2018 Seat Ateca coolant level

The essentials
Ignition:  Do not carry on
driving! Engine coolant level
too low, coolant temperature
too high
››› page
302
Flashing: Fault in the engine
coolant system.  
Do not continue driving!
Engine oil pressure too low. If
the warning lamp flashes,
stop driving, even if the oil
level is correct. Do not even
run the engine at idle speed!
››› page
300 
Fault in the battery.›››
page
305 
Driving light totally or partially
faulty.›››
page
106
Fault in the cornering light
system.››› page
148 
Diesel particulate filter
blocked›››
page
205 
Level of windscreen washer
fluid too low.›››
page
153 
Flashing: Fault in the oil level
detection. Control manually.
›››
page
300
Ignition: Insufficient engine
oil. 
Fault in the gearbox.›››
page
200 
Light Assist on.›››
page
146 
it lights up white:
Hill Descent
Control (HDC) is active.
it lights up grey: Hill Descent
Control (HDC) is not active.
The system is switched on, but
is not adjusting.
››› page
210 
Immobiliser active.›››
page
133 
Service interval display›››
page 43 
Mobile telephone is connec-
ted via Bluetooth to the origi-
nal telephone device.
›››
Booklet
Audio or
navigation
system 
Mobile telephone battery
charge meter. Available only
for devices pre-installed in fac-
tory.

Freezing warning. The outside
temperature is lower than
+4°C (+39°F).›››
page 41 
Start-Stop system activated.›››
page
208 
Start-Stop system unavailable.

Low consumption driving sta-
tus›››
page
116 
›››
page 115 On the instrument panel
Fig. 53
Warning lamp for disabling the front
p a
s

senger airbag. 

Front passenger front airbag is
disabled (  
 ).
››› page
89 

The front passenger front airbag
is activated (  
 ).
››› page
89 
››› in Activation and deactivation of
front passenger airbag* on page 89
››› page 88 48

The essentials
Engine oil specificationsEngine typeFlexible service (LongLife)Set Service (dependent on time/distance travel- led)
Petrol enginesVW 508 00
VW 504 00 a)VW 504 00
Engines with particulate filter (DPF) b)VW 507 00VW 507 00
Diesel engines without particulate filter (DPF)–VW 505 01c)
VW 506 01 c)
a)
Use of engine oil compliant with the VW 504 00 specification instead of VW 508 00 may have a slight negative effect on the vehicle’s exhaust gas values.
b) Only use recommended oils, otherwise you may damage the engine.
c) If the quality of the fuel available in the country does not fulfil the EN 228 (for petrol) and EN 590 (for diesel) standards.
››› in Changing engine oil on page 302
››› page 300 Coolant
Fig. 63
Engine compartment: coolant expan-
s ion t
ank

cap. The coolant tank is located in the engine
c
omp
ar

tment ›››
 page 298.
When the engine is cold, replace the coolant
when the level is below . Coolant specifications
The engine coo

ling system is supplied from
the factory with a specially treated mixture of
water and at least 40 % of the additive G13
(TL-VW 774 J), purple. This mixture gives the
necessary frost protection down to -25°C
(-13°F) and protects the light alloy parts of
the engine cooling system against corrosion.
It also prevents scaling and considerably rai-
ses the boiling point of the coolant.
To protect the cooling system, the percentage
of additive must always be at least 40 %,
even in warm climates where anti-freeze pro-
tection is not required.
If for weather reasons further protection is
necessary, the proportion of additive may be 58

The essentials
increased, but only up to 60 %; otherwise an-
tifr eez
e pr
otection will diminish and this will
worsen cooling.
When the coolant is topped up, use a mixture
of distilled water and at least 40 % of the
G13 or G12 plus-plus (TL-VW 774 G) additive
(both are purple) to obtain an optimum anti-
corrosion protection ››› in Topping up cool-
ant on p ag
e 303

. The mixture of G13 with
G12 plus (TL-VW 774 F), G12 (red) or G11
(green-blue) engine coolants will significant-
ly reduce anti-corrosion protection and
should therefore be avoided ››› in Topping
up c oo
l

ant on page 303.

