Keep VW Repair Cost Way Down-III

Coolant: Radiator fluid, or coolant, is the most important part of your VW's cooling system, which protects your engine from overheating. Low coolant can lead to a breakdown and expensive repairs.

Here are the steps to follow to add coolant to a newer-model car (1970 and after):

1. Note that only much older models of cars (pre-1970s) require you to add coolant directly to the radiator. Newer vehicles feature a reservoir (expansion tank) that you can access anytime. Beware: Some German and Swedish cars (and others) have a reservoir that's under pressure (pressure cap on the tank vs. a flip-off type plastic top) and these should not be opened when the engine is hot. If you're driving an older model car, see the steps below for older models.

2. Look for the plastic reservoir tank, which should at least be holding some residue of coolant (normally green, although there are also red versions available on the market). It's often labeled, is near the radiator and has a hose leading to the radiator. The hose to the radiator is the tip off that you aren't pouring coolant into your windshield wiper reservoir.

3. Unscrew the cap and add coolant to the "Full" line. Coolant is a 50-50 mixture of purified (not tap and not distilled) water and antifreeze/coolant. Do not add straight water if the reservoir is completely empty as this can cause your car to overheat.

Make sure to check your owner's manual to see if your car is required to use a coolant specifically formulated for VWs.

If your VW is overheating and the reservoir is under pressure, don't try to remove the reservoir cap. You could be seriously burned.

Here are the steps to follow to add coolant to an older model car (pre-1970s):

1. Make sure the engine is cool before adding coolant directly to the radiator. If the car has been running recently, wait at least half an hour before unscrewing the radiator cap.

2. Find the radiator cap at the very front of the engine near the hood latch.

3. Rotate and remove the cap using a rag. When in doubt about whether it's safe to unscrew the cap, use several rags and unscrew the lid slowly. If your car is overheating, don't try to remove the radiator cap. You could be seriously burned.

4. Look into the radiator. If the fluid doesn't reach the radiator's top just below the opening for the cap, add coolant. As with the newer-model cars, be sure to check your owner's manual in case your car requires a coolant specifically formulated for VWs.

Coolant is poisonous but that won't stop pets from drinking it. It tastes sweet to them. Don't leave it lying around and be sure to clean up any spills.

As with many of the other fluids in your VW, coolant does not get "used up". If the reservoir or radiator is low, chances are your car may have a leak that needs to be checked out.

You may want to read Volkswagen maintenance http://www.volkspares.co.uk/Shop/Volkswagen_type_1_car_parts_maintenance.html

You may also want to check out The Classic Air Cooled history

http://www.volkspares.co.uk/Shop/classic_air_cooled_new.html

Volkspares - specialists in Volkswagen spares, Air cooled spares, Type 1 spares, Beetle spares,
Type 2 spares, Camper Spares, Volkswagen Service, Water cooled spares.

Keep VW Repair Cost Way Down-II

Here are the steps to follow to check your VW's brake fluid:

1. Find the brake master cylinder. This is usually located under the hood on the driver's side of the car, toward the back of the engine compartment. Imagine where your brake pedal would end up if it went all the way through to the engine. The brake master cylinder is a small (about 6 by 2 inches), rectangular piece of metal with a plastic reservoir and a rubber cap on top, with small metal tubes leading from it.

2. Check your owner's manual if you aren't sure that you've found the master cylinder. The rubber cap will usually read "Use only DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid from a sealed container."

3. Note that on most newer-model cars the reservoir is translucent and you can see the fluid level without removing the cap. There will be a "Full" line - the brake fluid should be at this line.

4. In older cars (pre-1980), the brake master cylinder reservoir may be made entirely of metal so you must take the top off to check the fluid level. The top is held on by a metal clamp - use a screwdriver to pop off the clamp and lift the lid.

5. Add brake fluid to the "Full" line. If the reservoir has two parts, fill both halves. Use the correct brake fluid for your VW. Check the rubber cap and your owner's manual to find out what grade of brake fluid your car requires. Most cars use DOT (Department of Transportation) 3 or 4.

Brake fluid is very toxic. Keep it away from hands and eyes and avoid spilling it on the ground. Dispose of empty containers carefully and be especially careful not to spill brake fluid on your car's paint. Always wash your hands well after handling brake fluid.

