2015 Seat Mii oil temperature

Operation
Outside temperature indicator!
When the outs ide t
emper
ature is below +4 °C
(+39 °F), the symbol “ice crystal” (warning of
risk of freezing) is also displayed next to the
temperature. At first this symbol flashes and
then it remains lit until the outside tempera-
ture rises above +6 °C (+43 °F) ››› .
When the v
ehic

le is stationary or travelling at
very low speeds, the temperature displayed
may be slightly higher than the actual out-
side temperature as a result of heat coming
from the engine.
The temperatures measured range from
-40 °C to +50 °C (-40 °F to +122 °F).
Selector lever position
The range of engaged gears of the selector
lever is shown on the side of the lever, and
on the instrument panel display. In positions
D and M, and with the Tiptronic, the corre-
sponding gear is also indicated on the dis-
play.
Recommended gear* (manual gearbox)
The recommended gear to save fuel can be
displayed on the instrument panel display
while you are driving ››› page 137.
Seat belt status display for the rear seats*
The seat belt status display on the instru-
ment panel display informs the driver, when
the ignition is switched on, whether any pas- sengers in the rear seats have fastened their
seat belts

››› page 51.
Start-Stop system status display
The instrument panel display shows informa-
tion on the current status ››› page 156. WARNING
If the warning lamps are ignored, the vehicle
ma y

stall in traffic, or may cause accidents
and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of acci-
dent for the driv
er and for other road users. If
necessary, switch on the hazard warning
lamps and put out the warning triangle to ad-
vise other drivers.
● Park the vehicle away from traffic and en-
sure th
at no highly flammable materials are
under the vehicle that could come into con-
tact with the exhaust system (e.g. dry grass,
fuel). WARNING
Even though outside temperatures are above
freez in

g, some roads and bridges may be icy.
● At outside temperatures above +4°C
(+39°F), even when the “ice c
rystal symbol”
is not visible, there may still be patches of ice
on the road. ●
Never r ely

on the outside temperature indi-
cator! CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they
ap pear m

ay result in faults in the vehicle. Note
● Differ ent

versions of the instrument panel
are available and therefore the versions and
instructions on the display may vary.
● When several warnings are active at the
same time, the symbol
s are shown succes-
sively for a few seconds and will stay on until
the fault is rectified. Service interval display
The inspection message appears on the in-
s
trument
p

anel display ›››
Fig. 95 2 .
S EA
T m
akes a difference between services
with engine oil change (Interval Service) and
services without engine oil change (Inspec-
tion Service). The service interval display only
gives information for service dates which in-
volve an engine oil change. The dates of the
remaining services (e.g. the next Inspection
Service or change of brake fluid) are listed on
the label attached to the door strut, or in the
Maintenance Programme.
88

Operation
Air vents
Nev er c
lo
se the air vents ››› Fig. 141 A com-
p l
et

ely to ensure heating, cooling and venti-
lation inside the vehicle.
● To open the air vents press the recess with
one slat
.
● Change the air direction by turning the
slats.
● T

o close the air vents, fold the slats.
There are a
dditional air vents in the centre of
the dash panel and in the footwell area. CAUTION
Never place food, medicines or other heat-
sens itiv

e objects close to the air vents. Being
heat-sensitive, they may be damaged or
made unsuitable for use by the air coming
from the air vents. Air recirculation mode
Important
Air r
ec
ir

culation mode prevents the ambient
air from entering the interior.
When the outside temperature is very high or
very low, selecting manual air recirculation
mode for a short period refreshes or heats
the interior more quickly. ●
Switc
h off air recirculation mode by turning
the air distribution control to the  ››› po-
s ition.
Sw it
ching the air recirculation mode on and
off 
Switching on: Move the sliding control
››› Fig. 140 4 to the right to maximum.
S wit
c

hing off: Move the sliding control
››› Fig. 140 4 to the left to maximum.
WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and re-
duce driv er c

oncentration possibly resulting
in a serious accident.
● Never use recirculation mode for long peri-
ods a
s it does not refresh the air inside the
vehicle.
● If the cooling system is switched off and air
recir
culation mode switched on, the windows
can mist over very quickly, considerably limit-
ing visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not requir
ed. CAUTION
Do not smoke when the air recirculation is ac-
tivat ed.

