Coolant

Coolant


Antifreeze is an ethylene glycol based coolant and is harmful if swallowed or inhaled. If swallowed, drink two glasses of water and induce vomiting. If inhaled, move to a fresh air area. Seek medical attention immediately. Do not store in open or unmarked containers. Wash skin and clothing thoroughly after coming in contact with ethylene glycol. Keep out of the reach of children. Dispose of glycol base coolant properly, contact your dealer or government agency for location of collection center in your area. Do not open a cooling system when the engine is at operating temperature or hot under pressure, personal injury can result. Avoid the radiator cooling fans when engine compartment related service is performed, personal injury can result.


Volkswagen genuine parts antifreeze/coolant, 5 year 160,000 km (100,000 mile) formula (MS-9769) may not be mixed with any other type of antifreeze. Mixing of coolants other than specified (non HOAT or other HOAT), may result in engine damage that may not be covered under the new vehicle warranty, and decreased corrosion protection.


Richer antifreeze mixtures cannot be measured with normal field equipment and can cause problems associated with 100 percent ethylene glycol.

Ethylene Glycol Mixtures

The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. Only Volkswagen genuine parts antifreeze/coolant, 5 year/100,000 mile formula (ethylene glycol base coolant with corrosion inhibitors called HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology) is recommended. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% distilled water to obtain a freeze point of -37 °C (-35 °F).

The required ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and water mixture depends upon the climate and vehicle operating conditions. The antifreeze concentration must always be a minimum of 44 percent, year round in all climates. If percentage is lower than 44 percent, engine parts may be eroded by cavitation, and cooling system components may be severely damaged by corrosion. Maximum protection against freezing is provided with a 68% antifreeze concentration, which prevents freezing down to -67.7 ° C (-90 ° F). A higher percentage will freeze at a warmer temperature. Also, a higher percentage of antifreeze can cause the engine to overheat because the specific heat of antifreeze is lower than that of water.

Use of 100 percent ethylene glycol will cause formation of additive deposits in the system, as the corrosion inhibitive additives in ethylene-glycol require the presence of water to dissolve. The deposits act as insulation, causing temperatures to rise to as high as 149 °C (300 °F). This temperature is hot enough to melt plastic and soften solder. The increased temperature can result in engine detonation. In addition, 100 percent ethylene glycol freezes at 22 °C (-8 °F).

Propylene Glycol Mixtures


Use of propylene glycol based coolants is not recommended, as they provide less freeze protection and less corrosion protection.

Its overall effective temperature range is smaller than that of ethylene-glycol. The freeze point of 50/50 propylene glycol and water is -32 °C (-26 °F). 5 °C higher than ethylene glycols freeze point. The boiling point (protection against summer boil over) of propylene glycol is 125 °C (257 °F ) at 96.5 kPa (14 psi), compared to 128 °C (263 °F) for ethylene glycol. Use of propylene glycol can result in boil over or freeze up on a cooling system designed for ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol also has poorer heat transfer characteristics than ethylene glycol. This can increase cylinder head temperatures under certain conditions.

Propylene glycol/ethylene glycol Mixtures can cause the destabilization of various corrosion inhibitors, causing damage to the various cooling system components. Also, once ethylene glycol and propylene glycol based coolants are mixed in the vehicle, conventional methods of determining freeze point will not be accurate. Both the refractive index and specific gravity differ between ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

HOAT Coolant

The cooling system is designed around the coolant. The coolant must accept heat from engine metal, in the cylinder head area near the exhaust valves and engine block. Then coolant carries the heat to the radiator where the tube/fin radiator can transfer the heat to the air.

The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. Volkswagen genuine parts antifreeze/coolant, 5 year/100,000 mile formula (MS-9769), or the equivalent ethylene glycol base coolant with organic corrosion inhibitors called HOAT is recommended. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% ethylene glycol and 50% distilled water to obtain a freeze point of -37 °C (-35 °F). If it loses color or becomes contaminated, drain, flush, and replace with fresh properly mixed coolant solution.

Coolant Performance

The required ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and water mixture depends upon climate and vehicle operating conditions. The coolant performance of various mixtures follows:

Pure Water - Water can absorb more heat than a mixture of water and ethylene-glycol. This is for purpose of heat transfer only. Water also freezes at a higher temperature and allows corrosion.

100% Ethylene Glycol - The corrosion inhibiting additives in ethylene glycol need the presence of water to dissolve. Without water, additives form deposits in system. These act as insulation causing temperature to rise to as high as 149 °C (300 °F). This temperature is hot enough to melt plastic and soften solder. The increased temperature can result in engine detonation. In addition, 100% ethylene glycol freezes at -22 °C (-8 °F).

50/50 Ethylene Glycol and Water - Is the recommended mixture, it provides protection against freezing to -37 °C (-34 °F). The antifreeze concentration must always be a minimum of 44%, year round in all climates. If percentage is lower, engine parts may be eroded by cavitation. Maximum protection against freezing is provided with a 68% antifreeze concentration, which prevents freezing down to -67.7 °C (-90 °F). A higher percentage will freeze at a warmer temperature. Also, a higher percentage of antifreeze can cause the engine to overheat because specific heat of antifreeze is lower than that of water.

Coolant Selection and Additives


Do not use coolant additives that are claimed to improve engine cooling.

The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. Only Volkswagen genuine parts antifreeze/coolant, 5 year/100,000 mile formula glycol base coolant with corrosion inhibitors called HOAT is recommended. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% distilled water to obtain to obtain a freeze point of -37 °C (-35 °F). If it loses color or becomes contaminated, drain, flush, and replace with fresh properly mixed coolant solution.