Cooling System, Draining and Filling
COOLING SYSTEM, DRAINING AND FILLING
Draining
WARNING: The cooling system is pressurized when the engine is warm. When opening the expansion tank, wear gloves and other appropriate protection, cover the cap with a cloth and open carefully to relieve system pressure slowly.
- Open coolant expansion tank cap.
- Remove noise insulation panel.
- Place VAG1306 drip tray underneath engine.
- With bumper removed, open coolant drain plug (arrow) on lower left of radiator by turning it counterclockwise. If necessary, attach accessory hose to connection.
- With bumper installed, pull off retaining clamp for lower right radiator hose (from radiator to engine) and disconnect radiator hose from radiator.
CAUTION: Follow disposal regulations for coolant.
- Drain engine coolant at drain plug (arrow).
Filling
Note:
- Only use coolant additive G 12 (according to TL VW 7745 D). G 12 is red in color.
- Do not mix G 12 with any other coolant additive!
- If the fluid in expansion tank is brown, G 12 has been mixed with other coolant. In this case, the coolant must flushed and replaced.
- "G 12" and coolant additives marked in accordance with "TL VW 774 D" prevent frost and corrosion damage, scaling and also raise the boiling point of the coolant. Therefore, the cooling system must be filled year round with frost and corrosion protection additives.
- A higher boiling point improves engine reliability under heavy load particularly in countries with tropical climates.
- Frost protection additives protect against frost to about -25°C (about -35°C in arctic climates).
- The coolant concentration must not be reduced by adding water even in warmer seasons and in warmer countries. The anti-freeze ratio must be at least 40%.
- If for climatic reasons greater frost protection is required, the amount of G 12 can be increased, but only up to 60% (frost protection to about -40°C), otherwise frost protection and cooling effectiveness will be reduced.
- If the radiator heat exchanger cylinder head or cylinder head gasket is replaced, completely replace the engine coolant.
Test coolant frost protection using T10007 special tool.
Recommended mixture ratios
- Replace coolant drain plug O-ring and install coolant drain plug into engine.
Tightening torque: 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.).
- Install lower right coolant hose and secure with retaining clip.
- Secure coolant drain valve to radiator.
- Screw VAG1274/9 onto expansion tank and insert VAG1274/10 into adapter.
- Loosen clamp on coolant hose on heater core and pull back hose until bleeder hole in coolant hose (arrow) is no longer sealed by connection.
- Top off coolant until it flows out from bleeder hole in coolant hose.
- Push coolant hose onto connection and tighten.
- Loosen bleeder screw on lower coolant line (arrow) under expansion tank (if necessary, unbolt expansion tank).
- Top off coolant until it flows out from bleeder screw.
- Close bleeder screw and tighten to 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.).
- Loosen bleeder screw on front coolant line (arrow) between power steering pump and left-side of cylinder head.
- Top off coolant until it flows out from bleeder hole in coolant line.
- Close bleeder screw and tighten to 20 Nm (15 ft. lbs.).
- Top up coolant to MAX mark.
- Install coolant expansion tank cap.
- Set heater controls to maximum heat position.
- Start engine and let run at idle for approximately 10 minutes.
- Raise engine speed to approximately 2000 rpm for approximately 5 minutes.
- Allow engine to idle until lower coolant hose on radiator is hot.
- Check coolant level and top-off if necessary. When engine is at normal operating temperature, coolant level must be on MAX mark. When engine is cold, coolant level must be between MIN and MAX marks.
WARNING: The cooling system is pressurized when the engine is warm. When opening the expansion tank, wear gloves and other appropriate protection, cover the cap with a cloth and open carefully to relieve system pressure slowly.