If the brake master cylinder is empty, the brake pedal will go to the floor. If this is the case, you will have to bleed the brakes in addition to adding fluid. It's probably best to see your VW mechanic, who will be able to flush and refill the braking system. Never drive a car that has run out of brake fluid until bleeding the brakes!

You may want to read volkswagen maintenance http://www.volkspares.co.uk/Shop/volkswagen_information.html

You may also want to check out The Classic Air Cooled history

http://www.volkspares.co.uk/Shop/classic_air_cooled_new.html

Volkspares - specialists in Volkswagen spares, Air cooled spares, Type 1 spares, Beetle spares,
Type 2 spares, Camper Spares, Volkswagen Service, Water cooled spares.

Keep VW Repair Cost Way Down

The days of the full-service gas station are gone, and modern cars can go 30,000 miles or more without a tune-up. So it's up to YOU to check the little things before they become big, expensive problems by checking under the hood of your VW on a regular basis.

Following these simple monthly checks will alert you to potential problems that can be dealt with before you get stranded or end up paying for expensive auto repairs.

Check Your VW's Fluids

First a word of caution on fluids - particularly for import cars. Car manufacturer's are required to specify in their owner's manuals all the fluids to be used in your VW and the manufacturer's OE specifications for each. Make sure to check here first - BEFORE adding any fluids to your VW.

It is also required that OE oils and coolants must be mixable with "off the shelf" products to allow for emergency service. It may not be the best thing for your engine long-term, but you can add plain old 30W oil to $5 a quart synthetics and the same goes for coolants and water.

On the other hand, however, are the hydraulic oils (i.e., power steering, brake fluid, transmission fluid, differential/axle, etc.). These must be at certain specifications for viscosity and liquid type (petroleum vs. mineral vs. synthetic). Hence, it's critical that you know what products to be adding to your VW according to the specifications given in your owner's manual.

Oil: Check the oil when the engine is warm. Oil expands when it's hot and contracts when it's cold; different temperatures will give you different readings.

Here are the steps to follow to check your VW's oil:

1. Park the car on a level surface.

2. Turn off the engine. It's best to wait at least 10 minutes to give the oil a chance to drain down into the crankcase. Otherwise, you might think you're as much as a quart low when you're not.

3. Open your hood.

4. Find the dipstick - a long piece of metal sticking out of the engine usually located near the spark plugs with a loop at one end . Many dipsticks now have a "T" handle or are incorporated into the fill cap. If you don't find the loop, look for these.

5. Pull on the loop and draw the dipstick all the way out.

6. Wipe the oil off the dipstick with a paper towel or shop rag.

7. Replace the clean dipstick, making sure to push it all the way in; then pull it back out and hold it horizontally in front of you.

8. Look at the pointed end of the dipstick. If the oil on the dipstick is below the line marked "full", add a small amount of oil (less than a quarter of a quart) with a funnel. Many dipsticks simply have two lines with a cross hatch design in between. The oil level should be halfway between these two lines.

9. Add oil by unscrewing the oil filler cap, which is about 3 inches in diameter and is located on the very top of the engine.

10. Check the oil level with the dipstick after adding oil. Add more if necessary. It's easy to add more oil but difficult to remove oil if you add too much so add slowly and continue rechecking.

11. Put the oil filler cap back on and secure it tightly.

It's best to always keep two quarts of oil in your car. Your owner's manual will tell you what type of motor oil your engine requires and this may vary on the season/weather. If you're in a pinch or you only need to add a little, it's okay to mix types - for example, 10W-40 with 10W-30.

The oil lubricating system is a closed system. This means that the oil does not get "used up" or go anywhere. If it's consistently low, there may be an oil leak. Leaks always get worse, and losing all the engine oil will require expensive repairs and/or replacing the engine. Make sure to further investigate (on your own or with the help of a qualified VW mechanic) if your car seems to have an oil leak.

You may want to read volkswagen maintenance http://www.volkspares.co.uk/Shop/volkswagen_information.html

You may also want to check out The Classic Air Cooled history

http://www.volkspares.co.uk/Shop/classic_air_cooled_new.html

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