The smoke taken in could lie on the
cooling system vaporiser and on the dust and
pollen filter, leading to a permanently un-
pleasant smell. Driving
St eerin
g
Intr

oduction The power steering* is not hydraulic but elec-
tromec
h

anical. The advantage of this steer-
ing system is that it disposes of hydraulic
tubes, hydraulic oil, the pump, filter and oth-
er components. The electromechanical sys-
tem saves fuel. While a hydraulic system re-
quires oil pressure to be maintained, electro-
mechanical steering only requires energy
when the steering wheel is turned.
With the power steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning. WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the
st eerin

g wheel is much more difficult to turn
and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the
engine is
running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is
switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering may128

Operation
for the vehicle is not too different to the out-
s ide t
emper
ature. It is a good idea to air the
vehicle before starting your journey and to
drive a short distance with the windows
open. Then you can close the windows and
switch on the air conditioning. Keep windows
closed when travelling at high speeds. Driv-
ing with the windows open increases fuel
consumption.
● Switch off the seat heating when the seats
have w
armed up.
● Switch off the heated rear window when it
is not
moist or covered in ice.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the
engine is cold, immediately after it has been
started. It takes a few kilometres of driving
for the engine to warm up and to normalise
consumption.
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their proper working temperature in or-
der to minimise fuel consumption and emis-
sions. The ambient temperature has a deci-
sive influence.
Fig. 147 shows the difference in consump-
tion for the same journey at +20 °C (+68 °F)
and at -10 °C (+14 °F).
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
should be avoided. Try to combine trips. The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
summer, ev

en when other conditions are the
same.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. In addition, mechanical
wear and pollutant emissions are also espe-
cially high during this initial warm-up phase.
It is therefore best to drive off immediately af-
ter starting the engine. Doing this avoids run-
ning the engine at a high speed.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres
helps to reduce rolling resistance and, as a
result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing
the tyre pressure slightly (+0.2
bar/+3 psi/+200 kPa) can help to save fuel.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are
optimised for minimum rolling resistance.
Use low friction engine oil
The use of low viscosity totally synthetic oils,
known as low friction engine oil, helps to re-
duce fuel consumption. These oils reduce the
resistance caused by friction in the engine,
they flow around the engine more quickly
and efficiently, particularly in cold starts. The
effect is particularly noticeable in vehicles
frequently used for short journeys.
Always check the engine oil level and ob-
serve service intervals (engine oil change in-
tervals). When purchasing engine oil, always observe
leg
al requirements and ensure that the oil is
approved by SEAT.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical
and ecological the driving style. For example,
an additional weight of 100 kg will increase
fuel consumption up to 0.3 l/100 km.
Remove any unnecessary objects or loads
from the vehicle.
Remove optional equipment and unnecessa-
ry accessories
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the lower
the fuel consumption. Optional equipment
and accessories (such as roof racks or bike
carriers) reduce the aerodynamic benefits of
the vehicle.
Therefore, we recommend you remove all op-
tional and unnecessary equipment and racks,
especially if you intend to drive at high
speeds.
Other factors which increase fuel consump-
tion (examples):
● Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills.
144

Driving
WARNING
Always adapt your speed and the distance to
the v ehic
les ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. Engine management and ex-
hau
s

t gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y

high temperatures. This could cause a
fire.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass).
● Never apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter or the heat shields on the ex-
haust system. Control and warning lamps

It lights up
Fault in engine
management
(Electronic Pow-
er Control).Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop as soon as possible and
have the engine checked.

It lights up
Fault in catalytic
converter.You should reduce speed according-
ly. Drive carefully until you reach the
next specialised workshop. Have
the engine checked there.

Flashes
Combustion
fault which could
damage the cat-
alytic converter.You should reduce speed according-
ly. Drive carefully until you reach the
next specialised workshop. Have
the engine checked there.
Several warning and indication lamps light
up f
or a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds. CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit control lamps
and to the c orr

esponding descriptions and in-
structions to avoid damage to the vehicle. Note
While the control lamps  or  r
emain lit,
the engine will have faults, there will be high-
er consumption of fuel and a loss of engine
power. Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter permits the subse-
quent tr
e

atment of the exhaust gases thus
reducing contaminating gas emissions. To
ensure a longer working life for the exhaust
system and catalytic converter in a petrol en-
gine:
● Always use unleaded petrol.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry.
● Do not top up with too much engine oil
›› ›

page 186.
● Do not tow-start the vehicle; use the starter
cabl
es ›››
 page 42.
If you should notice misfiring, uneven run-
ning or loss of power when the car is moving,
reduce speed immediately. Have the car in-
spected by a specialised workshop. If this
happens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust
system and escape into the atmosphere. The
catalytic converter can also be damaged by
overheating. »
145
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
also be one of the requirements for acknowl-
edgin g w
arr
anty claims in the event of body-
work corrosion or paint defects.
Products suitable for the care of your vehicle
are available at any technical service. WARNING
Car-care products may be toxic and hazard-
ous. If c

