981 Coolant Level

[SkinnyPete]

Looking at the float under the coolant cap, it looks like mine is at the minimum level, but reading the manual it says only top up if the low coolant light warning is displayed on the dash.



I know cars don't use coolant they lose it, and I can't spot any leaks. Is it worth topping up?

[996TT02]

Should you check level hot or cold? If it is really at min, it will take a relatively small amount of coolant to top up the level in the expansion tank which volume can't be more than a small % of the total coolant volume. Just top up, why not. Any surplus gets pushed out.

[Pope]

As previous poster said the final top up in the header tank/filler neck is but a small % of the 25-28l system on 981's....

Top up with normal tap water (you wont trouble the concentration of the coolant); but slowly as the float is literally the last 250ml of the neck/tank. The float can exceed Max, so you want the top of the pin to be level with the Max marker and that is all.

To echo what you said already as far as the manufacturer is concerned if the light is not on the level is correct; if a car comes in for service 'hot' it can't be checked anyway (the system pressure would blast coolant out if the cap was released).