2015 Passat TDI coolant question

BKmetz

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2015 Passat, titanium beige, 6MT
I found this gem on the internet and pounced on it. I got a very good deal and of course the great extended warranty.


The car has more power than my 2014 does and so far I'm getting at least the same mileage and probably more. I'll have a better idea on the mileage after a few weeks of driving.

While poking under the hood getting familiar with the CVCA engine, I noticed the coolant overflow bottle says G12.


G12?! I thought VW switched to G13 years ago. Did VW really switch back to G12 in 2015?

I don't have a problem with G12 and am glad that's the stated coolant to use. I think G13 is unstable when overheated and is causing the clogged heater core issues on the Passats with the CRKA engine.

Anyone else notice this?

:confused:
 
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turbobrick240

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Nov 18, 2014
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maine
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2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
I think VW just had a surplus of the older coolant bottles with the G12 markings. Almost positive it has G13 coolant inside. Not that it really much matters since they are both compatible with each other.
 

jrm

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Jul 24, 2013
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Oregon
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2013 Passat SE with nav (totaled)
maybe they feel the organic property's of the G13 may have caused some of the clogged heater core issues? I know early NMS passats that came with 12 didn't seem to have this issue
 

BKmetz

Administrator, Member #10
Staff member
Joined
Sep 25, 1997
Location
Illinois
TDI
2015 Passat, titanium beige, 6MT
maybe they feel the organic property's of the G13 may have caused some of the clogged heater core issues? I know early NMS passats that came with 12 didn't seem to have this issue
Tell me about it. I had two heater cores replaced under the extended warranty on my 2014.

:rolleyes:
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
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Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
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2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
My '11 golf has the same bottle despite coming filled with G12++. From what I understand G12++ and G13 have the same chemical properties. G13 is just supposed to use a portion of more environmentally friendly feedstock(glycerin) to make the end product.
 

BKmetz

Administrator, Member #10
Staff member
Joined
Sep 25, 1997
Location
Illinois
TDI
2015 Passat, titanium beige, 6MT
My '11 golf has the same bottle despite coming filled with G12++. From what I understand G12++ and G13 have the same chemical properties. G13 is just supposed to use a portion of more environmentally friendly feedstock(glycerin) to make the end product.
It's my understanding that it's the glycerin/glyserol content of G12++ and G13 that can't take the high heat of the EGR cooler, breaks down, and then plugs up the heater core.
 

turbobrick240

Top Post Dawg
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Nov 18, 2014
Location
maine
TDI
2011 vw golf tdi(gone to greener pastures), 2001 ford f250 powerstroke
I didn't particularly like the idea of glycerin in the coolant either. So when I did my timing belt job last year I got the G12++, which has a straight ethylene glycol base. Apparently VW has been using G13 as the factory coolant since '09. You'd think they would have used up the old expansion bottles or retooled the production line to label them G13 by now.
 
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thundershorts

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Jul 15, 2010
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west chester pa
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2015 passat tdi sel premium 2015 golf s tdi gls tdi b5.5, 2002 eurovan,Peugeot 505 td,Citroen cx25 prestige
my 2015 passat sel has g12 but my 2015 golf hs g13 I think.
 

740GLE

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Aug 19, 2009
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NH
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2015 Passat SEL, 2017 Alltrack SE; BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat,
I'll check our '15 Passat.
 
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