ar care products are not suitable or
are used inappropriately, this could result in
accident, serious injury, burns or intoxica-
tion.
● Car care products must always be stored in
the original
container which should be kept
closed.
● Observe information provided by the manu-
factur
er.
● To prevent confusion, never store car care
products
in empty food cans, bottles or other
containers.
● Keep all care products out of reach of chil-
dren.
● Harmfu

l vapours may be produced when us-
ing car c
are products. Therefore, care prod-
ucts should only be used in well-ventilated
spaces or in the open air.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, ace-
tone or any
other volatile liquid to wash,
clean or care for the vehicle. These are toxic
and highly flammable. WARNING
Inappropriate care and cleaning of vehicle
component s

may effect the vehicle safety
equipment, increasing the risk of severe in-
jury.
● Vehicle components should only be
cle
aned and maintained in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.
● Only use approved or recommended care
products. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
dam ag

e the material. For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle in areas allocated for
this p

urpose, to prevent dirty water which
may be contaminated by oil, grease or fuel,
from entering the drains. In some places,
even washing it outside the planned areas is
banned. For the sake of the environment
Where possible, always use products which
re s

pect the environment. For the sake of the environment
The remains of car care products should not
be dis po

sed of with ordinary household waste. Observe information provided by the
manuf
act

urer. Washing the vehicle
The longer substances such as insects, bird
drop
pin

gs, resinous tree sap, road dirt, in-
dustrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and
other aggressive materials remain on the ve-
hicle, the more damage they do to the paint-
work. High temperatures (for instance due to
strong sunlight) further intensify the corro-
sive effect. The vehicle undercarriage should
also be thoroughly washed at regular inter-
vals.
Automatic car washes
Always observe the instructions provided at
the automatic car wash. The standard pre-
cautionary measures prior to entering the car
wash should be taken to avoid damage to
the vehicle (close all windows, fold in exterior
mirrors). If the vehicle is fitted with additional
components (spoiler, roof-rack, aerial, etc.),
check with the car wash supervisor whether
these can enter the car wash ››› .
The v
ehic

le paintwork is so durable that the
vehicle can normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, wear and damage to the paintwork
will depend on the type of car wash used. »
167
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
and from the parking distance warning sys-
t em sen
sor
s. The sensors of the parking dis-
tance warning system are situated on the rear
bumper ››› .
Do not u
se a no

zzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream or one that has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt ››› .
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning
equipment c ou

ld result in permanent dam-
age, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other
materials. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between
the nozzl
e and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or
so-cal
led “dirt blasters”. Even at large spray-
ing distances and short cleaning times, you
may damage the tyres. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing eff ect

will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
caref
ully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process. CAUTION
● The wat er t

emperature should not exceed
+60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the
vehicle in full sun.
● To ensure that the system functions well,
the sensors
located on the bumper must be
kept clean and free from ice. When cleaning
with pressure hoses and steam cleaners, the
sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A dis-
tance of 10 cm between the sensors and the
steam / hose nozzle must be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to re-
move ic
e or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washin
g the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! Cleaning windows and exterior mir-
r
or
s Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
S
pr
a

y windows and exterior windows with a
standard window cleaner containing alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leath-
er or a lint-free cloth. The chamois leathers
used on painted surfaces are not suitable for
cleaning windows because they are soiled with wax deposits which could smear the
window

s.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off ››› .
R emo
v

ing wax residue
Automatic car washes and certain car care
products may leave wax deposits on the win-
dows. These deposits can only be removed
with a special product or cleaning cloths. If
wax deposits are left on the windscreen and
the rear window, the blades can scratch the
glass. SEAT recommends you wipe the wax
deposits off the windscreen and the rear win-
dow with a soft cloth each time after you
have washed the vehicle.
A window cleaning detergent which helps to
dissolve the wax may be added to the wind-
screen washer fluid to prevent the wiper
blades from scratching the windscreen.
Please ensure you add the cleaning product
in the correct proportions. Products for re-
moving grease do not eliminate the wax de-
posits ››› .
S pec
i

al cleaning products or window cloths
are available at any technical service. To re-
move wax deposits, SEAT recommends the
following products: »
169
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Only change the engine oil yourself if you
hav e the s
pecialist knowledge required!
● Before opening the bonnet, read and ob-
serve the w
arnings ››› page 184.
● Wait for the engine to cool down. Hot oil
may
cause burn injuries.
● Wear eye protection to avoid injuries, such
as ac
id burns, caused by splashes of oil.
● When removing the oil drain plug with your
finger
s, keep your arm horizontal to help pre-
vent oil from running down your arm.
● Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into
contact
with engine oil.
● Engine oil is poisonous! Used oil must be
stor
ed in a safe place out of the reach of chil-
dren. CAUTION
No additives should be used with engine oil.
This c

