
the “Min” mark, there may be a leak in the brake system. If the fluid level in
the reservoir is too low, this will be indicated by the brake warning lamp
⇒  page 73 and
⇒ page 80. If this should happen,
take the vehicle to a spe-
cialised workshop immediately and have the brake system inspected. 

245
Checking and refilling levels
Topping up and changing the brake fluid
It is best to have the brake fluid changed by a professional. Brake fluid absorbs moisture. Therefore, in the course of time it will absorb
water from the air. If the water content in the brake fluid is too high, the
brake system could corrode. In addition, the boiling point of the brake fluid
will be considerably reduced. This could adversely affect the braking ability
in certain circumstances.
For this reason the brake fluid must be changed periodically.
Your vehicle's Service Plan will tell you when the brake fluid has to be re-
newed.
We recommend you have the brake fluid changed as part of a regular In-
spection Service at a Technical Service. They are familiar with the procedure
and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as well as the proper
facilities for disposing of the old fluid.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid. Only use brake fluid that ex-
pressly meets VW 501 14 standards.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid in a SEAT dealership or SEAT
Official Service. If none is available, use only high quality brake fluid that
meets DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or USA Standards FMVSS 116 DOT
4.
Using any other kind of brake fluid or one that is not of a high quality may
affect operation of the brake system and reduce its effectiveness. Never use
a brake fluid if the container does not state that it complies with VW 501 14,
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or USA standards FMVSS 116 DOT 4.WARNING
● Brake fluid must always be kept closed in its original container. Keep
out of the reach of children. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.
● If the brake fluid is left in the system for too long and the brakes are
subjected to heavy use, vapour bubbles may form in the brake system.
This would seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes and the safety of
the vehicle, leading to the risk of accident.
CAUTION
Please note that brake fluid will attack the paintwork on contact.
For the sake of the environment
The brake pads and fluid must be collected and disposed of according the
applicable regulations. The SEAT Technical Service network has the neces-
sary equipment and qualified personnel for collecting and disposing of this
waste material. 
Vehicle battery General notes
All work on batteries requires specialist knowledge.
The battery is virtually maintenance-free and is checked in the Inspection
Services.
We recommend replacing the battery after 5 years. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

249
Wheels and tyres
Wheels and tyres
Wheels
General notes
Avoiding damage
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obstacle, drive very
slowly and at a right angle.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Inspect the tyres regularly for damage (cuts, cracks or blisters,
etc.). Remove any foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Storing tyres
– When you remove the tyres, mark them in order to maintain the
same direction of rotation when they are installed again.
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres should be stored in a
cool, dry and preferably dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position if they are not fitted on wheel
rims.
New tyres
New tyres have to be run in.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of
tyre and the tread pattern. Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual
vibrations or the vehicle pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of
the tyres is damaged. The tyres should be checked immediately by a Techni-
cal Service.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with
directional tread. Always observe the direction of rotation indicated when
fitting the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
WARNING
● New tyres do not have maximum grip during the first 500 km. Drive
particularly carefully to avoid possible accidents.
● Never drive with damaged tyres. This may cause an accident.
● If you notice unusual vibrations or if the vehicle pulls to one side
when driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the tyres for dam-
age.

Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the
inside of the tank flap.
1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure from the sticker. The values refer to Summer tyres. For Winter tyres, you must add
0.2 bar to the values given on the sticker. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

304Technical specifications
Technical specifications
Engine specifications Checking fluid levels
From time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the ve-
hicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids, other-
wise serious damage to the engine may be caused.
Fig. 248 Diagram for the location of the various elements Vehicle battery
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Engine oil dipstick
1
234
Coolant expansion tank
Windscreen washer fluid container
Hydraulic fluid reservoir for power steering
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the compo-
nents mentioned above. These operations are described in the ⇒ page 234.
Overview
You will find further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the tech-
nical specifications as of ⇒ page 300.
Note
The layout of parts may vary depending on the engine. 
567

EmergenciesChanging a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Disconnecting the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259, 264
Sunroof emergency activation . . . . . . . . . . 116
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tyre mobility system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Running in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Engine compartment Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine coolant G 12 plus-plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
G 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Checking oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Checking the level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Engine oil pressure too low . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Oil properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Oil sensor defective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Engine speed governing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Environmental friendliness . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Roof racks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Environmentally friendly driving . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Environmental tip Avoiding pollution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 ESC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
see also Electronic Stability Control . . . . . 172
Exhaust gas purification system . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
F
Fastening rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Floor mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Front drink holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Front passenger airbag deactivation . . . . . . . . 45
Fuel Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Fuel level low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Instantaneous fuel consumption . . . . . . . . 88
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203, 301
Fuel tank opening the fuel tank flap . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Fuel: save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Fuse Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 G
Gear display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Gear shift pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
General overview of the engine compartment 304
Glove compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
H Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Faulty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Headlights Adaptive headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Automatic headlight control . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Automatic headlight control photosensors . .118
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Front fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Headlight washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Head restraint Rear seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Head restraints Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Removing and fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Heated rear window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
316 Index