››› in Topping up coolant on page 303
››› page 302 Brake fluid
Fig. 64
Engine compartment: brake fluid res-
er v
oir c

ap. The brake fluid reservoir is located in the en-
gine c
omp
ar

tment ›››
 page 298
.
The level should be between the  and 
marks. If it is below , please visit a Techni-
cal Service.

››› in Top up brake fluid on page 304
››› page 303 Windscreen washer
Fig. 65
In the engine compartment: wind-
s c
r

een washer reservoir top. The windscreen washer reservoir is located in
the en
gine c
omp

artment ›››
 page 298.
To top up, mix water with a product recom-
mended by SEAT.
In cold temperatures, add anti-freeze.

››› in Checking and topping up the
windscreen washer reservoir on
page 304
››› page 304 Battery
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment

›
›

›  page 298. It does not require » 59

Operation
The coolant temperature gauge only works
when the ignition i s
sw
itched on ››› Fig. 121.
In order to avoid engine damage, please read
the following notes for the different tempera-
ture ranges.
Engine cold
If only the diodes in the lower part of the
scale light up, this indicates that the engine
has not yet reached operating temperature.
Avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and
do not make the engine work hard.
Normal temperature
If in normal operations, the diodes light up
until the central zone, it means that the en-
gine has reached operating temperature. At
high outside temperatures and when making
the engine work hard, the diodes may contin-
ue lighting up and reach the upper zone. This
is no cause for concern, provided the control
lamp  does not light up on the instrument
panel digital display.
Heat range
When the diodes light up in the upper area of
the display and the control lamp appears 
on the instrument panel display, the coolant
temperature is excessive ››› page 302. CAUTION
● To en s

ure a long useful life for the engine,
avoid high revs, driving at high speed and
making the engine work hard for approxi-
mately the first 15 minutes when the engine
is cold. The phase until the engine is warm al-
so depends on the outside temperature. If
necessary, use the engine oil temperature*
›››  page 42 as a guide.
● Additional lights and other accessories in
front of
the air inlet reduce the cooling effect
of the coolant. At high outside temperatures
and high engine loads, there is a risk of the
engine overheating.
● The front spoiler also ensures proper distri-
bution of the c
ooling air when the vehicle is
moving. If the spoiler is damaged this can re-
duce the cooling effect, which could cause
the engine to overheat. Seek specialist assis-
tance. Fuel level
Fig. 122
Fuel gauge. The display
››
› Fig. 122 only works when the
ignition is switched on. When the display rea-
ches the reserve mark, the lower diode lights
up in red and the control lamp  appears
››› page 114. When the fuel level is very low,
the lower diode flashes in red.
The distance to empty fuel level is displayed
on the instrument panel 3
› ›
› Fig. 119
.
The capacity of the fuel tank of your vehicle is
given in the Technical data section
›››  page 56. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An ir-
re gu

lar fuel supply could cause misfiring. In
this way the unburned fuel can reach the ex-
haust system, which could cause the catalytic
converter to overheat resulting in damage. 118

Advice
Engine compartment Chec k
in
g levels Fig. 239
Diagram for the location of the various
elements. From time to time, the levels of the different
fluid
s
in the

vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant expansion tank
Engine oil dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath the cover)
Windscreen washer reservoir
1 2
3
4
5
6 The checking and refilling of service fluids
ar
e c
arried out
on the components men-
tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in ››› page 298.
Overview
You will find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of ››› page 317. Working in the engine compartment Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 17
Always be aware of the danger of injury and
scalding as well as the risk of accident or fire
when working in the engine compartment
(e.g. when checking and refilling fluids). Al-
ways observe the warnings listed below and
follow all general safety precautions. The en-
gine compartment of the vehicle is a poten-
tially hazardous area ››› .
298

