This is my first post in the garage, so I'm sure I'll get some flak for this question. My girlfriend's 2000 Jetta's coolant light keeps on coming on, so I looked in the little manual to see if it said anything about the type of coolant to use. Most coolants are pretty generic right? If you use a different one then what you currently have, to be safe if you dont want to mix them you could just flush your coolant and use the new one.

But the Jetta had all these warnings about some G 12 A8D additive that they use, and to not mix coolants, and that the Jetta has a sealed coolant system that if the light comes on you probably have leak and should see a Jetta dealer immediately to get the proper coolant. Are they just saying all that crap to get you to shell out cash to the dealer, or should I really only use their special VW coolant?

I only ask because my car didn't have these warnings, it basically said if your light comes on check for a leak and/or add some more, dummy.

9/22/2005 11:48:50 AM

Yes new VW's use the G12 fluid and it should not be mixed with other coolants, especially the regular green stuff. You almost never be able to flush all the coolant out. Stick with the G12.

You can get it at the dealer or some other local sources

9/22/2005 11:54:37 AM

you should only use VW coolant. other kinds will have silicates, conflicting chemicals, etc...

actually you can get G12 at other places (euro shops), but unless someone on here knows where you can get some cheaper, the dealer is the best bet.

btw. all auto coolant systems are sealed.

9/22/2005 11:55:01 AM

Cool thanks for the info... glad I didn't try to dump something else in there. We'll go by the dealership today. Hopefully they will just sell you the coolant and not make you let them put it in.

Other than basic maintenence I don't know much about cars so I didn't know that all coolant systems are sealed. They mentioned it like it was a special feature or something. Thanks again.

9/22/2005 12:00:08 PM

the will sell coolant to you in a bottle. its like 10 bucks for 1.5L, which should be mixed 50/50 with water.

9/22/2005 12:14:18 PM

There's nothing wrong with using straight water in the summer.

9/22/2005 12:15:30 PM

well other than the fact that the 50/50 mix has a higher boiling point and will work more efficiently

no there is nothing wrong with it

9/22/2005 12:17:09 PM

water is cheaper.

9/22/2005 12:38:07 PM

why would they make you pay them to put the coolant in?

REMEMBER: distilled water only.

9/22/2005 12:57:29 PM

an occasional low coolant is a pretty common "issue." the light will come STOP LOW COOLANT. you look its just below minimum.. then you add half a glass of water and its good to go. its happened to most ppl i know w/ VWs. it normally happens in the beginning of winter when its cold and it contracts, but who knows.

so in short, add some water and see how it goes before going to the dealer

9/22/2005 1:17:45 PM

Quote :

"why would they make you pay them to put the coolant in?"

More money?

Well when I moved to Virginia you need a front license plate as well as one on the rear of your car. I went to the dealership and the thing was $20 and they wanted $40 to "install" it. Dealerships always try to milk you for more money... so I just figured if I could only get at a VW dealership, why wouldn't they want to make you pay for them changing it as well.

[Edited on September 22, 2005 at 1:19 PM. Reason : .]

9/22/2005 1:18:50 PM

^dude, just put some water in it. It'll run fine.

9/22/2005 1:23:27 PM

yeah, I got my answer 10 posts ago. I'll put some water and/or vw coolant in it. not sure why its still being discussed

9/22/2005 1:27:12 PM

JUST PUT SOEM WATER IN IT, GAWWWWWWWSH

9/22/2005 1:42:37 PM

put water in it.. should be ok.

9/22/2005 2:14:35 PM

9/22/2005 4:42:06 PM