ould result in engine damage. Any dam-
age caused by the use of such additives
would not be covered by the factory warranty. For the sake of the environment
Before changing the engine oil, find a suita-
bl e loc

ation or service for proper disposal. For the sake of the environment
Always dispose of engine oil with the utmost
re s

pect for the environment. Never dispose of used engine oil in places such as a garden,
wood
s, dr

ains, roads, paths, rivers and drain-
age systems. Engine coolant
Introduction WARNING
Engine coolant is toxic!
● Only keep engine coolant in its original
c ont ainer

, tightly shut and in a safe place.
● Never store engine coolant in empty food
container
s or bottles as other people may ac-
cidentally drink it.
● Always keep engine coolant out of reach of
chil
dren.
● Ensure that the proportion of engine cool-
ant ad
ditive corresponds to the lowest out-
side temperature to which the vehicle will be
exposed.
● If the outside temperature is extremely low,
the engine coo
lant could freeze causing the
vehicle to stop. As this would also cause the
heating to stop working, vehicle occupants
without warm clothing could freeze. For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the
env ir

onment. If any fluids are spilled, they should be collected and correctly disposed
of, w
ith r

espect to the environment. Coolant warning lamp
Several warning and indication lamps light
up for a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds. 
It lights up
Excessive engine
coolant tempera-
ture.
 Stop the vehicle!
Stop the vehicle safely as soon as
possible. Switch off the engine and
let it cool.
Insufficient en-
gine coolant lev-
el.  Stop the vehicle!
Check the engine coolant when the
engine has cooled and, if it is low,
refill with engine coolant
››› page 190.
Engine coolant
system faulty.  Do not drive any further.
Obtain professional assistance. 
Flashes
Engine coolant
system faulty.Seek specialist assistance.
WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in On the
ins trument
panel on page 27. » 189
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
●
Never open the c oo
lant expansion tank if
steam or coolant is coming from the engine
compartment. Wait until you cannot see or
hear any steam or coolant escaping.
● Always wait until the engine has complete-
ly coo
led before very carefully opening the
expansion tank cap. Contact with hot ele-
ments of the engine can cause skin burns.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ti-clockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth.
● When refilling liquids, avoid spilling them
on part
s of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. Under
specific circumstances, the ethylene glycol
can catch fire. WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant sy s

tem, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additiv
e is correct with respect to the lowest
expected ambient temperature in the zone in
which the vehicle is to be used. ●
When the outs ide t

emperature is very low,
the coolant could freeze and the vehicle
would be immobilised. In this case, the heat-
ing would not work either and inadequately
dressed passengers could die of cold. CAUTION
● If ther e i

s no appropriate coolant liquid
available, fill it using distilled water, and
nothing else. Any other type of water may
lead to considerable rusting in the engine
due to its chemical components. This could
consequently damage the engine. If you have
not used distilled water but another type of
water to top up the coolant, a specialised
workshop must immediately replace all of the
fluid in the engine cooling system.
● Only top up coolant to the top level of the
marked ar
ea ››› Fig. 169. Otherwise the ex-
cess coolant will be forced out of the cooling
system when the engine is hot, causing dam-
age.
● If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait
for the engine t
o cool down completely before
adding coolant. Extensive coolant loss is an
indication of leaks in the engine cooling sys-
tem. Have the engine cooling system inspec-
ted immediately by a specialised workshop.
Otherwise engine damage may occur.
● When refilling service liquids, ensure that
you put
the liquids into the right tank. Mak-
ing a mistake when refilling could cause seri-
ous malfunctions and damage the engine! CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed
with c oo

lants which are not approved by
SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing
severe damage to the engine and the engine
cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not pur-
ple b
ut is, for example, brown, this indicates
that the G13 additive has been mixed with an
inadequate coolant. The coolant must be
changed as soon as possible if this is the
case! This could result in serious faults and
engine damage. Brake fluid
Chec k
in

g the brake fluid level Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 32
In the course of time, the brake fluid absorbs
water from the ambient air. If there is too
much water in the brake fluid, the brake sys-
tem could be damaged. In addition, the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid is significantly
lowered. When the brake fluid contains too
much water and the brakes are subject to
considerable forces, bubbles of water vapour
can form in the system. These bubbles can
significantly reduce braking power, notably
increasing braking distance, and could even
result in the total failure of the brake system. »
191
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety