2017 Seat Leon SC maintenance

Care and maintenance
A SEAT Official Service and specialised work-
shop w i
l
l be able to inform you about options
for installing and operating radio transmitters
with a higher transmitting power.
Mobile radio transmitters
Commercial mobile telephones or radio
equipment might interfere with the electron-
ics of your vehicle and cause malfunctions.
This may be due to:
● No external aerial.
● External aerial incorrectly installed.
● Transmitting power more than 10 W.
You mus
t, therefore, do not operate portable
mobile telephones or radio equipment inside
the vehicle without a properly installed exter-
nal aerial ››› .
Pl e
a

se note also that the maximum range of
the equipment can only be achieved with an
external aerial.
Business equipment
Retrofit installation of business or private
equipment in the vehicle is permitted, provi-
ded the equipment cannot interfere with the
driver's immediate control of the vehicle and
that any such equipment carries the  mark.
Any retrofit equipment that could influence
the driver's control of the vehicle must have a
type approval for your vehicle and must carry
the e mark. WARNING
Mobile telephones or radio equipment which
is oper

ated inside the vehicle without a prop-
erly installed external aerial can create exces-
sive magnetic fields that could cause a health
hazard. Note
● The pos t

erior fitting of electric and elec-
tronic equipment in this vehicle affects its li-
cence and could lead to the withdrawal of the
vehicle registration document under certain
circumstances.
● Please use the mobile telephone/radio op-
erating in
structions. Care and cleaning
Gener a
l

information Regular and careful care helps to
maint
ain
the
value of the vehicle. This may also be one
of the requirements for upholding any war-
ranty claims in the event of corrosion or paint
defects.
SEAT Official Services and specialist retailers
carry stocks of suitable car care materials.
Please follow the instructions for use on the
packaging. WARNING
● Cle

aning products and other materials used
for car care can be damaging to your health if
misused.
● Always keep care products in a safe place,
out of the r
each of children. Failure to comply
could result in poisoning. For the sake of the environment
● If po s

sible, use environmentally friendly
products.
● The remains of car care products should not
be dispo
sed of with ordinary household
waste. Vehicle exterior care
W a
shin

g the vehicle The longer substances such as insects, bird
dr
op
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.
After the period when salt is put on the roads
it is important to have the underside of the
vehicle washed thoroughly. »
257
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
–
the bonnet mu s
t be closed.
– switch the ignition on and off.
– press the windscreen wiper lever forward
briefly (windscreen washer function).
This will lock the wiper arms. For the sake of the environment
The car should only be washed in special
w ash b

ays. These areas are prepared to pre-
vent oily water from getting into the public
drains. In some places, washing vehicles out-
side the areas intended for this purpose is
prohibited. Camera sensors and lenses
●
Use a small brush to remove snow and a
de-ic er s
pr

ay to remove ice.
● Clean the sensors with a solvent-free prod-
uct and a soft, dr
y cloth.
● Moisten the camera lens using a standard
alcohol-b
ased glass cleaning agent and
clean the lens with a dry cloth. In the active
lane assist*, the area in front of the lens is
normally cleaned with the windscreen wash-
er. CAUTION
● When y ou c

lean the vehicle with a pressure
washer: –
Sta y

a suitable distance from the sensors
on the front and rear bumpers.
– Do not clean the camera lenses or sur-
rounding area with the pressure washer.
● Never use warm or hot water to remove
snow and ic
e from the reverse camera lens,
as it could crack the lens.
● Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the
lens. Waxing and polishing
Care
W
ax
in

g protects the paintwork. It is time to
apply a coat of good wax when water no lon-
ger forms droplets and rolls off the clean
paintwork.
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the
vehicle washing tunnel, it is advisable to pro-
tect the paint with a hard wax coating at least
twice a year.
In the summer, you will find it is much easier
to remove dead insects (which accumulate
on the bumper and the front of the bonnet) if
the car has been treated with care products
recently.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by putting on wax. If the polish does not contain wax, a wax
product shou

ld be applied after polishing. CAUTION
● Do not u se po

lishes and hard wax on pain-
ted parts with a matt finish or on plastic
parts.
● Do not apply paint polishes to the side trim
that ru
ns around the panoramic roof and ends
on the windscreen. However, it can be treated
with hard wax. Trims
In respect for the environment, the silver-
p
l
at

ed trims on the body are made of pure
aluminium (they do not contain chrome).
Dirt or marks on the trim mouldings should
be removed with a cleaning product with a
neutral PH (do not use a chrome cleaner).
Body polish is also unsuitable for use on trim
mouldings. The intensive cleaning fluids of-
ten used before the car goes into a car wash
may contain alkaline substances, which can
cause dull or milky patches when they dry
out.
SEAT Official Services carry stocks of cleaning
products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle and are not harmful to the envi-
ronment.
259
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
WARNING
Please note when cleaning the wheels that
wat er
, ice and road salt can impair the effec-
tiveness of the brakes; this can cause an acci-
dent. Exhaust pipe
It is important to remove road salt and brake
dus
t

