Advice
Checking fluid levels Fig. 151
Diagram for the location of the various elements. Fig. 152
For vehicles with the battery in the
luggage compartment. From 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
1 Engine oil level dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery
Windscreen washer reservoir
The checking and refilling of service fluids
are carried out on the components men-
tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in the ››› page 166 .
Ov er
view
You will find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of ››› page 208
.
2 3
4
5
6 Note
The layout of parts may vary depending on
the engine. Engine oil
General notes The engine comes with a special, multi-grade
oil that can be used all year round.
Because the use of high-quality oil is essen-
tial for the correct operation of the engine
and its long useful life, when topping up or
changing oil, use only those oils that comply
with VW standards.
168
Checking and refilling levels
●
When working in the engine compartment,
always observe the safety warnings
››› page 166.
● When the en gine i
s warm or hot, the cool-
ing system is pressurised! Do not unscrew
the cap on the coolant expansion tank when
the engine is hot. This is a burn injury risk. CAUTION
● If you notice a change in the colour of the
liquid because it has been in use for a long
time, it is recommended to change it, as it
will have lost some of its properties and
could cause damage to the engine.
● If a lot of coolant fluid has been lost, wait
for the engine to cool. This avoids damaging
the engine. Large coolant losses are an indi-
cation 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. Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level Read the additional information carefully
››› page 25
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is
shown in the corresponding engine compart- ment illustration
››› page 168 . The brake fluid
r e
servoir has a black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used as the brake pads are
automatically adjusted as they wear.
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. A
display on the instrument panel will warn you
if the brake fluid level is too low ››› page 57. WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake
fluid level, read and observe the warnings
››› page 166. Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Programme indicates brake
fluid change intervals.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid
changed by a Technical Service.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and
follow the warnings
››› in Safety instruc-
tions on working in the engine compartment
on page 166 in section “Safety notes for
w ork
ing in the engine compartment”.
In the course of time, brake fluid becomes
hygroscopic and absorbs water from the am-
bient air. If the water content in the brake flu- id is too high, the brake system could cor-
rode. This also considerably reduces the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid. Heavy use of the
brakes may then cause a vapour lock which
could impair the braking effect.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid.
Only use brake fluid that expressly meets the
VW 501 14 standard.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid
in a SEAT dealership or a SEAT Official Serv-
ice. 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 opera-
tion of the brake system and reduce its effec-
tiveness. Never use a brake fluid if the con-
tainer 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 is poisonous. Old brake fluid im-
pairs the braking effect.
● Before opening the bonnet to check the
brake fluid level, read and observe the warn-
ings ››› page 166.
● Br ak
e fluid should be stored in the closed
original container in a safe place out of reach
of children. There is a toxic risk. » 173
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety
The essentials
