So my 2.0TDI 200 Sportline that I have had since April last year and that has now covered 9200 miles displayed a red coolant warning light last week, although it was pretty cold with iced up wndscreen etc (hooray for the heated screen!). I did think that the warning light might clear if the engine came up to temperature, but no joy on my 13 mile commute to work. But since then, nothing, no warning light. So I finally got round to opening the bonnet and checking the level and sure enough, it's about 10mm or so below the low level line, although there is plenty of fluid in the expansion tank, so don't think I've got a significant leak and I don't think I'm about to cook my engine either...!🤞
So I checked the PDF manual as to the spec of the coolant and it doesn't actually say - it states that the coolant specification will be displayed on the coolant system expansion tank. Only it isn't, not on my car. The only legend is the VAG part number which is stamped onto the side of the reservoir and then a symbol printed on the top that uses hieroglyphics to tell you to refer to the manual - very handy (not!)
It also warns that you must use the correct specification of coolant or it could result in a reduction in the anti-corrosion properties of the cooling system - rather alarmist and not very helpful when it doesn't tell you anywhere what the spec is!🤬🤬
This is the screen grab of the page in question, with the relevant paragraph displayed:
![Image]()
So I then turned to Google and found that not all coolants are the same and not all can be mixed together. Over the years it seems that VAG have moved from G11 (blue) through G12 (red), G12+, G12++ and G13 (the last 3 all purple/pink). Some can be mixed, but others not. So my question is whether anyone here knows for certain which type Skoda actually use from factory? I suspect it's G13, but I've also read here and elsewhere that it might be G12+ or even G12evo (not sure what the difference is)? It looks like I might need around 250ml or so to get it back in the range, so not a huge amount, but I don't want to just add water as it may not get changed for quite a while yet, so would prefer it to be the 'proper' stuff.
I found this website which has a table of which ones can be mixed - if the factory used G13 then I would need G13 or G12++:
VW: G12, G13 Mixing Factory Fill Engine Coolants
Any knowledgeable folk out there who could point me in the right direction? I'm tempted to ask my local dealer, but not sure they will actually have the full technical knowledge about the different specs of coolant and will just try to sell me whatever they have in stock.
So I checked the PDF manual as to the spec of the coolant and it doesn't actually say - it states that the coolant specification will be displayed on the coolant system expansion tank. Only it isn't, not on my car. The only legend is the VAG part number which is stamped onto the side of the reservoir and then a symbol printed on the top that uses hieroglyphics to tell you to refer to the manual - very handy (not!)
It also warns that you must use the correct specification of coolant or it could result in a reduction in the anti-corrosion properties of the cooling system - rather alarmist and not very helpful when it doesn't tell you anywhere what the spec is!🤬🤬This is the screen grab of the page in question, with the relevant paragraph displayed:
So I then turned to Google and found that not all coolants are the same and not all can be mixed together. Over the years it seems that VAG have moved from G11 (blue) through G12 (red), G12+, G12++ and G13 (the last 3 all purple/pink). Some can be mixed, but others not. So my question is whether anyone here knows for certain which type Skoda actually use from factory? I suspect it's G13, but I've also read here and elsewhere that it might be G12+ or even G12evo (not sure what the difference is)? It looks like I might need around 250ml or so to get it back in the range, so not a huge amount, but I don't want to just add water as it may not get changed for quite a while yet, so would prefer it to be the 'proper' stuff.
I found this website which has a table of which ones can be mixed - if the factory used G13 then I would need G13 or G12++:
VW: G12, G13 Mixing Factory Fill Engine Coolants
Any knowledgeable folk out there who could point me in the right direction? I'm tempted to ask my local dealer, but not sure they will actually have the full technical knowledge about the different specs of coolant and will just try to sell me whatever they have in stock.