by washing the wheels at regular inter-
vals, otherwise the exhaust tail pipe material
could be damaged. To remove impurities, do
not use rim, paint or chrome cleaners or oth-
er abrasive products. Clean the exhaust tail
pipes with cleaning products that are suita-
ble for stainless steel.
SEAT Official Services carry stocks of cleaning
products that have been tested and ap-
proved for use on your vehicle.
Caring for the vehicle interior Scr een f

or the radio/Easy Connect*
and control panel* The display can be cleaned with a soft cloth
and a pr
of
e

ssionally available “LCD cleaner”.
Moisten the cloth with a small amount of the
cleaning fluid. The Easy Connect control panel* should first
be cle

aned with a brush so that no dirt goes
into the device or between the keys and
housing. Next, we recommend cleaning the
Easy Connect control panel* using a cloth
dampened with water and washing-up liquid. CAUTION
● To av oid s

cratching the screen, do not wipe
the display with a dry cloth.
● To avoid damage, ensure that no liquid
goes
into the Easy Connect control panel*. Plastic and leatherette parts
Plastic parts and leatherette can be cleaned
w
ith a d
amp c

loth. If this is not sufficient,
plastic parts and leatherette should only be
treated with a special solvent-free plastic
cleaner.
Textile covers and trim parts Textile covers and trim parts (e.g. seats, door
trim) shou
l
d be c

leaned regularly with a vac-
uum cleaner. This will remove surface dirt
which could otherwise be rubbed into the
textile material during use. Do not use steam
cleaners, as the steam could carry the dirt
deeper into the textile material. Normal cleaning
We rec

ommend that you use a soft sponge or
a commercially available lint-free, micro-fibre
cloth for normal cleaning. Only use brushes
on floor coverings and mats, as other textile
surfaces could become damaged.
In the case of normal surface dirt you can use
a foam cleaner. Use a sponge to spread the
foam on the textile surface and to work it into
the material lightly. However, make sure that
the textile material does not become soaking
wet. Then dab off the foam with a dry and ab-
sorbent cloth (e.g. a micro-fibre cloth) and
vacuum off any residue once the surface is
completely dry.
Cleaning stains
Treat drink stains (such as coffee or fruit
juice, etc.) with a cleaning solution for deli-
cate fabrics. This solution should be applied
with a sponge. If the stains are difficult to re-
move, a washing paste can be applied direct-
ly onto the stain and worked into the fabric.
The surface will then have to be wiped with
clear water to remove any residue left by the
paste. To do so, use a damp cloth or sponge
and then dab the stain with an absorbent
cloth.
Remove chocolate or make-up stains with a
cleaning paste (for e.g., soft soap). Then re-
move the soap with water (wet sponge). »
261
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Care and maintenance
Cleaning and care of leather uphols-
t er
y Natural leather requires an extra degree of at-
tention and c
ar
e.
Normal cleaning
– Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with wa-
ter and wipe o

ver the leather surfaces.
More stubborn dirt
– More stubborn dirt can be removed using a
mil d so

ap solution (pure liquid soap: two
tablespoons dissolved in one litre of wa-
ter).
– Do not let the water soak through the leath-
er or penetrate int

o the seams.
– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
Remov
al of stains
– Remove fresh water
-based stains such as
coffee, tea, juices, blood etc. with an ab-
sorbent cloth or kitchen roll, or use the
cleaning agent from the care set for dried-
on stains.
– Remove fresh grea
se-based stains that
have not penetrated the surface such as
butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc. with an
absorbent cloth or kitchen roll or with the
cleaning agent from the care set. –
Tre
at fat-based, dried-in stains with grease-
dissolving spray.
– Treat less common stains on le
ather, such
as ball-pen and other inks, felt-tip pens,
nail polish, dispersion paint, shoe cream
etc. with a special leather stain remover.
Leather maintenance
– The leather should be treated regularly
(about twic

e a year) with a special leather-
care product.
– Apply these products very sparingly.
– Then wipe off with a soft cloth.
Should
you have questions regarding the
care and cleaning of the leather upholstery in
your vehicle, we recommend that you contact
your SEAT Official Service. Our representa-
tives will be happy to advise you and tell you
about the product range for leather conserva-
tion, for example:
● Cleaning and care set.
● Coloured leather-care cream.
● Stain remover for ball-pen inks, shoe cream
etc.
● Gr