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
● Swit c
h the engine off, remove the key from
the ignition and apply the hand brake. If the
vehicle has a manual gearbox, place the lever
in neutral; if it has an automatic gearbox,
place the selector lever in position P. Wait for
the engine to cool down.
● Keep children away from the engine com-
partment
.
● Never spill liquids used for vehicle opera-
tion on the engine comp
artment, as these
may catch fire (e.g. the antifreeze in coolant).
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electrica
l system, especially when working
on the battery.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember that, ev
en when the ignition is
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sul
ating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant ex-
pans
ion tank when the engine is hot. The
cooling system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering
the cap with a l
arge, thick rag to protect
against escaping coolant and steam.
● If it is necessary to work in the engine com-
partment
while the engine is running, the ro-
tating components (for example, poly-V belt, alternator, radiator fan) and the high voltage
ignition sys
t

em are an additional hazard.
● Observe the following additional warnings
if work
on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary:
– Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguish-
er immediately available. CAUTION
When topping up fluids make sure the correct
fluid is p

ut into the correct filler opening, oth-
erwise this can cause serious malfunctions or
engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle
re gu

larly so that any leaks are detected at an
early stage. If you find spots of oil or other
fluids in the area where it was parked, have
your vehicle inspected at the workshop. Note
In right-hand drive vehicles* some brake flu-
id re ser

voirs are on the other side of the en-
gine compartment ››› Fig. 239. Opening the bonnet
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 17
The bonnet is released from inside the vehi-
cle.
Check that the windscreen wiper arms are
not unfolded. Otherwise the paint may be
damaged.
The bonnet can only be unlocked when the
driver door is open. WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or
drips of

coolant being released from the en-
gine compartment. Failure to comply could
result in burns. Wait until no steam or coolant
can be seen before opening the bonnet. Closing the bonnet
–
Slightly lift the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay before pressing it
bac
k

into its support.
– Carefully close the bonnet.
– Press the bonnet down until it locks into
plac

e.
– Make sure that the bonnet catches onto its
cla

sp. Do not press down too hard ››› .
»
299
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
WARNING
Oil is highly inflammable! Ensure that no oil
come s
into contact with hot engine compo-
nents when topping up. CAUTION
If the oil level is above area ›››
Fig. 240 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. 240 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 57.
The engine oil must be changed at the inter-
vals given in the service schedule. We recommend that you have the engine oil
chan

ged 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 298.
● 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.
● U

se a suitable 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 58
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-
pans

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.
302

Checking and refilling levels
Topping up coolant
– Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the coolant expansion tank cap with
a c loth and c
ar
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
could damage the engine. If there is no
coolant in the expansion tank, do not con-
tinue driving. You should obtain professio- nal assistance ››› .
– If there is still some coolant in the expan-
sion t
ank, t

op up to the upper mark.
– Top up with coolant until the level becomes
stab

le.
– Screw the cap back on correctly.
Any lo
ss of coolant fluid normally indicates a
leak in the cooling system. Take the vehicle
straight to a specialised workshop to have
the cooling system examined. If there are no
leaks in the engine cooling system, a loss of
coolant can only occur if the coolant boils
and is forced out of the system as a result of
overheating. WARNING
● The coo lin

g system is under pressure. Do
not unscrew the cap on the coolant expan-
sion tank when the engine is hot: risk of
burns! ●
The antifreez e and c

oolant 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.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember that, ev
en when the ignition is
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury. WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant sys

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 outside temperature is very low,
the cool
ant 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
Do not top up the expansion tank with cool-
ant fluid if it

is empty! Air could enter the
cooling system. In this case, stop driving.
Seek specialist assistance. Otherwise, there
is a risk of engine damage. 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. 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, with respect to the environment. Brake fluid
Top up br
ak

e fluid Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 59
Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid level must be between the
MIN and MAX markings. »
303
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety