Volkswagen PASSAT 2013 Manual page 280

WARNING
Hot steam and hot engine coolant can cause serious burns.
Never open the hood if you see steam or coolant escaping from the engine compartment.
Always wait until you no longer see or hear steam or coolant escaping from the engine.
Always let the engine cool down completely before carefully opening the hood. Hot
components will burn skin on contact.
When the engine has cooled down and you are ready to open the hood:
– Firmly apply the parking brake and shift the transmission into Park (P) (automatic) or
Neutral (manual only).
– Take the vehicle key out of the ignition.
– On vehicles with Keyless Access, make sure that the remote control vehicle key is out
of range of the vehicle and that the vehicle cannot be started by depressing the starter
button ⇒ p age 227.
– Always keep children and others away from the engine compartment and never leave
them unsupervised.
The engine coolant system is under pressure when the engine is hot. Never unscrew the
coolant expansion tank cap when the engine is hot. Hot coolant can spray out and cause
severe burns and other serious injuries.
– Turn the cap slowly and very carefully in a counterclockwise direction while applying
light downward pressure on the top of the cap.
– Always protect your face, hands, and arms from hot escaping coolant or steam by
covering the cap with a large, thick rag.
Never spill fluids on the engine or exhaust system when refilling. Spilling fluids onto hot
parts of the engine or exhaust system can cause a fire. Under some conditions, the ethylene
glycol in engine coolant can catch fire.
NOTICE
Use distilled water only when adding coolant! All other types of water contain chemical
compounds that can cause extensive corrosion damage to the engine. This can even lead to
engine failure. If you have added non-distilled water, take the vehicle immediately to an
authorized Volkswagen dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility to have the
coolant system drained, flushed, and refilled completely with the proper coolant.
Refill engine coolant only up to the top edge of the marked fill range . Excess engine
coolant may be forced out of the engine cooling system when it gets hot and cause damage.
In the case of significant engine coolant loss, refill engine coolant only when the engine is
completely cooled down. Significant engine coolant loss is a sign of leaks in the cooling
system. Have the engine cooling system checked immediately by an authorized Volkswagen
dealer or an authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Otherwise the engine may be damaged!
When changing or topping off operating fluids, make sure that you pour the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Serious malfunctions and engine damage can result if you pour operating
fluids into the wrong reservoir.