ease dissolving spray.
● New products and further developments CAUTION
On no account use solvents (such as petrol,
turpentine), w ax

polish, shoe cream or simi-
lar materials. Cleaning Alcantara upholstery
Removing dust and dirt
– Moisten a cloth just a lit
tle and wipe down
the seat covers.
Removing stains – Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or di-
luted whit

e spirits.
– Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and
work in

wards.
– Dry the clean area with a soft cloth.
Do not use l
eather cleaning products on Al-
cantara seat covers.
You may use a suitable soap on dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can
scratch and damage the surface. If the car is
left standing in the sun for long periods, Al-
cantara leather should be protected against
direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. How-
ever, slight colour variations will arise in nor-
mal use. »
263
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
is equipped with a particulate filter, the sul-
phur c ont
ent
of the fuel must be below 50
parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it
is more difficult to start the engine. For this
reason, petrol stations in some countries al-
so offer winter diesel with improved fluidity
when cold (winter-grade diesel).
Water in the fuel filter 1)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine and is
equipped with a fuel filter with a water sepa-
rator, the instrument panel may display the
following warning:  Water in the
fuel filter. If this is the case, take the
vehicle to a specialised workshop so that
they can drain the fuel filter. CAUTION
● The v ehic

le is not designed for the use of
FAME fuel (biodiesel). The fuel system would
be damaged if you used biodiesel.
● Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called
“thinners”, petro
l or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
neces
sary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance Programme. We recommend having this done
by
a s

pecialised workshop. If water is allowed
to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
performance problems. Natural gas
Natural gas can be compressed or in liquid
form, a
d

dition to others.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the result of
heavy cooling of natural gas. Therefore its
volume is considerably reduced compared
with compressed natural gas (CNG). In vehi-
cles with a natural gas engine, liquefied nat-
ural gas cannot be directly refilled, as the gas
would expand excessively in the vehicle gas
tank.
Therefore, vehicles with a natural gas engine
must only be refuelled using compressed
natural gas ››› .
Nat ur
a

l gas quality and consumption
Natural gas is divided into the groups H and
L depending on its quality.
Gas type H has a superior heating power and
inferior nitrogen and carbon dioxide content
than type L. The higher the heating power of the natural gas, the lower the consumption
wil

l be.
However, the heating power and the propor-
tion of nitrogen and carbon dioxide can fluc-
tuate within the quality groups. Therefore, ve-
hicle consumption can also vary when using
a single type of gas only.
The engine management automatically
adapts to the natural gas used according to
its quality. Therefore, different quality gases
can be mixed in the tank, without the need
for comprehensive draining before applying a
different quality gas.
Updated information relating to natural gas
quality is displayed on the instrument panel
›››  page 36.
Natural gas and safety
If you can smell gas or suspect that there is a
leak ››› :
● Stop the vehicle immediately.
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the doors to appropriately ventilate
the v
ehic

le.
● Extinguish cigarettes immediately.
● Move away from the vehicle or switch off
obj
ects that may cause sparks or a fire. 1)
Valid for the market: Algeria.
268

Checking and refilling levels
● If
y
ou continue to smell gas, do not contin-
ue driving!
● Seek specialist assistance. Have the fault
repair
ed.
Regular checks of the natural gas system
The natural gas tanks may be damaged or
corroded by external factors. The walls of the
gas tanks are weakened by deformations,
damage or corrosion. As a result, the tanks
could burst and result in serious injuries or
even death. For this reason, the vehicle own-
er must have a specialised workshop check
(visual check) the gas system every 4 years
at least . The vehicle owner must have a spe-
cialised workshop replace the natural gas
tanks before they reach the end of their serv-
ice life. For further information about the
service life of gas tanks, go to a SEAT dealer
service or a specialised workshop WARNING
Failure to act when you can smell gas in the
vehic l

e or when refuelling can cause serious
injuries.
● Carry out the necessary operations.
● Leave the danger zone.
● If necessary, warn the emergency services. WARNING
The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
nat ur

al gas (LNG) and this fuel must not be added under any circumstances. Liquefied
nat
ur

al gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury. WARNING
Damaged, corroded or rusted tanks can result
in seriou s injur

y or even death.
● Have the natural gas deposits checked at
lea
st every 4 years (visual check).
● Natural gas tanks have a limited service
life. Have the n
atural gas tanks replaced
when required. You can obtain further infor-
mation about this at SEAT dealers or special-
ised workshops. WARNING
If the vehicle underbody touches the ground
or in the event of

a rear collision, there could
be damage to the natural gas tanks.
● Check whether there is a smell of gas.
● If you notice a smell of gas, take the vehicle
to a spec
ialised workshop immediately and
have the natural gas system checked. Note
Have the natural gas system checked regular-
ly b y

