Topping up coolant & Oil

[TravellingChick]

Moving on from yesterday's question I now know I need to top up both coolant and oil.

The last service info I have goes back several years and just says Anti-Freeze so I have no idea what's in there.

I can't drain it myself for various reasons so I guess I'll have to book it in for a service at the local VW Dealer (ouch!) but in the meantime I need to top up both.

Every time I wiki OIL it crashes but I did read about the various colours of coolant and so on and now I'm a tad concerned about what and where to buy what I need to get me thru the next couple of weeks.

Thanks in advance, I know that these are probably dumb and tedious questions but I'm at the bottom of a very steep learning curve!

Sarah

[Red Westie]

It's the spring so no chance of a proper freeze happening (I mean sustained day/night temps several degrees below zero) so as you are taking the van in for servicing in the next few weeks just top up with water......half to 1 litre or so of water just isn't really going to weaken off 18 litres of coolant in total, to a worrying degree.
Similarly...for the oil....any oil cheapo multigrade for a topup...Tesco's etc is good enough to get you over the next few weeks (Obviously better quality when refilling)
Martin

[TravellingChick]

Thanks Martin.

I just rang the guy I bought it off and he did a complete coolant and oil change before I bought it so that's a relief! Also means a water top up should suffice for now as you say.

He said ordinary blue anti-freeze would be fine and GTX oil in the white can altho he said Quantam was better but I'll struggle to source that quickly.

Thanks again.
Sarah

[Red Westie]

Nice one...thats saved you a few quid.

Here is some interesting info on the difference in antifreeze types....

http://www.bluecol.co.uk/index.cfm?page=75" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TravellingChick]

A bonus indeed!

I have now topped up with anti-freeze and oil. Poured it all over the bumper whilst I was about it but feel stupidly pleased with myself for doing it!

I really do enjoy tinkering with small jobs, used to do all my bike oil changes etc so am looking forward to getting that Haynes manual and having a go.

At least my daughter is happy to fling herself around inside the van whilst I get on with jobs.

We had an earnest conversation today because she saw a T25 and I didn't so she was thoroughly describing it to me and telling me "it wasn't a tin top or a high top mummy, it was a pop top just like Tink." She's only 3yrs old god love her!

[Pepperami]

Well done I remember filling the oil in Hannover, oil all over the forecourt. Well i didn't know the oil filler extended. We all learn and thankfully i have come a long way since.

[seasider]

you must have long arms peps

[TravellingChick]

Thanks Pep! I remembered half way thru that the filler extended but I think a funnel might be a good accessory to invest in too LOL.

For many reasons that are too mundane to anyone else life is proving a real challenge at the moment. Buying Tink was probably the wrong thing to do on paper but she's a lifeline to normality for us now and I really really want to look after her.

I was so stressed this morning, a long trip ahead tomorrow and I KNEW she needed oil and coolant. I'm just chuffed I sorted it even tho it's a small thing.

Thanks to the forum for humouring a novice, I do appreciate it.

Sarah

[Pepperami]

Seasider i was there for the birthday bash mate

Keep going chick you doin fine. there is no ryhme nor reason.