a specialised workshop, according to
the Maintenance Programme. 269
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Engine oil Gener a
l
notesThe engine comes with a special, multi-grade
oil
th

at 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.
The specifications (VW standards) set out in
the following page should appear on the con-
tainer of the service oil; when the container
displays the specific standards for petrol and
diesel engines together, it means that the oil
can be used for both types of engines.
We recommend that the oil change indicated
in the Maintenance Programme, be per-
formed by a technical service or specialised
workshop.
The correct oil specifications for your engine
are listed in the ›››
 page 60, Engine oil
specifications.
Service intervals
Service intervals can be flexible (LongLife
service) or fixed (dependent on time/dis-
tance travelled).
If the PR code that appears on the back of the
Maintenance Programme booklet is PR QI6, this means that your vehicle has the LongLife
serv
ic

e programmed. If it lists the codes QI1,
QI2, QI3, QI4 or QI7, the interval service is
dependent on time/distance travelled.
Flexible service intervals (LongLife service
intervals*)
Special oils and processes have been devel-
oped which, depending on the characteris-
tics and individual driving profiles, enable
the extension of the oil change service (Long-
Life service intervals).
Because this oil is essential for extending the
service intervals, it must only be used ob-
serving the following indications:
● Avoid mixing it with oil for fixed service in-
terv
als.
● Only in exceptional circumstances, if the
engine oil
level is too low ››› page 273 and
LongLife oil is not available, it is permitted to
top up (once) with oil for fixed service inter-
vals ›››
 page 60 (up to a maximum of 0.5
litres).
Fixed service intervals*
If your vehicle does not have the “LongLife
service interval” or it has been disabled (by
request), you may use oils for fixed service
intervals, which also appear in
›››  page 60, Engine oil specifications
. In
this case, your vehicle must be serviced after
a fixed interval of 1 year/15,000 km (10,000 miles)(whatever comes first)
›››
Booklet
Maintenance Programme.
● In exceptional circumstances, if the engine
oil l
evel is too low ››› page 273 and you can-
not obtain the oil specified for your vehicle,
you can add a small quantity of oil conform-
ing to the specification ACEA A2 or ACEA A3
(petrol engines) or ACEA B3 or ACEA B4 (die-
sel engines) (up to 0.5 l).
Vehicles with diesel particulate filter*
The Maintenance Programme states whether
your vehicle is fitted with a diesel particulate
filter.
Only VW 507 00 engine oil, with reduced ash
formation, may be used in diesel engines
equipped with particulate filter. Using other
types of oil will cause a higher soot concen-
tration and reduce the life of the DPF. There-
fore:
● Avoid mixing this oil with other engine oils.
● Only in exceptional circumstances, if the
engine oil
level is too low ››› page 273,
Checking engine oil level and you cannot ob-
tain the oil specified for your vehicle, you can
use a small quantity of oil (once) conforming
to the VW 506 00, VW 506 01, VW 505 00,
VW 505 01 or ACEA B3/ACEA B4 specification
(up to 0.5 l).
272

Advice
CAUTION
If the oil level is above area ››› Fig. 248 A , do
not s t
art the engine. This could result in dam-
age to the engine and catalytic converter.
Contact a specialised workshop. For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above area
›› ›

Fig. 248 A . Otherwise oil can be drawn in
through the c r
ankcase breather and escape
into the atmosphere via the exhaust system. Note
Before a long trip, we recommend finding an
engine oi l

that conforms to the correspond-
ing VW specifications and recommend keep-
ing it in the vehicle. This way, the correct en-
gine oil will always be available for a top-up if
needed. Changing engine oil
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 59.
The engine oil must be changed at the inter-
vals given in the service schedule.
We recommend that you have the engine oil
changed by a Technical Service.
The oil change intervals are shown in the
Maintenance Programme. 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 270.
● 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
● Bec au

se of disposal problems and the spe-
cial tools and specialist knowledge required,
we recommend that you have the engine oil
and filter changed by a Technical Service.
● Never pour oil down drains or into the
ground. ●
Use a s uit

able container when draining the
used oil. It must be large enough to hold all
the engine oil. Cooling system
Top pin

g up coolant Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 60
Top up coolant when the level is below the
MIN (minimum) mark.
Checking coolant level
– Park the vehicle in a horizontal position.
– Switch the ignition off.
– Read off the coolant level on coolant ex-
pan s

ion tank. When the engine is cold, the
coolant level should be between the marks.
When the engine is hot, it may be slightly
above the upper mark.
Topping up coolant
– Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the coolant expansion tank cap with
a cloth and car

efully unscrew it to the left
››› .
– Top up the coolant only if there is still cool-
ant in the e xp

ansion tank, otherwise you
274